Divorced Single Parents: Financial Preparations
Divorced Single Parents
Financial Preparations for divorced single parents is really important since the divorce process alone can be a financially draining event. You have to think about a lot of thing to pay for like your lawyer, the preparation of legal documents and the additional daily expenses you may have to deal with until you and your partner part ways. A divorce can also pose a lot of potential financial risks once you and your partner decide to call it quits, and there is a great need for detailed preparations to avert any future financial disaster.
So how could you prepare for a secure life after divorce? There are several ways in which you can do this. With careful financial planning and preparation, it is certain that you would not be experiencing the financial crunch that most divorced individuals are facing nowadays. Listed below are tried and tested methods to secure your finances after the divorce.
Time the Divorce Perfectly
A divorce can have great financial consequences and even more so when you take in the factor of the family’s current financial status when you and your partner decide to call it quits. Before initiating a divorce, take into consideration on who has a job and how much you each worker gains on a yearly basis. If the family is facing financial problems, it is recommended that you wait it out and decide whether or not to continue on the divorce.
Separate Non-Marital Assets
Deciding who’s going to get what may be one of the trickiest aspects of the divorce process. Since there is only a 50% chance that you are going to get the best items that you and your partner bought together as husband and wife, it is recommended that you make a mental list of your non-marital assets. These non-marital assets are not available of the equitable distribution process that the court mandates. This means that they are not to be divided between you and your ex-partner after divorce.
Non-marital assets, by definition, are the items that you personally inherited, items brought before the marriage, gifts given to you specifically instead as a married couple, and any proceeds from whatever personal injury that you had in the past. There are cases when non-marital assets are mixed with marital assets, preventing them from being claimed. If this should happen, you should be prepared to show documents that you bought this item before you were married. A paper trail showing the transaction dates, signatories and other important info would even be more effective.
Create Your Own Credit History
There are instance when individuals divorce and one partner can take advantage of whatever court mandate imposed to get financial support from their former partner. Though this is quite a clever method of keeping your finances secure with the reluctant help of your former partner, it can be quite risky if you become too dependent on their finances. Should you former partner face major financial crisis, chances are you are going down with them.
With that in mind, it is recommended that you start your own credit history. This is important since you may find a need to avail of a new credit card or mortgage loan when you are back on your own and these things require a credit history. You can start on this by opening a new credit card, or having you name on several household items and investment.
Close Your Joint Accounts
Close Your Joint Accounts
When it comes to divorce, it is better to be proactive and anticipate the many things that may impose a terrible burden on you in the future. A joint account may be good when you’re married; it’s another story when you’re divorced. When you’re having financial preparations for divorced single parents, it is recommended that you realize that these types of accounts are the sources for a lot of financial headaches. The last thing that you want to be is in debt for something that your former spouse bought.
When you are still in undergoing the divorce process, it is recommended that you plan ahead. Contact you bank and credit card companies and notify them to have your joint accounts frozen or terminated. This would prevent your spouse from withdrawing money without your knowledge, and help you save on money that you may need when the time comes.
Conserve on Finances
When it comes to divorce, it is a must that you keep your financial problem as simple as possible. Do not do something that will make your financial problems complicated. One of the greatest temptations when being back to a single status is the drive to spend on a lot of expensive items and other caprices. When you do this, it is certain that you will burn through your money quickly and will leave you in debt.
After divorce, it is a must that you save on a lot on your money. This is even more important when you are the one left with the children since you have mouths to feed and tuitions to pay. This means that you should plan your expenses accordingly, spending on what is truly needed than what you want.
Seek Help
Truth be told, securing your finances in light of divorce can be quite difficult especially if you are clueless. With that in mind, it is advised that you seek the advice of an organization that will help you plan your finances accordingly. The Association of Financial Divorce Planners, for example, is made up of the best financial analysts, lawyer and mediators that are more than willing to help you iron out the finer details of your financial plan after divorce.
A divorce can drain you of your finances, and efforts to secure your finances can be take a lot from you. But with careful planning and commitment, you can easily weather the financial crunch that most divorced individuals are facing. This can only be made possible through sound financial preparations for divorced single parents.
Finding Love After Separation and Divorce
Finding New Love
A fatherless child can have difficulties relating to the male population since there is a lack of prominent male figure in the family that he can learn from. He sees that his friends and classmates have mothers and fathers, and questions why he doesn’t have one. He will feel abandoned and unwanted. So, he can develop a low self-esteem, depression, confusion, and anger. They also perform poorly at school and tend to be destructive to others and even to their selves.
A fatherless child can have difficulties relating to the male population since there is a lack of prominent male figure in the family that he can learn from. He sees that his friends and classmates have mothers and fathers, and questions why he doesn’t have one. He will feel abandoned and unwanted. So, he can develop a low self-esteem, depression, confusion, and anger. They also perform poorly at school and tend to be destructive to others and even to their selves.Prevent the negative effects of not having a father figure in your children is by ensuring that your kids have a lot of positive role-models around them. It may not replace their biological father, nor can it relieve their feelings of loss, it can, however, help in making a positive father-child relationship that may otherwise be lacking. Father-less boys tend to do criminal acts, violence and difficulties following males in society. And in worst cases, they resort to suicide. Girls who grow up without a father tend to become promiscuous. They also form relationships with older men. This is because they subconsciously try to fill up the fatherly love that they have been missing. The more kids have to understand why another man has entered your life, not to replace their father but to provide comfort and partnership for you.
