If you are currently a single mother, you may find yourself struggling to keep up with everything. Over the past few years, the cost of living has only continued to increase while the job market is still struggling. Being a single mother is difficult, especially in this economy but there is hope because state help is available.
The state of Connecticut is committed to providing the assistance to women and their children who truly need the extra help. There are a whole lot of different resources available, ranging from food assistance to cash assistance and much more. Each of these programs can help you, as a single mother, to afford the cost of living and all of the different expenses you may have on a regular basis.
Food Resources
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as SNAP, is a food resource assistance program that provides you with a certain amount of money that is used for groceries each month.
The way the eligibility works for this program is based on the amount of income you earn, along with the size of your household. You may be provided with more benefits if you have more than one child but even with one child, you will receive the help you need with affording groceries for each month.
This program comes in handy for single moms, especially because it cuts down on the amount of money that is being spent on groceries so that money can be used on other expenses, which includes bills and other basic necessities.
The state of Connecticut also has the WIC program, which is known as the Women, Infant and Children Program. Under this program, single moms can receive checks on a monthly basis, in which they can buy specific food items.
The food items that are provided through the WIC checks include milk, cereal, cheese, eggs, bread and other important food items that can add to the well-being of the entire family.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program – SNAP
Childcare Assistance
When you are a single mother, you basically have no other choice but to go out and get a job, especially because you are going to be the sole provider for your children who are depending on you to take care of them.
While getting a job is very important, it can be hard to manage a job and afford the cost of childcare, which continuously increases with each year that passes by. If you are struggling to afford childcare payments, you can get help affording the childcare in the state of Connecticut.
The Department of Social Services provides childcare assistance to those who cannot afford the payments but need the assistance in order to continue with their employment. As a single mother, you will likely be eligible for this form of assistance and can be rest assured knowing your child or children will be well taken care of while you work.
Rent Assistance
In the state of Connecticut, there is a rental assistance program available, commonly referred to as the RAP program. Under this program, you can get help with paying your monthly rental payments.
The cost of living keeps increasing and so does the cost of monthly rent payments. As a single mother, you may be struggling to have your rent paid on time.
With this program, you may be provided with a safe and affordable home for your children and you to live in. In order to get rental assistance, you are going to need to go through the Department of Social Services, as they are responsible for this funded program.
Affordable Healthcare
Having healthcare is crucial for you and your children. As children are young, they are more susceptible to illness and it is important that you have healthcare for them because if you do not, they may get very sick and end up having to go to the hospital and as such the hospital bills can be quite expensive.
Having healthcare for your children is just as important as having healthcare for yourself. The only problem is that healthcare often costs an arm and a leg, which is something most single moms simply cannot afford.
If you are in need of healthcare for your children and for yourself, you can apply for Medicaid, which is available to low-income individuals. You can apply for Medicaid through your local county assistance office.
Grants and Scholarships/College and School
Do you have an interest in furthering your education and pursuing career goals that you have always wanted to follow? If so, do not let being a parent stop you from doing this.
Even if you are a single mother, you can still go back to school to further your education, which would help you find a better job in the future. If you are worried about who will watch your child or children while you are in school, you can take heart from the fact that childcare assistance would still be available.
On the other hand, you may also be concerned about how you would pay for college or trade school. In that case, there are actually plenty of scholarships and grants available specifically for single mothers. Do not settle for less when you can, in fact, have it a little.
Connecticut Scholarships and Grants
Financial Assistance
Last but certainly not the least, if you are in need of some added financial assistance, you can get help with it as well. In the state of Connecticut, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as TANF, is available.
This program provides you with temporary cash assistance, which comes in handy if you are in need of cash and struggling to get on your feet. The extra money you receive on a monthly basis can be used to pay bills and attend to immediate expenses which need to be settled.