Finding Assistance for single mothers in South Carolina is not as difficult as you might think.
Statistics tell us that 80% of all single parents in the US are single mothers and 53% of them are millennials.
This is disturbing as these families tend to struggle a lot especially financially.
Like every other state in the nation, South Carolina is plagued by the lack of financial resources for kids in single-parent families.
The Palmetto State has numerous significant programs that address the predicament of its most vulnerable families with a focus on financial self-sufficiency.
The List of Assistance for Single Mothers in South Carolina
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP, which stands for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, is a federal program to help low-income households pay their energy bills.
Through direct payments to their gas or electric utility companies, South Carolina’s LIHEAP helps qualifying low-income households cover the costs of heating and cooling their homes.
Priority is given to people who could be elderly, crippled, have young families, or use the most energy.
An additional 20% reduction of gas and/or electric bills is available to senior citizens who are Supplemental Security Income (SSI) qualifying.
Assistance from LIHEAP is not a monthly benefit. You may receive assistance once a year or up to three times a year, but not every month, depending on the funding options in your county.
For more information on how to apply, visit this page.
Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) helps low-income families with home energy bills. If you qualify, WAP can help you weatherize or improve the energy efficiency of your home.
This may include heating, cooling, and insulation, water heater repairs and replacements, and furnace repairs and replacements.
You must live in South Carolina to qualify for this benefit program. Those in the following category will be especially considered:
-People that are above 60
-Families with one or more disabled members
-Households with children (in most states)
If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), you are immediately qualified for weatherization assistance under DOE rules.
For more information on how to apply, visit this page.
Food Stamps/Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which works to prevent hunger and promote the health of low-income people by assisting families in purchasing the food they need for a nutritionally appropriate diet, has served as the cornerstone of America’s national nutrition safety net.
Over 500,000 households in South Carolina rely on SNAP each month to buy the food they require for good health.
A person or family’s purchasing power at the food shop is increased thanks to SNAP payments.
The benefits will lower the amount of money that must be utilized each month for groceries but are not meant to cover all of a family’s food expenses.
SNAP is used by families, single people, and people who share an apartment. Homeless people are also eligible for SNAP benefits.
To be eligible, you must be a South Carolina resident and have a current bank balance of less than $2,001 or $3,001 if you share the household with someone 60 years and above or a person with a disability.
To apply or get more information, visit this page
Medicaid/Healthy Connections
Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income people and families. Medicaid provides free or low-cost health coverage to people who meet certain eligibility requirements.
If you are pregnant and have at least one child under age 6, you may be eligible for Medicaid through the Healthy Connections program.
The Healthy Connections program provides healthcare coverage for children and pregnant women.
If you have questions about your application or what specific services are covered by either of these programs, contact this number: (888) 549-0820
For more information, visit this page.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
The South Carolina TANF program helps extremely low-income families with dependent children who are unable to pay for even the most essentials.
The majority of TANF assistance in South Carolina is only available for 24 months throughout 10 years.
If certain requirements are met, the time restriction may be extended for hardship-related reasons.
In South Carolina, the TANF eligibility cutoff is set at 50% of the federal poverty level.
For instance, a single mother with two kids who makes $10,000 or less annually may be eligible for benefits.
For more information, visit this page.
South Carolina Earned Income Tax Credit
South Carolina, recently established a non-refundable Earned Income Tax Benefit (EITC) to “piggyback” off the federal credit.
Following the plan, the credit will be phased in over the following six years, with qualified South Carolinians receiving a credit of up to 125% of the federal EITC in 2023.
Taxpayers who qualify may claim up to 62.5% of the federal credit for the 2021 tax year.
Many low-wage South Carolinians and their families will receive a little advantage from the credit, but because it is non-refundable, those who pay little to no state income tax would receive little to no benefit from the credit.
South Carolina Need-Based Grant
Need-based in S.C. Grant offers financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis to South Carolina’s most needy students enrolled in qualified SC public institutions.
A qualified student may receive up to $2,500 per year for full-time enrollment or up to $1,250 per year for part-time enrollment. This is for only 8 semesters.
You must submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) no later than January 1 of each academic year to be eligible for an S.C. Need-based Grant. Early candidates are given preference in the review process.
To be eligible:
-being a resident of South Carolina and an eligible citizen of the United States
-must be a first-year undergraduate without a baccalaureate degree
-be admitted to, and enrolled in, a South Carolina college or university for a minimum of six semester hours (half-time status).
-must demonstrate a need for funds as determined by the FAFSA.
-must not be in default with any Federal or State financial aid or owe a repayment
For more information, call this number: (803) 737- 8348
South Carolina Unemployment Insurance
Workers who meet the requirements and lost their jobs due to no fault of their own are given temporary financial help through unemployment insurance.
The highest weekly salary allowed in South Carolina is $326. Up to 20 weeks’ worth of unemployment insurance benefits may be given to eligible claimants by the state.
You must actively look for a job every week that you apply for assistance to be eligible.
You must carry out at least two (2) verifiable job searches per week to continue to be eligible for assistance.
For more information, visit this page.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
The SC Voucher Program offers subsidized child care in South Carolina to assist low-income families in paying for high-quality childcare.
Families with special needs children are welcome to apply as well.
Families that qualify may select the daycare center of their choice. Depending on their degree of quality, the program will pay childcare providers up to a specified sum.
Depending on the size and income of the family, family co-payments range from $6 to $20 per child per week.
These copayments are some of the least expensive in the country.
For more information, call this number: 1‐800‐476‐0199
South Carolina Healthy Connections Kids
For children in South Carolina under the age of 19 who are uninsured and are not eligible for Medicaid, there is a program called Healthy Connections Kids.
Children in homes with incomes under 213% of the federal poverty level are given free health care. Adult participants in the program are not covered in any way.
For more information, call this number: (888) 549-0820 or visit this page.
Conclusion:
Single mothers in South Carolina can get help through several programs like the one listed above.
This is the government’s way of letting single mothers know they are not alone.
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