Financial Assistance for Single Parents

Raising children is expensive, especially if you’re doing it on your own. Fortunately there are government assistance programs for single moms and dads that can help.

About 26% of the more than 72,000 children under the age of 18 in the U.S that receive federal assistance are being raised by a single parent or grandparent. Of those, 13,710 are being raised by a single mother, 3,649 by a single father, and 1,553 by a grandparent, according to the most recent numbers.

The benefits of financial assistance for single moms and dads, grandparents raising grandkids and two-parent households go beyond putting food on the table or a roof over a family’s heads. Multiple studies show that children raised in poverty are at a disadvantage that may cause issues into adulthood. Programs that help feed children and families, support employment for parents, provide housing, education, assistance for widows, assistance for people experiencing domestic violence, and other financial support, are designed to help lift children and their families out of that spiral.

State social services get federal funding that they use to help single parents care for their children. A good place to become familiar with available grants and other aid for single parents is at Benefits.gov, a comprehensive website that also has information on how to apply to specific programs.

Government Programs for Single Parents

Eligibility for federal assistance programs generally depends on income. Most programs use a percentage of the federal poverty guideline, which is set every year by the federal government.

Federal assistance programs for single moms and dads are administered through the state, with some state qualifications differing from the federal ones. Application for federal assistance programs is made through a state agency, usually the Department of Health and Human Services. Those who qualify for one financial assistance program usually qualify for others, which makes the application process for multiple programs easier.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF provides grants to states for programs that help low-income families with children, as well as pregnant women, by providing monthly cash assistance payments for a limited amount of time, as well as a range of services. States have flexibility on how they use and distribute the money, so every state’s program is different. The aim of TANF is to help low-income families with children achieve economic self-sufficiency. TANF has a webpage that links to each state’s services.

Food Assistance for Single Parents

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): SNAP provides a monthly cash benefit to help pay for nutritious food. The benefit is loaded on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card, which is used like a debit card. The amount depends on income and family size. The program is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and administered through state governments. States have differing income eligibility requirements, but all are tied to the federal poverty guideline, which changes each year.

Eligibility for immigrants, as well as work requirements changed in 2025. There are also different rules for households with a disabled member, or one 65 or older. Those changes can be found on the SNAP webpage.

SNAP can only be used for certain kinds of foods but can also be used for seeds for a vegetable garden; it can’t be used for alcohol or fast food.

Woman, Infants and Children (WIC): WIC, also a program of the USDA, is an offshoot of SNAP and provides additional benefits for pregnant and nursing mothers and children younger than 5. It provides access to nutritious food, including dairy products, peanut butter, and cereal.

National School Lunch Program (NSLP): Another USDA program, NSLP provides nutritionally balanced low-cost or free lunches in schools. Any child whose family gets SNAP benefits is eligible. Children whose household makes 130% or less of the federal poverty guideline are eligible for free meals; 185% of the guideline are eligible for reduced-price meals. Parents apply at their school. Some schools use the Community Eligibility Provision to provide free breakfast and lunch for all students, regardless of income.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP): The USDA program provides emergency food assistance for people with low incomes or who are unemployed to help supplement their diets. The USDA provides food and money to states, which administer TEFAP, usually through food banks and state programs that provide food directly to households.

Food Pantries: Food pantries across the U.S. provide food to anyone who needs it with few restrictions (though some require you’re from the area). Many get some, or all, of their food from food banks, which are supported by donations as well as federal grants. You may have to fill out a form about your household’s needs, but it’s usually to make sure you get the amount of food, and type, that will work best for you and your family. To find a food pantry near you, there’s a locator on the Feeding America website.

Child Care and Job Training

Several government programs provide job training and child care for single parents. The names of the programs may differ by state. Most are funded by federal grants through several agencies.

TANF: Besides providing emergency food assistance, TANF is also is designed to offer job training and child care support, with programs varying depending on the state. TANF has links to each state’s program contact information.

Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP): CCAP supports child care for parents who are working, job-hunting, or going to school. Each state administers its program differently, funded by the federal Department of Health and Human Services. Parents generally contribute what they can afford to child care costs, with the CCAP covering the rest. To find your state’s program, search for CCAP and your state name in a search browser, or contact your state’s Department of Health and Human Services.

Community Action Agencies: Community Action Agencies, or Programs, often called CAPS, are funded by a federal grant, and offer child care, early education, job training and other resources for parents. Nationally, CAA has instituted a “whole family approach” that offers life coaching and helps both parents and children with a variety of support that will help a family build a stronger future. Community Action has a search function to find local programs.

Head Start: This early childhood education program is for children up to age 5 provides early education, medical and dental care, and help with nutrition issues, as well as resources for pregnant women. Eligible families are those with incomes at or below the federal poverty guideline, those who are enrolled in TANF, SNAP, get Supplemental Security Income, children in the foster care system or those experiencing homelessness. Some programs also accept a limited number of children who do not meet eligibility criteria. It’s funded by the U.S. DHHS, but administered on the state level, so application is through your state.

Child Care Access Means Parents in School Program (CCAMPIS): This program provides on-campus child care for parents who are seeking a post-high school education. Parents who are eligible for PELL grants can make use of the service, which is funded by a federal grant that goes directly to colleges and universities. Check with your university or college to see if they provide the program. If you’re school-shopping, check on whether CCAMPIS is still available. It’s funded by Congress and may not be renewed.

Federal Work-Study (FWS) Program: Single parents (as well as other students) who get financial aid to go to college may also qualify for FWS, which puts students in jobs up to 20 hours a week to help pay education costs. The jobs may be on-campus or off, but are often related to the college or in the student’s field of study. To be eligible, a student must fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If you qualify, apply early, since funding for this program has been reduced.

Housing Assistance for Single Parents

The Department of Housing and Urban Development offers several forms of housing assistance, which is administered through state housing authorities or agencies. HUD’s major program for low-income families who need help paying rent is the Housing Choice Voucher program. HCV helps renters afford safe and sanitary housing, allowing participants to find their own housing. To qualify, a household must earn at least 50% of the area median income or less, as set by HUD. The housing agency pays the landlord a portion of the rent, with the participant making up the difference. Many housing agencies also provide housing the agency owns for families who qualify.

Many states have additional programs that include resources and financial education for low-income people seeking housing. State housing agencies also have homebuyer classes, budgeting resources and other educational and support tools for single parents and others who need housing help. The HUD website has links to all states’ resources.

Learn More:

Help with Mortgage Payments

Rental Assistance

Emergency Financial Assistance for Single Parents

If you need emergency assistance that goes beyond what’s available from a government program, there are some options, but also risks. Check any emergency assistance carefully before proceeding.

• Emergency loans: Quick loans are available online, even for people with a low credit score, but they usually come with some risk, including interest that can be as high as 399%. Review the terms carefully before accepting a payday, title, or other quick loan. If you do borrow on one, have a plan to repay it quickly, before the interest makes it more than you can pay back.
• Hardship grants for single mothers: Most legitimate grants for single mothers, fathers, or anyone else, usually come through a government agency and require application to that agency. If anyone tells you that, for a fee, they can get you SNAP or TANF benefits, it’s a scam. Local charities, your state, churches or your town or county may have hardship programs that can help. Start with your state DHHS or your area’s CAP agency, which can help you find legitimate resources. Many states have General Assistance programs that provide immediate emergency help through the county or municipal government. Check with your state DHHS to see if your state has such a program and how to access it.

Financial Assistance for Education

While most higher education financial aid programs are open to anyone, based on academic qualifications and financial need, there are also grants earmarked for single parents, often for specific programs or locations.