Dating Another Man
Going on blind dates with the people your close friends or family set you up with, take into consideration about meeting people online. Send an e-mail and if you feel that there is a possibility for deeper connection, then spend some time to become familiar with them over the telephone. Permit your friendly relationship to develop with time prior to attempting to go on a real date. Keep in mind those relationships that start off as friendships have a greater probability of developing into a long term and meaningful connection versus relationships that are created primarily on physical attraction.
By employing a professional writer to develop your online dating profile, you can conserve time and guarantee that your profile creates the finest impression possible. Take a look at E-Cyrano.com and LookBetterOnline.com for more information about these kinds of services.Online dating sites give single mothers an excellent platform to place themselves back in the dating world. And the fact that it can any time of the day makes it an even more attractive option. Singleparentsmingle.com and singleparentsmatcher.com are the most popular dating sites for single mothers and it is worthy to check out. Matchmaker’s help you look for the person you are looking for that will compliment your personality, lifestyle and goals. Several matchmakers also perform extensive background checks ahead of suggesting someone to their clients. This implies that even before you meet the person, you are sure that they don’t have a criminal background.
Going on blind dates
Putting yourself in circumstances where there is a great possibility that you meet people who share the same goals, values and passions with you. There are a loy of churches that provides an adult singles class so try to join those; or you can begin helping out with in nearby animal shelter during your free time. These kinds of opportunities will present you to other people who share your beliefs.
Separate Dating from Motherhood
Finding love after separation and divorce is not that easy thing to do.The children will experience a kind of loss once you bring a man into your house. This means that your time with them is now divided so remember to spend time with your kids also. Your boyfriend has to be there for your kids too so the kids can get acquainted to the new man in their life.Keep your dating life apart from your children. If they get involved with a guy you are seeing but the relationship is still not that serious then they can be hurt too when it ends. You can only introduce him to your children once you begin dating exclusively. But make certain that he is a positive effect to your children.
Welcome Counseling an Guidance from Experts
Visit the website of the American Association of Pastoral Counselors at www.aapc.org to find the nearest counselor available in your area. They can also be contacted at (703) 385-6967 (phone) and at (703) 352-7725 (fax). This organization aims to heal and bring hope to everyone – individual, family, groups, or communities – through counseling and guidance grounded in spirituality.
Another is: “Parents Without Partners” is an educational organization for single parents. They have an online chat room, magazines specifically tailored for single parents, articles for development guidelines and personal growth, annual convention, and local chapter activities. They can be contacted at 1-800-637-7974, or, at their website www.parentswithoutpartners.org. Their office is located at 1100-H Brandywine Blvd., Zanesville, Ohio, 43701-7303. The Single Family Voice is a community for single parents where they share support, different information, and understands one another. This was founded in the year 1997 and can be accessed at www.singlefamilyvoices.com.
Effective Ways on How to Manage Emotions and Instability for Single Mothers
single mother emotional instability
Emotional Instability and Single Moms
Single mothers are faced with a lot of stresses. They are constantly introduced with increasing pressures of being a single parent. The immense responsibility of providing for her children alone is enough to compromise her emotions. However, there are still many factors contributing to the emotional instability of these mothers.
How does a single mother develop emotional instability?
Most single mothers live in a pattern. They wake up, go to work, come home, care for her kids, and sleep. Sometimes, they don’t sleep at all. This leaves them exhausted to the point that they neglect their own needs.
In addition, financial stress contributes in developing emotional problems. A single mom constantly worries about money. She frequently encounters the dilemma of paying her children’s tuition fees, rent, taxes, house bills, and buying basic needs of the family such as food and clothing.
Single mothers who experienced losses are also prone to developing emotional instability. The abandonment or death of a husband causes changes on her perception and behavior. These women experience interchanging feelings of loneliness, depression, anger, guilt, shame and other negativities. And if these are left unnoticed can lead to serious problems.
How to determine that you have emotional instability?
Signs and symptoms vary from one person to another. The following are the common manifestations.
- Low self-esteem
- Suspicious and distrustful
- Feeling insane
- Frequent worrying
- Anxiety
- Negative emotions such as depression, anger, and loneliness
- Procrastination
- Compulsive behavior
- Regrettable outbursts
- Violent behavior
- Socially inappropriate behavior
- Irritable and impatient
- Fearfulness
- Hostile thoughts
- Feeling out of control
- Mood swings
What are the effective ways to manage emotions and instability?
