Research shows that having a college degree can enable a person to earn five times more than a non-degreed individual. A scholarship such as this is free and does not require repayment, lifting a huge financial burden from single mothers. The money can be used for education at a local college or university or an online institution of higher learning.

Each month, $10,000 is doled out to women who want to pursue their higher education. In addition, the stimulus package increase in 2010 raised the Federal Pell Grant to $5,100 per year. Single moms can apply for this grant and if they qualify, this money will also not need to be repaid. The American Opportunity Tax Credit program provides tax benefits for some out of pocket expenses.

To apply for the scholarship or Pell Grant, single moms need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, also known as the FAFSA. This form can be completed online or a paper form can be requested via mail or picked up at a local higher education institution. Applicants should have prior tax year information and identifying documents on hand to use when completing the document.

A scholarship or grant for higher education may be just want a single mom needs to improve her family’s lifestyle. These are just two examples of money available for higher education and more research will reveal many others. Increasing the level of education allows the single mom to further her career.

Now you may have heard about “grants for single mothers,” either from a website, on a forum, or just mentioned by someone.

The problem is that there is actually very little REAL information on the topics of grants. Oh yes, there is some information out there, but most of it is crap, off-target, flat out wrong or even outright lies. There are grants, but maybe not as much as you’ve been led to believe.

This article will help set the record straight for you single moms out there and shed light on some of the legit single mother grants and scholarships for single mothers that are available.

For the impatient – If you are looking for a quick grant for single mothers in the form of a scholarship for school, we suggest applying for the $10,000 Scholarships for Moms.

You fill out the free form and get put in the running for a $10,000 scholarship giveaway every month to be used for education purposes. This is great for single moms who would like to go back to school. There is even a similar $10k scholarship for dads as well that single dads can apply for.

Now for moms not in a rush and who want extensive information about other LEGIT single mother assistance programs, keep reading (and grab a large cup of coffee since it’s a long read!).

Let’s get the main question you might be asking: “Are there any real grants for single mothers available?” The answer is yes, but the majority of grants for individuals are in fact given only to students and not to regular individuals.

You may have heard a lot about federal grants for single mothers. As we’re aware, there are no such things as federal grants for single moms. NO, the government has not made available specific money (as of 2010) just for single moms in the form of grants.

Now, that is not to say that there is no grant money that a single mom can qualify from, but there are no “single mom grants” given out by the federal government. See different types of grants for single mothers.

Instead, the federal government provides assistance either indirectly through community sponsored organizations (which in turn distribute funding in the form of training, single mother assistance, pregnancy help, etc). Private grants and scholarships do exist and are perhaps the best way of getting money as a single mother to pay for school expenses. You might find private grants offered by fellowships, businesses, schools, or even websites!

What is the difference between grants and scholarships? Well grants are basically need-based funding – you qualify on the basis of financial need and not something like grades.

Scholarships, on the other hand, are merit-based awards – you are given money based on something you have achieved – high marks during high school, first year of college, overall GPA while at college, exceptional volunteer work, etc.

If you can apply for both scholarship and grants. Scholarships and grants may be given out by colleges themselves or by non-profit organizations.

One scholarship we highly recommend for single moms is the $10,000 scholarship program – an initiative geared toward helping these moms continue their education. This is basically a grant giveaway. You sign up for the scholarship free and are given one chance each month to win 10k towards your education expenses.

Many opportunities have been made available to assist single mothers in their financial needs and help them get a breakthrough. One way of availing this opportunity is applying for grants.

Grants meant for single mothers are freely awarded by the government, state, college or non-profit groups. These kind of financial aids are available to help women face the challenges of single parenting.

The United States Government has floated many schemes and programs for the benefit of single mothers. Given in the next few paragraphs are the different types of government assistance for single mothers to help get their life back on track.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families – TANF has been designed to provide a small cash amount on a monthly basis for food, clothing, shelter and other essentials. It is meant for those who have children and are finding themselves unable to afford even the basic necessities. A single mom, with children under the age of 19, is eligible for assistance under TANF. However, this once in a life time assistance is restricted to a period of not more than 60 months.

CHIP Program – The Children’s Health Insurance Program is a government-funded insurance plan available in every state. The program caters to those who cannot afford insurance on their own. It covers children for everything they need – medical, dental, and vision. The CHIP program in your state is a godsend for those who are struggling to pay the bills and are worried about the health and well-being of their children.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), that helps households meet their immediate home energy expenses, is a federally-funded grant program that is implemented at the state levels. Priority is given to low income families with children, disabled and elderly people.

WIC – Women, Infants, and Children – The WIC program is one of the most successful government programs for financially-strapped mothers. The program consists of coupons for free items every month. These items are the basics required for pregnant or nursing mothers and children up to the age of five. The financial limits on WIC are higher than that of other programs, so your odds of acceptance are very good.

Another financial assistance scheme for single mothers is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which was previously known as the Food Stamp Program (FSP). This program is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture with the primary aim of providing healthy food for low income families.

However, there are certain things you need to know before applying for any these grants. They require the applicants to make a proposal in the form of grant writing with all the required eligibility criteria fulfilled. So do your due diligent and choose the right one that best suits your unique financial situation.

Keep in mind that while grants for single mothers can help you tide over difficult times, you should not rely solely on them, rather, you should ensure that you strive to become self-sufficient so that you can provide for your family all on your own.

Single mothers have to manage their education, their kids schooling, medical and household expenses, etc. Granted, it is a lot easier to manage ends meet if there are two working partners. However, for a single mother to manage all this alone especially with little or no income, it can be quite a struggle.

To help single moms cope with the challenge of single parenting, there are many sources to get financial help like the government, state, institutions or non-profit organizations. This financial help can be in the form of grants, scholarship, loans etc.

A very good option for single mothers in need is to apply for grants. Grants are freely awarded to eligible single moms on the basis of financial hardship which unlike ordinary loans, do not require any repayment.

There are many ways to avail a grant that meets different types of requirements. One can approach the local Family Welfare Associations, State Financial Aids, the government or any organizations that offer a good plan. You can meet professionals who can assist you further or do the research yourself.

A very good source of information is the internet. You can get all types of information online and decide what best suits you. Check your State, Government websites and sites like http://www.grants.gov/ is a good resource to find information about grants available for singe mothers.

While there are many types of grants for single mothers, one of the most widely offered types of grants, not only for single moms but for others as well, are educational grants and scholarships for single mothers.

Grants such as The Pell Grant is a unique grant provided by the US Department of Education that helps worthy single moms who wish to complete their college education.

And for those single mothers who face a financial crisis while studying in college due to various family reasons, The Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) has helped many achieve their educational goals and dreams.

Though these grants are meant for assisting during difficult times, it does not cover expenses for private tuition fees, house rents, social funds repayments or personal debts etc. It is only meant for you to get yourself up and build a foundation to help you attain a good source of income for the future.