Parenting is a beautiful but not easy job and most parents can attest to this. Therefore you would agree with me that being a single mother and raising a child or children on your own without help is not easy.
Studies have shown that in Florida about 49.8% of the children belong to single parents either the father or mother. They account for about 1 475,000 children that belong to single parents.
The List of Assistance For Single Mothers In Florida
If you are a single mother who resides in Florida and needs help, assistance, or grants, the Federal Government, the state government, and some other non-profit organizations have established various programs to assist and provide financial, medical, and nutritional needs and assistance to single mothers in Florida.
1. Florida Medicaid
Florida Medicaid is an organization that is owned by both the state and federal governments. Medicaid assists single mothers in Florida with coverage of medical bills and also provides grants to single mothers who earn little money.
Here is a list of persons that are eligible for the Medicaid benefits;
- Single mothers with low income.
- Poor families with children below 18.
- Pregnant women with 196% of the Federal Poverty Level( FPL).
- Children
- Disabled Persons
- Elderly people
- Non-residents that have medical bills and emergencies.
- Families with children below 19 years whose income is below 138% Federal Poverty Level(FPL).
- A family or families that are not receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
Interested mothers and people should apply through the Department of Children and Families(DCF) or contact access Florida. Single mothers who only want to apply for their children to submit their application to Florida kid care or 866-762-2237 for more inquiries.
2. Florida KidCare (SCHIP)
Florida KidCare offers children who are not insured or underinsured access to low-cost insurance plans. This plan is for children who were born in Florida from birth to the age of 18.
The following government-sponsored programs offer low-cost insurance to children born in Florida;
- Children’s Medical Services Managed Care Plan: It offers insurance to children with special needs from birth till they are 18 years old.
- MediKids: MediKids provides insurance to children from ages 1 to 8.
- Medicaid: Medicaid provides insurance for children from birth till they are 18 years.
- Florida Healthy Kids: Florida Healthy Kids provides insurance to children from the age of 5 to 18 years.
Eligibility for Florida KidCare depends on how poor the family is or how little the family income is.
Children whose family income is about 215% of the Federal Poverty Level(FPL). Write and mail your application to Florida Kidcare Program.
You can visit their website or call 1 888 540 5437 to have an application mailed to you.
3. Florida Re-employment Assistance Program
For single mothers and workers that have been laid off or fired, Florida Reemployment Assistance Program(FRAP) provides financial assistance by giving temporary salary replacement benefits to single mothers workers, and individuals that meet the Florida Re-employment Assistance Program eligibility requirements.
Eligible candidates may receive up to 12 weeks of Unemployment Insurance(UI) benefits of a $32 minimum weekly dependency allowance to a maximum of $275 weekly dependency allowance.
All eligible candidates must register for work through the Employ Florida Marketplace as this is the law in Florida.
Single mothers and other families who want to claim their benefits after registration file their claims online call 1-833-352-7759 for more information.
4. Florida School Breakfast and Lunch Program
The Federal Government set up the National school lunch program(NSLP) and the school breakfast program(SBP) to provide assistance to single mothers in
Florida whose kids are in school with healthy and nutritious meals at a cheap price. Also the National School Lunch Program(NSLP) and the School Breakfast Program(SBP) support schools by providing food at a cheap price to children whose income is below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
Children whose mothers and families meet the income requirements can apply by presenting and submitting a household application to their schools.
The school meals can be applied for at any time of the year. Single mothers who are recipients of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) qualify their children automatically for school-free food.
5 Florida Food Assistance Program (FAP)
Florida Food Assistance Program provides assistance for single mothers in Florida, low-income earners, and families regardless of their age bracket with food and other nutritional supplements for free.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) a subsidiary of the Food Assistance Division(FAD) gives enough benefits based on family size, family income, and other factors.
Requirements:
- You must be a resident of Florida.
- You must be a US citizen or a permanent resident.
- Have proof of identity like your voter’s card driver’s license and so on.