Managing your emotions is a challenge especially with the constant stress and pressure that you experience. The following are simple ways to manage your emotions.
emotions and instability
Acknowledge your emotions
Emotions are normal in a human being. Being a single mother does not necessary require you to be emotionally strong all the time. Know what you are feeling and accept these emotions. Keeping your feelings bottled up inside you only adds to the stress that you are experiencing. And ignoring it will just cause more damage than good. Do not be afraid to admit that you feel sad, lonely, or angry. Having these instability for single mothers is not something to be ashamed of. And, they do not mean that you are, in any way, weak. You are allowed to feel these things like any other person.
Identify factors leading to these emotions
After you have acknowledged your feelings, take a breather and contemplate over these feelings. What leads you to feel these emotions? Identifying the causes is essential in handling your emotions. This requires introspection which involves communicating with yourself. With this, you can develop an effective way to control and prevent the reoccurrence of these unstable emotions.
Take steps in dealing with these emotions
There are many ways in dealing with your emotions. You can do it yourself or with the help of others. One method is with the use of meditation. Take at least 30 minutes alone in a quiet room or area. You can use your own room or the garden as long as you feel at peace. Listen to music and do breathing exercises. Doing so helps in the improvement of your body’s circulation. It also relaxes your mind and your body. If you find it difficult to manage these feelings alone, ask for help from your friends and family. Talk to them about what you are feeling. Don’t be ashamed of letting them see your tears or frustration. Talking relieves you from your pent up emotions and eases the stress that you are feeling. Always remember that they are there to offer their support and help you with these challenges.
Stay healthy
Having a healthy body affects how you handle stresses in your life. First, eat a balanced meal and avoid skipping them at all cost. Foods are your sources of energy. Without enough energy, you are unable to perform tasks effectively. Also strengthen your body. Exercise in a regular basis. Spend at least 30 minutes a day exercising. Having a strong body allows you to handle the strains in your life. If you are too busy to do actual exercising, you can do daily activities that can somehow keep your body fit. For example, use the stairs instead of the elevators at work. If possible, use a bicycle instead of your car when going to the workplace.
These activities however are not substitutes for a proper exercise. In addition, having enough sleep is imperative. Most mothers omit sleep because they don’t have enough time for everything else. If you are tired, take a break and sleep. Don’t push yourself. Recognize your limits and work around it. Go out and have fun. Don’t stay cooped under the four corners of your house. Explore your surroundings and appreciate those around you. Once you get back to your home, you’d feel brand new.
Seek professional help if needed
If you find it difficult to handle these emotions on your own, it is beneficial to seek further help, whether it is from a professional or from support groups. The following are hotlines and websites in the United States that you can visit.
Financial Assistance Hotlines
- Child-Support Enforcement Hotline – (877) 696-6775
- Child-Care Subsidy Hotline – (800) 424-2246
- Mortgage Payment Assistance – (800) 750-8956
- Debt Relief Hotline – (800) 291-1042
- Free Bankruptcy Advice (800) 379-0985
- Or visit www.eap.partners.org for more information
Support Groups for Single Mothers
- For more information on available support centers throughout the US, visit www.singlemothers.org
National Support Helpline
- Contact them at 1-855- 4A PARENT (1-855-427-2736)
- Or visit www.nationalparenthelpline.org for more details.
Simple Tips for Single Moms in Raising Happy Kids
Single Moms in Raising Happy Kids
Every kid has the right to be successful in their everyday pursuit to be satisfied with their lives. Mother and father can help their children be satisfied in several ways. The most essential is to stay positive regardless of what conditions they are experiencing. How we describe activities that happen in our lifestyle is passed on to our children. They will become positive based on how we manage lifestyle. Being a single parent is a complicated process and doing it alone makes it more complicated therefore it is really important to be equipped to cope with the unusual scenario that may happen anytime. Single parents have to cope with a lot of problems but no other important things as raising their children. Here are some simple yet effective guidelines to get yourself ready for the process of raising happy kids as a single mom.
Don’t Use Your Kid As your Psychological prop
The greatest mistake that single parents can make is making their children as their emotional anchor in replacement for their missing partner. They tend to forget that a child is a child and they are not old enough to handle their parents’ confidences even though they may appear to be one. Sharing and confiding your emotional highs and lows can leave scars to your kids for life and it will convey that you lack balance in raising your kids, remember that stability is one thing that the kids need from their parents.
Provide limitations
Discuss with your children and let them know exactly what you expect from them and make clear to them your limitations. It is also important that you can make them realize that whatever family guidelines you set is for their own advantage. When children comprehend the purpose behind guidelines they are much more likely to stick to them. The point is if children choose to do something such as using bad terminology, they will instantly know that if they have selected it, the impact will also go with it because they come hand in hand, and because you were able to mention and specified your consequences in doing so, the children are less likely to dispute about it.
Do not change any rules without letting the children know
Remember that you are not trying to ploy your children try to help them to do the right thing instead. Conferencing with your family is a great way to connect with each other. You can have this conferencing thing as much as possible as weekly so that you can discuss about family guidelines whether it worked or not and at the same time you can also take recommendation from the members of the family. By means of doing this, your children can gain respect and they feel valued too as you are enjoy listening to whatever their opinions will be even if there are times you will not agree with them. If you pay attention to them they will feel loved and respected as well.
