Financial Assistance for Pregnant Mothers or Emergency Cash For Pregnant Single Mothers : Giving birth to a baby is one of the best gifts for any woman, however, it may also give rise to unique challenges and financial problems. For instance, your sleep, social life, job and career may take a back seat while you are embarking on your paternal journey. Fortunately, there are many avenues to locate financial assistance for pregnant women. Financial assistance for pregnant moms comes in various forms. The financial support can replace loss of income or lower monthly expenses and help them to make ends meet. This guide will throw light on different programs and resources that will help to stretch your budget in times of need.
Eligibility Criteria And Documents Required For Financial Assistance Programs For Pregnant Mothers
Low-income pregnant women who are struggling to pay for their basic needs and in need of financial assistance can avail of tons of programs and grants that help them attain self-sufficiency. However, to receive assistance you are required to meet certain eligibility criteria such as the following.
- Be a citizen of the United States, a permanent resident or an eligible non-citizen
- Demonstrate a strong financial need to stand out from the crowd for instance housing instability, risk of eviction, homelessness, utility cut-off notices, medical condition or disability, domestic violence etc.
- Must meet the age and income criteria of the program. Applicants must have income below a particular percentage of the federal poverty level.
- Have a valid Social Security number
Once you fulfill the eligibility criteria you need to submit relevant documents to the concerned authority along with your application form to demonstrate your qualification. Some of the necessary documents are as follows.
- Proof of citizenship or legal immigrant status
- Proof of your pregnancy or medical condition by qualified healthcare professional
- Income verification documents like tax forms, pay stubs, bank statements, check terms, employment information, and contact information of your employer
- Government-issued photo ID, passports, birth certificates, and driver’s license
- Hospital bills covering your prenatal and postnatal care cost
Highlights of this Post
What Are The Federal Funded Financial Assistance Programs For Pregnant Mothers?
Financial Grants For Pregnant Mothers
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program
Numerous low-income families can benefit from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. Grants through this program come from your state government, and they cover a wide range of everyday expenses related to childcare, education, job preparation, and more.
The Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) Program
The Office of Adolescent Health’s (OAH) Pregnancy Assistance Fund (PAF) program grants money to improve pregnant women’s lives during their transitions into parenthood. Grant recipients can use funds for services that aid them in continuing their education and finding employment while they support their families.
SSI and SSDI
Pregnant mothers are eligible to receive assistance through the federally funded Supplemental Security Income and Supplemental Security Disability Income programs. Expectant mothers who are going through a disability or pregnancy-related complex medical condition can get short-term financial support through this program if their condition is making it difficult for them to continue working.
- You can receive assistance if you’re going through any one of the three conditions
- A medical complication that has occurred before your due date
- Recovery from labor and delivery at the time of childbirth
- Postmortem medical disorders that are delaying return to work.
The assistance depends on various factors like income, living arrangements, the type of disability or medical condition etc.
Unemployment Insurance Program
Unemployment benefits programs can work as a financial assistance program for pregnant mothers as the program helps them to replace a part of their income while they are not in a position to work. Pregnancy grants for expectant mothers with no work require creative thinking to get financial assistance. However certain factors can affect your eligibility such as the following
- Collecting unemployment benefits during maternity leave is not viable since you have a job under the law
- Woman who quit their job due to medical reasons will not be eligible for the program until they recover
- Women laid off can qualify for unemployment insurance benefits provided they have been physically capable of doing work.
Food Grants For Pregnant Mothers
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Previously known as the food stamp program, SNAP provides low-income and no-income families with debit cards to purchase groceries. This government program helps low-income families and individuals fight food hunger. Approved families or individuals can use their SNAP benefits to buy items like bread, poultry and meat, dairy, and fruits and vegetables.
- Pregnant mothers need to fulfill the following eligibility criteria to get assistance.
- Have countable resources up to $2250 limit
- The gross monthly income should be at or below 130% of the federal poverty level
- The net monthly income should be below 100% of the federal poverty level.