The most common grant for single parents, and all other students who need help paying for college, is the Pell Grant. It is a grant, not a loan. You do not have to pay the money back. The maximum Pell Grant amount for the 2025-26 academic year was $7,395, and the maximum increases every year. The amount awarded to a student depends on how much you or your family can pay, how much tuition at the school is and whether you are a full or part-time student. Pell Grants are usually part of a financial aid package that may also include student loans and work-study aid. Application is through the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, which can be found online or through your college financial aid office.

Finding scholarships can take time. Some are available to single parents who want to pursue a degree, others help children of single parents who want to attend college. Many help both.

The National Association of Federal Student Aid Administrators maintains a list of state financial aid agencies on its website, which is a good place to begin when looking for scholarships and grants for single parents. The U.S. Department of Labor also has a scholarship search tool. When doing your research, try to avoid sites where you have to register to get scholarship details. Never pay to access scholarship information. There is plenty of free information available.

The Current State of Government-Funded Programs

Federal budget and administrative changes in 2025 have meant changes to many assistance programs. Changes that may affect you, even if you qualify, are additional work requirements, more complicated application process and changing deadlines. You may also no longer be eligible for a program that you once were. Other programs are losing funding, or funding is severely reduced, making them harder to access.

Here are some of the major changes to government assistance programs:

SNAP Changes

Proposed federal funding cuts could change the amount of money allocated to SNAP programs, which would mean a reduction in benefits. States also, beginning in 2026, have to shoulder more of the cost of the program and administrative duties, which will cost states more and could also cause administrative delays in application processing and customer service help. Changes made through the “One Big Beautiful” tax bill signed by President Trump in July 2025 also brought changes to the program, including:

Work Requirements. In order to get more than three months’ worth of SNAP benefits during a 36-month span, work requirements must be met for those between 18 and 64 years of age.

Some who were previously exempt must now meet the requirement, including those:

• Experiencing homeless
• Some veterans
• Age 55-64
• Parents, grandparents, or caregivers of children ages 14 or older
• Foster youth who recently aged out of the system

Requirements are for 80 hours of paid work or volunteer work a month, or participation in a training program. Previously exempt groups can ask for a waiver, but must file increased paperwork and must meet the requirements until the exemption is approved.

Immigrant eligibility. Many groups of immigrants legally living in the U.S. who were traditionally eligible for SNAP benefits no longer are, beginning in 2026. States must determine who they are and terminate the benefits of any recipient who no longer qualifies. These include:

• Those legally living in the U.S. under DACA
• Refugees and asylum-seekers with humanitarian status
• Survivors of trafficking and domestic violence who have pending or approved T visas or have petitioned for legal status under the Violence Against Women Act.
• Those with valid Temporary Protected Status visas

TANF Changes

TANF has launched a pilot program in five states – Arizona, Iowa, Nebraska, Ohio and Virginia – that would change how work requirements are calculated. The focus is on outcomes, rather than hours worked. The six-year pilot may be extended to other states, as well. While it brings more flexibility for work requirements, it also tightens application periods and qualifications, so could make it more difficult for people to apply for, or remain on, the program

Community Action Agency Changes

There are more than 1,000 Community Action Agencies, or Programs, (look for CAP in your local agency’s name) in the U.S. They are mostly funded through Community Services Block Grants and other federal grant programs. Much of CAA funding was initially slated to be cut in 2025. It wasn’t, but there is still a push to cut grants and funding for CAAS, or eliminate the program altogether, so local programs my be limited or eliminated in the future.

Head Start Changes

Head Start, which provides early education for about 750,000 children age 5 and under, is funded by federal grants administered by the Office of Head Start (OHS) in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The grants go directly to local government, nonprofit, for-profit, and faith-based organizations and are renewed every five years. Head Start’s funding has not increased since 2024, and the federal government in early 2025 threatened to cut all funding. While that didn’t happen, the program remains in jeopardy. Some immigrant groups legally living in the U.S. may also no longer be eligible in the future, under federal proposals that are under discussion.