Care and self appreciation
Lack of appreciation can discourage single moms. They often wait for the time that their children will grow up for them to appreciate the time and effort moms have offered them no matter how loving and skilled their moms can be. Moms should be able to understand how to appreciate their own selves and identify their own initiatives. Understand that the fact of going through it all alone is worth a respect. Taking time to treat yourself so that you and your children will have the advantage from it, rest assured you will be compensated.
happy children
Offer a Caring Environment
Children desire stability and interest just as much or maybe more than you do. Show love for them in terms of action as well as through your words. Do not take their help for granted- offer a ‘Thank You’ whenever. You will discover your expressiveness reciprocated and you will see that your kids start to take critique and positive discipline. Do not get withdrawn from enjoying and admiring your kids and make sure to mark their objectives and achievements even in the simple things they do.
Hold on to your limitations
Don’t just give in so easy. Kids really like to force your limitations but they also want to know that you will not hesitate. They actually experience more protected when they know that there are limitations. Do not always anticipate that the kids will like you when you are implementing the limitations but in the future you can make it sure that they will always thank you for it.
For more helpful parenting guides and guidelines for problems that need to be addressed, the following information might be a great help.
Single mom.com is for single mom resources which is wealthy of information that is compiled daily just for single moms to find the information they need only at http://www.singlemom.com/. Visit their headquarters at:SingleMom.com™ 846 Del Rey Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94085, U.S.A.
YWCA Single Mothers’ Support Services offers a variety of services meant to be empowering, informative and fun for both you and your child. Explore YWCA at http://www.ywcavan.org. For more information contact them at:
YWCA Single Mothers’ Support Services
535 Hornby Street
Vancouver, BC V6C 2E8
tel: 604 895 5797
fax: 604 684 9171
e-mail:
Single Mom Parenting Help is here with information specifically focused on the needs of single mothers making it sure that single moms to have the best parenting resources. Visit them at http://www.singlemomparentinghelp.com/ for easy way to search engines in their site, visit their sitemap at http://www.singlemomparentinghelp.com/sitemap.xml
SingleRose.com at http://www.singlerose.com brings single mothers together for a pleasant, productive, interactive experience which provides divorced, never married and widowed mothers a means to connect with those who understand their situation and can offer advice by providing timely information and emotional support. Mail them in their postal address at:
Single Rose
PO Box 487
Kennedale, Texas 76060
Make Money at Home: Tips for Single Mothers
work from home
Most single moms are in need of supplementary earnings but don’t have enough time to look for a second job. When this takes place, then it is time to get innovative and locate a job opportunity that works for specifically for you.
Freelancer
There a number of freelance careers that can be done from the convenience of your home and will enable you to do the job around your current routine. Writing, typing, transcribing and proofreading are just some freelance jobs that are available online. Search for freelance jobs at www.elance.com. Unfortunately, a lot of online jobs are scams but there are a number of websites which specifically caters to the needs of single mothers. Click the following link for the list of sites that offers jobs for moms. (http://workingmoms.about.com )
Being a writer and a blogger is also another way for you to earn while you write. Visit textbroker.com. The Google AdSense can also assist you to earn from people who visit your blog.
Child Care Provider
Consider looking for a part-time position with a day care or other childcare center or offer to watch over other children in your house for a modest fee per child. There are a lot of households out there who require excellent child care so babysitting will let you earn extra cash. Many single mothers get into the child care occupation as a way to continue being with their own kid whilst making profit by giving care for others’ kids at the same time. Many child care providers find the job so fulfilling that they choose to stay in the profession even after their kids get into school. Find jobs at www.babysitters.com.
Being a registered daycare provider is an excellent way to gain extra income while raising your own kids as a single mother. Each state has different requirements for registration but it is easy to accomplish.
Virtual Assistant
Put your special skills to good use by being a as a virtual assistant. This job can surely help you to make supplemental earnings on a regular basis. It is an industry that is quickly growing and turning into a popular for those who desire to operate their own home business, commonly by performing the things they have accomplished well for previous employers. Being a virtual assistant has advantages, as well as a number of disadvantages.
The pros include you don’t need to be trained and learn new skills. You can utilize the similar skills you have used in the past and then develop and broaden your services. Find one field that will be your specialization like typing, answering calls or answering to emails. The salary can be high. The charge of most virtual assistants is around $35 to $75 per hour, relying on the kind of expert services provided and the expertise level of the virtual assistant. In addition, you have control over your hours of work and how many hours you do the job per week.
virtual assistant jobs for single moms
However, getting initial customers may be a difficult task but the obstacle can be overcome by making use of creative marketing methods and by means of networking where you introduce yourself and offer your services. As your business develops, it’s possible that your devices and equipment requires upgrading so expenses may also increase.
