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Help For Single Moms From Government Programs
from: Karlie BestlerThe Federal government wants 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 you to help defray costs. Help for single mothers is still out there. It just is not 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. This benefit works by taking child care money out of the paycheck prior to deducting taxes. The worker then must claim the money through the Human Resources Department by showing receipt for payment for qualifying childcare expenses.
This provides help for single mothers 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 money that was put aside in the fund is not claimed, it is not reimbursed to the employee. Therefore, the employee has to be careful only to allot the exact or a lesser amount than will be spent on childcare for the year into these accounts.
Tax Breaks
One of the biggest areas where a single mother can benefit is a tax break when she files her tax return. If she was employed throughout the year, she can file as a head of household and have a lower tax rate.
She may even qualify for an earned income credit. To be eligible as a single mother, one has to have earned income during the year, but below a certain level. This credit can add thousands to a 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 Mothers
The Department of Social Services has the most information on where else to get help for single mothers. 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 mothers in the form of education grants and loans to help single mothers obtain new skills and get into the job market. Start by filling out a FAFSA and applying to a college or university that will look through the programs to see if you qualify.
Single Mother Assistance In The News
Poll Finds Support for Shorter Term Limits - New York Times (blog)
Poll Finds Support for Shorter Term Limits New York Times (blog) Her mother, Barbara, established the Brooke Jackman Foundation so that her dream of helping others would live on. [NYT] Housing advocates, tenants and ... |
Justice for single moms - Malay Mail
Justice for single moms Malay Mail KUALA LUMPUR: Tears of joy flowed for single mother Mazni Cha (pic), 38, yesterday as she received a stipend from the provisional maintenance fund managed ... |
Companies must take steps to defuse workers' stress - Kansas City Star
Companies must take steps to defuse workers' stress Kansas City Star ... to-do list - it's the frustrated janitor, the legal secretary with worries about job security, or the single mother with no flexibility in her hours. ... |
Community Challenge | Help CASA assist families at risk - Louisville Courier-Journal
Community Challenge | Help CASA assist families at risk Louisville Courier-Journal My first case was a neglect case: a young, single mother with four children under the age of six. The mother loved her kids, but she was overwhelmed and had ... |
Battle over classroom decorum: Schools tighten dress code rules - Jackson Clarion Ledger
Battle over classroom decorum: Schools tighten dress code rules Jackson Clarion Ledger "I'm a single mother. I spent good money that I really didn't have to buy ... so she would fit in at school. I mean, let's face it, kids can be cruel. ... |
Not married with children - Memphis Commercial Appeal
Not married with children Memphis Commercial Appeal Rosalind Guy, a single mother of four children, also has experienced her share of dating woes, but she, too, remains adamant about keeping her kids at the ... |