Food Bank and TEFAP Changes

In March 2025, the USDA cut $1 billion in funding to the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement Program, which helps to fund food banks across the country, as well as TEFAP, which provides emergency food to those who need it, usually through food banks and food pantries. SNAP budget cuts may also affect food availability. Food banks have stepped up efforts to find other funding, but availability for those who need food pantry services may be affected.

Housing Assistance Changes

The FY 2026 federal budget, as proposed, would reduce funding for several federal Department of Housing and Urban Development programs and would:

• Not fully fund the Housing Choice Voucher program, which would affect 200,000-400,000 renters as state programs would have to reduce how many vouchers were issued or renewed.
• Eliminate the Emergency Housing Voucher program, which provides rent assistance for nearly 50,000 people at risk of homelessness or fleeing domestic violence.
• Reduce funding for the Continuum of Care Program, the main homelessness solutions program run by HUD, making shelter and resources for those experiencing homeless less available.

Education Assistance for Single Parents Changes

The Child Care Access Means Parents In School Program (CCAMPIS), which provides on-campus child care for parents seeking a post-high school education may not be funded for 2026, or funding may be reduced, depending on which proposal is approved.

Funding for the Federal Work Study Program has been reduced, so those hoping to take advantage should apply early.

Pell Grant maximum usually increases every year, but didn’t in 2025, and yearly increases may not be automatic in the future.

What If I Don’t Qualify for Financial Assistance?

Most assistance for single parents has income qualifications that you may not meet. The U.S. poverty guideline for an individual in 2025 was $15,650, which means 130%, the maximum for many programs, was $20,345. It was $26,650 for a family of three, with 130% being $34,645. Housing assistance programs use area median income as set by HUD, which varies depending on state, and is is higher than the poverty guideline, but still disqualifies some people.

If you are a single parent seeking assistance, find out if you qualify, rather than assuming you don’t. For instance, estimates are that up to 20% of working low-income people in the U.S. who qualify for SNAP don’t enroll.

Whether you earn too much to qualify for assistance, or if you qualify, but need more help, want to eliminate debt, or strengthen your financial foundation, there are options beyond government programs. Some work for everyone, some depend on financial situation.

The best options for additional financial assistance for a single parent are:

Credit Counseling: A counselor at a nonprofit credit counseling agency, housing agency or other organization can review your finances and resources, as well as offer suggestions on where to get financial help or eliminate debt. In most cases, talking to a credit counselor is free.

Credit counseling agencies: Nonprofit credit counseling agencies offer free credit counseling, and because they are nonprofit, they must offer advice that’s in your best interest, rather than try to sell you a product. The best credit counseling agencies will review all debt elimination options with you, as well as go over budgeting and point you to resources and financial education tools.

Budgeting: Creating a budget will help you understand how much money you have available for bills and where you need to cut expenses. It is the first step toward any financial solution for every household.

Building an emergency fund: No matter what your financial situation, having an emergency financial plan will ensure that you have money for an unexpected expense.

Debt consolidation: A low-interest loan that consolidates high-interest debt, like credit cards, is an option for single parents who have a good enough credit score to get a loan that saves them money.

Debt management plan: Offered by nonprofit credit counseling agencies, DMPs eliminate high-interest debt in 3-5 years through one fixed monthly payment. The credit counselor works with your creditors to lower interest rates and waive fees, which reduces what you owe.

Debt settlement: You don’t pay the entire balance of the debt, but make monthly payments into an escrow account while the for-profit debt settlement company negotiates with creditors for lower payments. This will have a negative impact on your credit, so consider it carefully before signing on.

Nonprofit debt settlement: Nonprofit debt settlement is offered by credit counseling agencies, and sometimes called credit card forgiveness. As with for-profit debt settlement, you don’t pay the full balance, but unlike for-profit, your payments immediately go to creditors and there is no long wait while they are not getting paid. This is a new product, so some of your creditors may not have joined.