Pet Care Services
Dog sitting is an additional way to generate money around your current timetable. If you adore animals, there is currently an increasing need for pet services. That is why individuals who have continually liked animals are establishing modest pet-related businesses after their day jobs. If you are an animal lover, you will be around pets every day at the same time, giving an significant service for other pet owners. Pet sitting is also something that you can do as a family. Let your kid watch over the pets with you and enjoy the time you spend with your child.
Use your Creativity
Put your skills in making scrapbooks, crafts and design abilities to money-earning business. Make unique crafts that will surely catch other people’s attention. You can sell your crafts at a nearby fair or at the market. You can also post an advertisement in the newspapers or online to take orders.
Tutor
You can become a tutor for children who are somehow struggling with their academics. It is a good way to earn additional cash and a fulfilling job at the same time. The tutoring will depend on the certifications that you have. Consult with your local community and try to discover local programs that the schools nearby offer. If you can’t hire a babysitter then try tutoring the kids in a group setting. That way, you will be helping other kids and your own children as well while looking after them.
Cleaning Services
This part-time job is one of the easiest and most flexible methods for a single mom to earn money. Cleaning will probably last for about three to five hours and it will require really hard work but its flexibility is the best asset of this job.
Financial Aid for the Single Moms of the State of Illinois
financial aid for single mother
Being a single mother can be intimidating and anxious experience, accompanied with worries and problems alone is never easy for a single mother. The very fear of a single parent is how to put on the necessities needed for survival; how to put off the food in the table and the fear of paying bills or where to find money to keep life going, these were just few of the many problems encountered a single parent can share. Thus, with the help of the governments’ financial aid for single mother, they would be able to know that they are not alone and they can keep both their life and their child’s life at ease with no worries at all. Getting the obligatory needs and guarantee the welfare of a child can be tough but lucky for those who lived in Illinois, the government have deposited out of the ordinary attention to the needs of single mothers by offering its own financial programs to make their lives easier. All the assistance is there and here’s the help on how to find it.
Financial Assistance
In America, there are billions of dollars available in government grants to help single parents; the thing to do is just to apply for it. A single parent who qualifies the government financial assistance in Illinois are those who are divorced or the other parent of the child is handicapped, disabled or deceased. The custodial parent may apply for the government support if the other parent is imprisoned. Children that had been born out of marriage vows or if the father is unidentified may qualify. If the other parent had abandoned their families in more than a year can apply for government’s financial help. On the other hand, there are also cases that may exclude a single parent from applying the government’s financial assistance. One is if the other parent is supporting the child. The single parent is already receiving pensions for disabilities, the child has been cared by foster parents and if the child is waiting any inheritance from mother or fathers side. The TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy families) offers temporary financial assistance for families who have one or more needy children and for those pregnant mothers. This program helps on how to compensate for food, refuge, expenses and utilities.
Food Assistance
In Illinois the first thing to look into is the state’s SNAP program. If qualified, you will be given electronic swipe card to use in buying foods in grocery stores instead of cash. Only one Illinois link card is issued per case in Illinois, for application and more resources and information, just one click away on this link www.dhs.state.il.us .The WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) is a food assistance program in Illinois that lend a hand to pregnant or breastfeeding mothers and also young kids to get well and to eat healthy foods. The recipients of these services are mainly those mothers who are pregnant or just had a baby, children younger than 5 years old and infants are also qualified; and families with very low to medium income, click the link for complete information about WIC Illinois www.dhs.state.il.us. Other than SNAP and WIC programs, there are also food banks in Illinois which offers donated foods to single mothers who are qualified.
food and childcare assistance program
Childcare Assistance
Another dilemma that a single mother had to face is on how to find and afford good childcare. Lucky for those single mothers in Illinois, the state offers CCAP (Child Care Assistance Program) that will help single parents to find quality and reliable child care at a very affordable rate. CCAP provides low-income, access to quality for working single parent and affordable child care that allows single parents to work and continues to contribute their child a healthy, emotional and social development. CCAP serves families who are receiving TANF, those teen parents who are seeking for high school degree and families who are not getting TANF, who also pursue to get a degree to improve their job opportunities.
Healthcare Assistance
Childcare assistance is just one of the things a single parent should worry about. Aside from this dilemma, healthcare is also one of the many problems a single parent should think about for the wellness of their children. Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family services offers health care treatment to over 2.6 million Illinoisans, it covers on children, pregnant woman, veterans, persons with disabilities and relatives who are caring for children at no or with minimal cost.
Housing Assistance
Finding accommodation that is affordable is another headache single mom has to deal with. In Illinois, the government provides subsidy to the Rental Housing Support Program (RHSP).
Educational Assistance
Illinois’ FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid helps to find codes needed to apply for the assistance to colleges a single parent might want to attend. There are also scholarships that are offered by celebrities like David Letterman Scholarship.
Transportation Assistance
Having a car is merely impossible if you don’t have a cash to buy one. In Illinois, there is a system that offers given cars to eligible individuals but this service is offered to those who are really in need of cars. For those who can’t have it, this is not quite a problem since buses in Illinois are quiet cheaper and much more cheaply if you can buy a season travel passes.Living in Illinois as a single mother might be a lot easier than you can ever imagine if you utilize and make most of the assistance available.
