Alone Moms

There are some unique scholarship opportunities available to single mothers, particularly if you’ve had to overcome some large obstacles to get to where you are. Many scholarships for women are need-based and also take into account minority-status and obstacles like domestic and alcohol abuse recovery. If you are looking for a scholarship for single moms, often, you can even find them right on the Internet.

Obviously, like grants, the first thing one wants to do to locate a scholarship for single moms is to file the FAFSA. The FAFSA is the Free Application For Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that allows the government to determine need and award grants and scholarships on a first-come/first serve basis. By submitting the FAFSA to the colleges or universities of your choice, not only will it make you eligible for Federal funds, but the universities or colleges you apply to will also use it to see if you match any of their private scholarships or grants.

Another great place to look for a scholarship for single moms is online. There are a number of websites like fastweb.org and Sallie Mae’s wiredscholar.org. In addition, there are many websites for private college funds like the North Carolina College Fund, the Negro College Fund, and the American Indian College Fund. They all contain great information on what state level scholarships are available, where to apply, and by when.

Other organizations worth noting when looking for a scholarship for single moms are:

The Sunshine Lady Foundation

This foundation offers scholarships to women who have been a victim of a partner’s abuse.

Soroptomist Club

This club (which boasts 45,000 members in the U.S.) offers scholarships on the basis of need or domestic violence or drug and alcohol abuse recovery. Local clubs handle all the scholarship applications.

Kazimour Scholarships

There are two undergraduates and one graduate scholarship awarded each spring semester, which is sponsored by Dr. Kim Kazimour and ANTSHE.

Raise The Nation

This non-profit organization helps women looking for a scholarship for single moms. They also have a loan repayment program for single mothers unable to repay their loans. There are requirements that need to be met: a record showing strong community service or volunteerism.

Being a single mother is difficult, but finding a scholarship for single moms might be the help you need to get a better life. With so many resources available in the form of scholarships or grants, it pays to look into these valuable services.

For more great information about Scholarship for Single Mothers visit our “Scholarship for Single Mothers” Guide.

The Federal government made it clear that they wanted to stop the welfare mom culture and get single mothers back to work. To that end, they reduced welfare for single mothers and implemented programs and policies to reward single mothers for working. If you are a working single mother, there many options available to help defray costs. Help for single moms is still out there, it just may not be as obvious to the general public.

Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts

The government allows employers to offer a dependent care flexible spending account as a benefit. The benefit works by taking child care monies out of the paycheck prior to taking out taxes. The worker then must claim the money through the Human Resources department by showing receipt of payment for qualifying childcare expenses.

This provides help for single moms, and all families, by offering a savings equal to the end of year tax rate on that portion of their income allotted to childcare expenses. However, if all the monies that were put aside in the fund are not claimed, they are not reimbursed to the employee. Therefore, one has to be careful only to allot the exact or less amount that one intends to spend on childcare for the year into these accounts.

Tax Time

One of the biggest areas where a single mother can benefit is around tax time. If she was employed throughout the year, she can file as a head of household, earning a lower tax rate, and may even qualify for an earned income credit and

To be eligible as a single mother, one has to have earned income during the year, but beneath a particular level. This credit can add thousands to your tax refund and is a form of government-sponsored support for working mothers. It can even be chosen to show up directly in your paycheck the following year, instead of waiting for the end of year to file and receive the benefit.

Other Help For Single Moms

The Department of Social Services has the most information on where else to get help for single moms. They can provide assistance with qualifying and getting into programs like food stamps medical assistance, child support enforcement, and child care subsidies.

For housing, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offers programs for low-income people in the form of vouchers, section 8s, or first-time homebuyer programs.

In addition, the Federal government gives out help for single moms in the form of education grants and loans to help them obtain new skills and get into the job market. Filling out a FAFSA and applying to a college or university that will look through the programs to see if you qualify can locate these.

For more great information about Assistance & Support for Single Mothers visit our “Assistance & Support for Single Mothers” Guide.