More parents are raising children on their own than ever before. In fact, a recent study conducted by the Organization for Economic Cooperation has discovered that approximately 25.8 percent of households are single-parent homes.
This number is much greater than other developed countries which report an average of 15% percent of single parent homes.
Experts have determined the steady rise of single parent homes in the United States can be contributed to a number of factors, such as:
- Our society is now more accepting of single parents. The stigma once associated with having children before marriage is quickly becoming a thing of the past. In fact, more parents today are intentionally choosing the single parent lifestyle.
- More teens are giving birth in the U.S. than in most other countries.
- Approximately 41% of first marriages in the United States are ending in divorce. This statistic is often cited as a reason why today’s single parents remain unmarried.
As we know, raising children on your own can be difficult. This burden of responsibility is hard on both the parent and the child, especially in poorer communities where single moms and dads may not have access to higher paying employment that would enable them to enjoy a better quality of life.
If you are a single parent, one of the best things you can do for yourself and your child is to keep up with the benefits that are available to you.
Missing out on even a couple of them can cause you to lose out on thousands of dollars. In today’s economy where every dollar counts, the following information is vital.
Who Qualifies for Single Parent Benefits?
Many single parents qualify for local, state, and even government benefits.
Most of these depend on certain factors, such as:
- Your income
- The number of children who are your dependants
- The number of adults and children living in your home
- If you or any of your children have certain disabilities
Even if you are not the biological parent of a child, if you are the primary caregiver, you may still be able to qualify for single parent benefits.
Some other factors that are involved in single parent benefits include:
- If your child is under the age of 16 and still in school
- If your child is under the age of 19 and currently enrolled in either high school or college
- If your child is under the age of 17, not in school, but planning on attending college or technical training
Benefit Options Available to Single Parents
So, what benefits are available to low-income single parents with qualifying children? There are actually many different types, depending on your particular situation.
A comprehensive list can be found at www.benefits.gov, but let’s take a quick look at a few of the most common categories. Each benefit on the site lists a program description, general requirements, and provides information on how to apply.
- Child Care/Child Support – This category lists several single parent benefits relating to child care and child support. Benefits include adoption assistance, Head Start, foster care programs, child tax credit, and the Child and Adult Care Food Program, or CACFP. Many more are also available for you to browse.
- Food/Nutrition – This category provides you with information on free or reduced school breakfast and lunch programs, milk programs, Women, Infants, Children or WIC programs, and Supplemental Nutrition Program within your particular state.
- Healthcare – If you or your children are in need of healthcare, this category can assist you in finding your state’s local health programs. This section also provides information about the Coal Mine Workers’ Compensation, the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Resource Center, the Compensated Work Therapy Program, and the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program.
- Taxes – As a single parent, you may qualify for more tax credits and deductions than other tax payers. This category provides information on the 2012 earned income credit or EITC, which is a federal income tax credit that provides you with a $3,169 credit if you have one child, $5,236 for two children, and a $4,891 cap for single parents with three or more children. Information on the Child and Dependent Care credit, Child tax credit, Health Coverage tax credit, tax benefit for adoption, tax benefits for education, and tax assistance for those with disabilities is also available.
Being a single parent can be a tough job, but you don’t have to struggle to get by. Single parent benefits, when used, can lighten the load and help you to provide the necessities you may not be able to afford on your own.
Take the time to research and apply today; your future, and the future of your child could be brighter because of it.
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