Financial Aids for Single Moms in Georgia
Financial help for mothers
As a single mother, you are regularly hassled by numerous expenses that will ultimately lead you too some financial complications. You are always contemplating about the future of your child or children and finding ways on how to provide them what they need. Planning your finances will really help you in meeting up with the financial demands of raising a family. Nowadays, there are a lot of grants, programs or loans that are implemented to help single mothers. You can discover that a number of modest organizations can assist in finding the financial assistance you will need to have to master your abilities that will lead you and your children to have a better life.
Applying for federal or state assistance programs is the brightest thing that you should do but applying for these grants can be quite tricky. They will require you to abide by their guidelines and fulfill all the necessary requirements which can be tremendously overwhelming for your part but the effort will be surely worth it. The solution here is to breakdown the procedure to present a step by step strategy to guarantee that you are doing the right things. First, prepare all necessary documents like birth certificates of you and your child, social security cards, proof of utility, proof of residency and records are needed to clarify your situation with your child or children’s father, whether he is deceased, you are divorced, separated and about to get divorce or you were never married. A caseworker will be assigned to process your application and he or she will give you at list of all the needed documents. You will be given at least ten days to process all the necessary paperwork but if you prepared the important papers ahead of time then it will be easier for you to comply with the requirements. If you are qualified then updates will be provided by the program through mail.
Programs and Grants Available in Georgia
Childcare.
Looking after your children is always a challenge especially if you don’t have the help of a father in your household. It makes life as single mother even more demanding. While you are working or studying, you want your child or children to have a supportive and safe place to stay. In Georgia, the Division of Family and Children Services provide childcare assistance through the program called CAPS or Childcare and Parent Services. The CAPS program is implemented in 159 counties of the state. For the application procedure, clink the following link for more details (http://dfcs.dhs.georgia.gov/how-apply-caps-program). If you have further questions, call them at 1-877-423-4746 or 404-657-3434.
Healthcare.
Medicaid is a program that gives health care products and services to people that meet up with the prerequisites for income and citizenship. It is the main medical assistance for families which has a low income in Georgia. Interested applicants can apply through their local Division of Family and Children Services office and for questions, call them up at 1-877-423-4746. Health insurance is also offered through the PeachCare program. It provides affordable health insurance to children who live in Georgia.
Cash Assistance for Needy Families
Education.
Much of the financial aids programs nowadays is focused on giving single mothers the opportunity to get a college degree. If a low-income single mom acquires better education then she will find a better-paying job and will ultimately be able to give a better future for her child or children. There is a federal program called FAFSA which aims to provide better education to all citizens of America. For more information about this program, visit their website www.fafsa.ed.gov. There are also scholarships available locally through the Georgia Student Finance Commission. More information can be seen through their website www.gsfc.org.
Cash Assistance.
The TANF or Temporary Cash Assistance for Needy Families is a federal program which provides services, such as medical, food and cash assistance to families who are in financial disadvantage. It provides monthly cash assistance but it is only temporary.
Food.
Superior food is one thing that every mother wishes to be able to give to her child or children. SNAP offers support to single mothers to buy the suitable types of food for their family. They give out food stamps and vouchers to for families who are struggling to put good food on the table. More information about the said program can be found through this link (http://www.dfcs.dhr.georgia.gov/). The WIC or the Women, Infants, and Children is also referred to as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program. It is a federal program which is established to give nutritious foods and a number of services including nutrition education, healthcare referrals and many more. Contact details are available through this link (http://www.wicprogram.org/ga-georgia-wic-program/).
Financial Aid Options for Single Moms in the California State
California Financial Support
Life as a single mother can be tough. You are constantly worried about taking care of your children and providing them with their needs. In many cases, the salary of a single mom will not suffice the household but if you live in the state of California, there are various programs that the state implemented to help you in your problems. Always keep in mind that you are not on your own since there are several loans, grants and state financial assistance programs that you can get.
Applying for a program that will support you economically is the brightest thing to do but the whole process can be complex and sometimes disheartening considering that it demands rigid compliance of the necessary requirements. If is important to organize all your documents ahead of time to make the process smoother. A caseworker will be designated to do the job with you in your application and you will be provided ten days to process all the paperwork necessary for your application. Ask questions if you have some things that you are unsure about. It will require you to firmly abide with all their specifications which can be overpowering for your part but the outcome is beyond reasonable.
Cash Assistance
There are lots of programs out there that will help in giving food, shelter or medical needs but hard cash is also an absolute necessity. The TANF is a well-known federal program which gives out services to needy families in terms of medical, food and cash assistance. The Federal government is the main administrator of TANF and they set the basic rules of eligibility. However, state governments can also add requirements and in-charge of developing and ensure full-implementation of the said program. The TANF cash assistance is funded by a combination of federal and state funds.
Food.
If you are a single mother who are working or studying then you know how hard it is to find a reliable place for your kids to be taken cared of given your short income. The CalWorks child care program is there to provide accessible, quality and affordable child care. It is a temporary program until such time you can manage to pay for childcare at some point. For more details, follow this link (http://dpss.lacounty.gov/dpss/calworks/childcare.cfm).