- Meet certain income guidelines.
- Your family income should be less than $2000.
- Finally, you’ll be required to participate in the SNAP Employment and Training Program called Career Source which is headed by the Local Workforce Development Areas in Florida.
Apply to visit their website and you will be contacted for an eligibility interview within 5 days or call the Department Of Children And Families (DCF) on 1-866-762-2237 to locate the nearest SNAP office.
6 Florida Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
Single mothers in Florida can smile monthly to the bank as Temporary Cash Assistance Programs give temporary financial assistance to them and families that have children less than 18 years.
They also provide financial aid to families with children below 18 years and whose income is not more than 185% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
To know if eligible visit their website or call 1-866-762-2237. If you qualify and are eligible you may receive $303 monthly but these benefits only last for 48 months.
To keep these benefits running for the number of months you will need financial assistance you must participate in work-related activities for a specified number of hours every week.
7. Florida Head Start
Florida Head start provides single mothers that have kids between ages 3 to 5 with comprehensive education, health package, adequate nutrition food, and parent involvement services.
While Head Start is for preschool children between ages 3 to 5 Early Head Start is open to children under the age of three and
pregnant women. To apply visit their website to locate a head start program center near you.
8. Florida Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides assistance for single mothers in Florida and other families with low incomes in the payment of their home heaters and coolers. In Florida, the benefit is not given monthly unlike in
other States but you may receive assistance about three times a year if you are eligible.
To apply, visit the website and put in your details, and follow the instructions.
Single mothers with income up to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level(FPL) may be eligible for Weatherization Assistance Program.
The elderly, disabled, and families with children are given more preference for these benefits.
9. Florida Discount Drug Card
The Florida discount drug card allows single mothers and other eligible beneficiaries in Florida to get a discount on all the prescribed drugs.
The aim of this is to assist single mothers who find it difficult to foot their medical bills and to pay for drugs.
Florida has about 5,000 pharmacies and this discount card is acceptable and can be used to purchase prescribed drugs in all of these pharmacies.
Apply to know your eligibility status and for more information dial 1- 866 341 8894.
10. Florida Lifeline Assistance Program
One of the top sponsors of the Florida Lifeline Assistance Program is Safelink.
Safelink provides assistance for single mothers and 600,000 families that have low incomes with free telephone and cellular service in the whole region of Florida. The program gives $13.50 monthly for free calls.
With this benefits program, single mothers can always stay in touch with their loved ones, employers, friends, and family members. For information on how to apply and to know the eligibility requirements do call 1-800-423 552.
11. Community Clinics And Health Care Centers
Community Clinics And Health Care Centre provides single mums, children, families, and elderly people who are not insured or have little or no health insurance to benefit from the free healthcare services in Florida. The clinic provides the following services:
- Prescription of medication.
- Regular checkup.
- Medical insurance
- Assist in paying medical bills
- Free dental service
- Free eye care service.
Although these services are free in most clinics some clinics may offer some services for a little fee. Contact the Florida Community Health Center on 561-844-9443.
12. Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program (EFAHP)
The Emergency Financial Assistance for Housing Program provides financial assistance by giving a one-time cash grant to single mothers, and families who are without a home or are on the verge of losing their homes due to the inability to pay their rent or mortgage.
Apart from supporting families who are without shelter or are on the verge of losing their shelter they also assist families who are victims of fire accidents, floods, hurricanes, and any other natural or man-made disasters by providing them is temporary accommodation. For more information on how to apply and eligibility requirements dial 1-850-922-4691.
13. Disability Benefits and Programs
The Disability Benefits and Programs offer resources to single mothers who are disabled, mothers with disabled children, families with disabilities or disabled members, and residents of Florida that are disabled with basic needs resources and supplies.
Some Disability Benefits Programs take an extra step by providing equipment, home care, financial aid, and any other support to disabled persons living in Florida.
For more information on the eligibility, requirements, and how to apply contact the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) or call 1-866-2732-273.