If you need assistance to get healthier nutritious food then you can also contact the USDA National Hunger ClearingHouse at 866-348-6477. The representatives will help you to locate resources for instance food banks, meal sites and the Nutrition Assistance program in your local area.
Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Grants
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program provides low-income pregnant women and their children with funds to purchase healthy food. WIC also offers nutrition education, breastfeeding support, and other health-related services. The nutritious foods include infant formula, cereal, fruits, vegetables, eggs, and other nutritious foods. The goal of WIC is to support low-income pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum women who are unable to provide their children with a nutritious diet.
Medical Grants For Pregnant Mothers
The Title V Maternal and Child Health Services Grant
Through the Title V Maternal and Children Health Program, expectant mothers can receive free or low-cost prenatal and postnatal care. This federal block grant program is one of the largest in the nation, as it gives mothers and their children access to quality healthcare.
Medicaid
Medicaid is a federally funded program that works with healthcare facilities and providers to aid expectant women in paying for medical services before and after pregnancy. If you don’t have health insurance for you or your newborn baby, it’s crucial that you apply for Medicaid. It is a federal and state-administered program to make sure pregnant mothers can avail health services.
Children’s Health Insurance Program
The Children’s Health Insurance Program assists low-income families to keep their children in sound condition by offering low-cost dental and health insurance coverage to kids up to 19 years of age. This kind of medical assistance program can make a significant difference in the lives of pregnant mothers who are financially struggling to pay down labor and delivery bills.
Health Resources And Services Administration
Low-income families including pregnant women can access free healthcare services in all 50 states through the Health Resources and Services Administration. To see if you qualify for assistance you can review their rules and guidelines by visiting their official website.
Accessing medical care during pregnancy will become simple and easy by receiving assistance from this resource. You need to locate a qualifying clinic and fill out the requisite forms and documents to receive the medical care that you are seeking.
The Health Insurance Marketplace
Pregnant women can sign up for private health insurance programs with the Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace during the open enrollment period. Even though pregnancy does not count as a challenging life event that will enable you to sign up outside the enrollment period, childbirth does.
If you have enrolled in a CHIP or Medicaid healthcare plan during your pregnancy or if you are uninsured while giving birth then you can enroll in the Health Insurance Marketplace within sixty days after giving birth to your newborn. For more information, and eligibility criteria in the application procedure, you can visit the HealthCare.gov website.
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Housing Assistance For Pregnant Mothers
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program assists pregnant women who belong to the low-income category by covering a significant part of their apartment or housing rental payments.
The rental voucher covered around 60% to 70% of the monthly rental cost and reduced their financial and housing burden. The voucher money flows to state and county agencies through the federal government. You need to apply for a public housing agency within your county to receive this voucher.
Maternity Group Homes
The Family and Youth Service Bureau provides housing assistance to pregnant youth through the Maternity Group Home projects provided to ladies aged between 16 to 20 years old.
The objective of the maternity group home is to eliminate homelessness among pregnant low-income women. The federal government distributes the grant money to charitable organizations and state governments to offer transitional housing assistance to pregnant women.
Emergency Solutions Grants Program
Emergency Solutions Grants can provide expectant mothers and their children with safe and decent housing for temporary housing. For instance, a few days or weeks until they attain self-sufficiency.
Low-income pregnant women can turn to emergency shelters during domestic crises like abuse or financial hardship. The HUD publishes an online comprehensive directory of homeless shelters that is organized by individual states.
USDA Rental Assistance Program
Pregnant women living in rural communities in America can visit the official website of the US Department of Agriculture to get help with housing and rent. The assistance comes in the form of a subsidy and helps to lower the economic burden of low-income pregnant ladies.
The Multifamily Housing Rental Assistance Program for instance assists low-income families including pregnant ladies with subsidized rental assistance. The program provides rental vouchers if they are struggling to pay their rent or housing expenses and are navigating homelessness or a housing crisis.
Tax Benefits
There are three government tax benefits for pregnant women that are available through the Internal Revenue Service. A lot of maternity-associated expenses are tax deductible and you can take advantage in the following ways.