Healthcare.
The Medi-Cal program or federally recognized as Medicaid provides guidance and financial assistance when it comes to medical bills. More details about their different programs is readily available in their website, http://www.medi-cal.ca.gov. Another program which aids single mothers in providing quality healthcare is the California Kids. It provides low-cost medical and dental insurance for children. You can apply online or download the application for from their website which you can send through mail. Apply by clicking this link http://www.californiakids.org/applicationinfo.tpl.
financial help
Education.
To get a better paying employment, it is advisable to go after a college degree but because of the tight budget, this may be difficult to achieve if you are a single mom. There are a lot of grants that are funded by the state. An example of this is the FAFSA. . There are also student loans that are available in the state of California but bear in mind that not all educational institutions offer federal or private student loans. A list of student loans available for the state of California can be found by following this link (http://www.studentloannetwork.com/student-loans/california/).
The California Student Aid Commission is another program in California which aims to give grants to deserving students including single mothers who are in some kind of financial difficulties. For the eligibility requirements and the application process, information is available through their website www.calgrants.org
Housing.
The HUD offers assistance to single mothers. This is very useful for moms who want to own a house permanently or needs help with the rent. In the state, there is the California Housing and Community Development Program and it works with the HUD in providing shelter for the residents of California. More information about the program is accessible through this link (http://www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=ca&topic=renting).
Single Moms: Financial Aid for Mothers in Indiana
Indiana financial assistance
No one will ever say that raising a child alone is an easy task especially when you are on the real world situation of doing it all by yourself without your partner helping you to do so. Parenthood is always associated with hardships and struggles; this feeling is a lot harder for single parents since all of the worries and anxieties of raising a child is all in their responsibility alone. Life could be very tough for single mothers, they don’t have the freedom of choosing whether to be a stay at home mom and they don’t have someone to share the problems that common families have encountered. Being a single mother in the state of Indiana is not new that’s why the state has entitled many financial aids for single mothers in Indiana that a single mother can rely on.
Financial
The state of Indiana offers TANF which stands for Temporary Financial Assistance for Needy Families. It works with families to develop into self sufficient ones. Indiana TANF benefits offer a maximum of 60 months of assistance within one’s lifetime. Like other states, Indiana TANF also has its eligibility requirements; the primary requirement is that the applicant must be a US citizen; children also should be a citizen or should have eligible alien status, must have a social security number, earning less than a certain amount per month, children must be 18 years old or younger; if 18 years, should be legible full-time high school student. Pregnant women are also eligible for TANF during the month before their due date. To meet the eligibility requirements of TANF, families must meet the requirements established by the state law; that is, families must include a child and should be residents of Indiana , countable assets must be 2,000 dollars or less.
Food
Mother knows best! This is usually mothers are good with, that’s why mothers are very particular in choosing food to be fed by their children, they always wanted to give the best healthy and nutritious foods. Indiana knows this is very hard for mothers who don’t have enough money to buy and supply all the nutritious food for their children so they have this food stamp program known as SNAP or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program that provides eligible applicants with food stamps to be exchanged by certain groceries. This program helps provide food assistance to people who have low income or no income at all that live in the US . In Indiana , the department that is responsible for handling this is the FSSA or Family and Social Services Administration. Indiana has their WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program which is effective for improving the access of acquiring healthy foods o improve healthier eating lifestyles. Another is with the help of food banks even when the money is stiff. For inquiry regarding the WIC Program, call 1-800-522-0874, or email [email protected].
also reach WIC program Indiana by mail:
Indiana WIC Program
Indiana State Department of Health
2 North Meridian Street, Section 8B
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204
Childcare
As a single mother, it is a tough problem on how or where to find a reliable person or affordable day care center to look for your child while you are out working. This is very hard since as a single mother, you have to and you must have a job in preparation for the future. In Indiana , the CCDF or Child Care Development Fund grants financial support for families who are working or enrolled in schools. Aspirants must then find a child care provider who meets the CCDF standards to qualify. You may call 1-800-299-1627 for child care resource and referral agency that serves your area.
Healthcare
Healthcare is always a worry for single mothers who are out of cash, kids often needs check ups to maintain their good health. Indiana Medicaid provide members through multiple delivery systems and to be reimbursed for the said services, providers must enroll with the Indiana Health Coverage Program (IHCP) to access Indiana Health Coverage programs, the link will show you quick references how to apply for this help http://provider.indianamedicaid.com/media/27802/quick_reference.pdf. Nevertheless, not everyone qualifies for Medicaid; but it is overwhelming to know that there are still other options like CHIP or Children’s Health Insurance Program that provided assistance for uninsured children; it is also a part of Hoosier Healthwise, Indiana ’s health program. If you are interested in signing up click this link . Children of Indiana has its CHIP, therefore, there is also a program for adult which is HIP or Healthy Indiana Plan which offers affordable health insurance program for adults. For questions and inquiries, please contact 1-877-GET-HIP9 (1-877-438-4479).
