Single Parent Grants and Financial Aid

Being a single parent is not at all an easy task, especially when you do not have enough resources, to take care of your financial requirements. It is a challenge in real sense, mainly because, not only you are required to meet your household expenses, but will also have to address the basic necessities for your children. The situation gets worse in case of single income.

In order to address the financial problems faced by single parents, a number of programs have been extended by the federal Government of the United States, for helping a single parent address her financial requirements. Several grants and financial aids are provided to single parents, apart from several other facilities, to enable single parents, to fend for themselves. The aim is to provide financial succor to the single parent, apart from reducing the level of stress, associated with single parenting.

If you are a single parent, then you can apply for government grants and financial aid and if you satisfy the criteria, then you can get financial assistance from the state. However, it needs to be mentioned here that, these financial aids are granted on the basis of the annual income, as well as the size of the family. These financial aids are given only to people with serious financial problems.

So, if you are financially secured or you are receiving a certain amount of alimony as child support, then you will not be eligible for these grants. Similarly, if your children are been taken care of, by foster parents or grandparents, then in that case too, you will not be eligible for these grants. Apart from that, several other factors are also taken in consideration while granting these financial aids.

It also needs to be mentioned here that these grants are also provided, in order to enable a single parent to continue her education. The following are some of the grants and financial aids, which are available to single parents:

1. Federal Pell Grant Program
The Federal Pell Grant Program is a grant, which is extended to single parents, to enable them to support their education further. It is especially aimed at providing support to students belonging to low income group. As it is, single parents are also eligible for these grants, if they satisfy the criteria in regard to the family income, as well as the size of the family. A major feature of this grant is that it not only takes into account the cost of the tuition fees, but the enrollment status of the student as well. The grant is provided directly to the educational institution where the candidate has enrolled. The institution then credits the amount into the account of the student or issues a check once every semester.

2. JRF Scholarship Program
This scholarship is available to all women candidates, irrespective of their marital status. However, for availing this grant, you need to be a US citizen; you should be 35 years old and belong to a low-income family.

It is worth noting that today; more than eight hundred different types of grants and financial aids are available to single parents. However, many a times, single parents are not aware of these grants and financial aids, which can be availed by them.