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The US government offers financial support for single parents who have proven themselves unable to provide enough care for their children. The law acknowledges that single parents face responsibilities that are much more complicated than families with two parents, hence the provision for financial assistance. This way, the government takes part in reducing the pressures and hardships single parents face every single day.
Single parents are growing in number throughout the country and all over the world. In fact, with the rising trend toward woman empowerment, more females are opting to raise kids on their own than getting married (but that's a different story).
Despite the absence of a partner, single parents are not alone in the challenging task of rearing their kids. The government is there and very much willing to help.
All single parents qualify for government assistance, particularly those who are in dire need of financial help. To apply for aid, the single parent must first secure and fill up a form from the city hall. Information sought on the forms should be honestly and completely filled out because these will determine his or her eligibility for the assistance being offered.
Yes, while all single parents are eligible for government help, there still are certain guidelines that need to be fulfilled to protect the fund from unscrupulous people. Also, keep in mind that financial assistance will only be given to those single parents who truly need them, and not to those who earn hefty salaries.
Single parents that may avail of government financial help are those that have been divorced, or if the other parent is either handicapped, seriously injured, or deceased.
If the other parent is imprisoned, the custodial parent may also apply for government support. It can also cover those whose children had been born out of marriage, or if the other parent has not been identified.
In addition, it also applies to those single-parent families where the other parent has abandoned them for about a year. The time frame is given, because, under law, it is only until then that abandonment can be officially and legally claimed.
Here are some of the grants offered for single parents:
- state child care subsidies
- low income home energy assistance program (LIHEAP)
- women, infant & children's program (WIC)
- temporary assistance to needy families (TANF)The following single parent situations will exclude the applicant from obtaining government sponsored financial assistance:
- if the child is being supported by the single parent's partner
- if the single parents is already receiving pensions for his or her disability or for other reasons
- if the child is being cared for by foster parents
- if the child is waiting to claim an inheritance from one or both of his or her parents
However, even if the governement offers assistance, single parents should not simply rely on these to care for their kids. As a single parent, you must be responsible and resilient enough to seek ways to finance your and your child's well being without having to apply for help. Go get a job, who cares if it's temporary? The important thing is you're exercising all the effort and energy to provide the best you can for your child.