Housing
The very basic requirement of any family is the housing; to have good and decent home. Single moms find a hard time paying for the rent, they have to work double time to manage all the expenses. With IHCDA or Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority, it aims to help and support broad ranges of housing solutions from temporary to home ownership. Click this link to get access on IHCDA. Even you have home; heating is also a necessity in Indiana winter to find out how to qualify for the Indiana Low Income Home energy Assistance Program
Education.
Education is bound to enter the list of your priorities sooner whether you like it or not. Your child needs proper education and so were you. You also need to send yourself to school to achieve higher profession to level up your qualifications in finding a good job. FAFSA for one can help you a lot, click the link to get access on Indiana FAFSA http://www.fafsaonline.com/, the next one will help you on getting the codes you need in Indiana , but don’t just stop there, you may also ask schools or colleges what other grants or scholarships they may also have.
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Financial Aids for Single Mothers in Florida
Florida financial aid
As a single mother, you may be weighed down by several expenses that will cause you some financial difficulties. As a mother, you are frequently pondering about the future of your child or children and extensive financial planning will really assist you in keeping up with the financial requirements of raising a family. Always remember that you are not alone because there are many grants, loans and state assistance that you can get. It will need you to strictly comply with all their requirements which can be overwhelming for your part but the result is beyond satisfactory.
How to Get State Assistance
Applying for financial state assistance is the first thing that you should do and getting your applying is quite tricky. The key here is to breakdown the process to provide a step by step plan to ensure that you are trekking the right path.
- Step #1. - To start with, contact the Department of Human Services office to arrange an appointment. Some DHS offices will demand you to fill up some forms and require some paperwork before setting up an appointment. It is a necessity for you to comply with all the requirements that the department demands.
- Step #2. - If the appointment is already set, bring all the relevant documents that are required from you. Usually the caseworker will need birth certificates, social security cards, proof of utility bills, rent and residency and a record regarding your situation with your child or children’s father - whether he is deceased or you are divorce or separated. Also, if you have court orders related to child custody or support then those are important documentation as well.
- Step #3. - During your meeting with your case worker, he or she will give you a list of the documents that you need to get. Generally, you are given ten days for you to gather all the needed paperwork but it is important to tell your caseworker immediately if you have any problems in getting those documents.
- Step#4. - If you qualify, you will be informed by the caseworker before you leave the office. After that, you will receive notices in the mail concerning the progress of your application and the things that you need to comply with regards to the areas of your case. Read the letters carefully and call the DHS if there is something you don’t understand. It is important to ask questions and it is also advised to work on it as fast as you can. The faster the process the smoother it will be.
Available Financial Aids in the State of Florida
There are lots of financial support programs out there and the different states provide different plans that will specifically help single mothers financially.
ACCESS Florida Program.
The Florida Access Program is a program under the Department of Human Services in Florida. It provides single mothers the financial assistance they need with regards to housing, education, health care and many more. Keep in mind that you will need to fill out their forms and produce all the needed requirements for your application to be approved.
The requirements of some programs under ACCESS can be complied through the phone but if you are required to do a personal appearance in one of their offices then do not panic. Usually this is because of some documents that is needed to be verified or some information that needs more back up documentation.
There are numerous programs under ACCESS the SNAP program is an example. It provides a monthly cash allowance for single mothers for them to buy nutritious foods. Another is Medicaid. This program covers children under the age of 19 if your income passes the program’s limit. Your child will be registered to the Florida Child Health Check up Program where he or she will have regular dental care, health check up, immunizations and many more. If you are a single mother and pregnant then ACCESS has a specific program for you. The Presumptively Eligible Pregnant Women or PEPW program offers free prenatal cares in local clinics. You can find more information about the ACCESS Florida Program on their website, www. myflorida.com/accessflorida or you can call them up on 866-762-2237.
MediKids.
The MediKids program is administered by the Florida Health Care Administration and it offers assistance in health care to all children belonging to a single-parent family. This program also gives health insurance to single mothers who have children under four years old. MediKids covers dental care, health check ups, hospital inpatient and outpatient procedures, x-ray, prescription medication, hearing aids, eyeglasses and many more. For more details, you can visit their website www.ahca.myflorida.com or you can ring them up 877-506-0578.
The Florida Gulf Coast University provides grants for all single parents who want to continue studying but can’t afford to. The applicant must be enrolled in a minimum of 12 hours per week to receive a full grant. The Academic Competitiveness Grant or ACG is also one of the programs that financially aid single mothers who are planning to get back to school. The ACG is a program which offers grants to single moms who are studying first and second year in college. Visit ACG’s website www.floridastudentfinancialaidsg.org.
The Department of Housing and Urban Development or HUD offers grants for single mothers housing assistance. This program is very useful to mothers who wish to have permanent homes or those who are struggling with their rent. The Shelter Plus Care Program also assists mothers in their housing needs. The program covers women who have some form of disability. Visit their website www.phfa.org. For HUD rental programs, call (800) 955-2232.