The Healthcare Flexible Spending Account offers a first-dollar tax deduction for prenatal care, labor and delivery including postpartum medical expenses.
Schedule deductions provide financial savings for expectant mothers who have dental and medical expenses exceeding 7.5% of their adjusted gross income.
The health savings account enabled pregnant women to pay maternity-related expenses with the help of pre-tax dollars in case they have a high-deductible health insurance plan.
Energy and Bill Assistance For Pregnant Mothers
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
Pregnant mothers who belong to low-income groups and are unemployed can qualify for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The grant money assists them in lowering their home heating and cooling costs by making energy-saving home repairs and reducing their utility bills.
Apart from reducing your utility bills, you can also repair your home by installing floors, insulation and ducks or replacing insufficient heating or cooling units in your property. The program is funded by the US Department of Health and Human Services.
Weatherization Assistance Program
Pregnant women who are navigating financial hardship can cover their utility bills or make necessary home improvements and turn their property energy efficient by applying for the WAP program.
This program is funded by the US Department of Energy that assists needy individuals and pregnant ladies to make their homes energy-efficient and lower their utility bills.
Lifeline Program
The Lifeline program is managed by the Federal Communication Commission and provides them with discounted cell phone and landline services.
This program is designed for low-income families and individuals throughout the United States of America and gives them a discount of $9.25 on broadband Internet access service, telephone service and voice broadband bundle services. You need to showcase you have income less than 135% of the federal poverty level to qualify for assistance.
Education Assistance And College Grants For Pregnant Mothers
Federal Pell Grant
The US federal government provides maternity grants to low-income pregnant women to pursue higher education and get a college degree. Expectant mothers can use the free money to pay for textbooks, tuition, fees, schooling expenses and so on.
Your pregnancy can boost your chance to qualify for the federal Pell Grant program as per the federal student aid rules by lowering your expected family contribution. To qualify for the federal Pell Grant pregnant mothers need to file FAFSA.
Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant
Similar to the Pell program the Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant assists low-income students including pregnant ladies with education assistance and gives them a grant award of $4000.
The program is awarded on a first come first served basis to students with exceptional needs. The eligibility criteria of the program requires students to be a citizen of the United States, have a Social Security number, be Pell eligible, have no drug conviction and be enrolled in an accredited institution.
Free Programs For Expectant Mothers
Pregnant mothers can tap into numerous free programs that are designed by the government, retail stores, charities and nonprofit organizations. Accessing the financial assistance programs can help them to stretch their budget further and help them to save a few dollars.
Low-income expectant mothers on Medicaid can find boundless opportunities that provide free baby stuff. Retailers like Amazon, Walmart and online marketplaces provide free baby stuff such as car seats, diaper bags, infant clothing, bassinets, cribs and other stuff for pregnant ladies through various initiatives. To learn more about how to access free programs and baby stuff for expectant mothers and newborn babies click here.
Additional Resources That Help Pregnant Women Or New Mothers
Expectant mothers struggling with postpartum depression and in need of mental healthcare assistance after the baby is born can call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Also contact the postpartum support international at 800-944-4773 or the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration helpline at 800-662-4357.
New mothers who need low-cost or free childcare can turn to the Head Start program which is funded by the federal government and helps patients with childcare expenses. You can apply for the program by dialing 866-763-6481. Besides, Child Care Aware of America also has low-income families with affordable childcare solutions.
Crowdfunding or online platforms that provide financial help to pregnant women who have no resources to turn to and can make a huge impact on their lives. For instance, Go Fund Me will enable you to raise money from strangers or family members and put the assistance towards items for your newborn.
What Are The Nonprofit Organizations and Charities That Provide Financial Assistance To Pregnant Mothers?
Apart from government programs some nonprofit organizations and charities provide free assistance for low-income pregnant mothers. Take a look at the following organization.
Catholic Charities
The Catholic Charities work to assist low-income communities including women with unplanned pregnancies. They have local branches located in all states in the United States of America.
They provide adoption services and pregnancy counseling as well. You need to check with the local Catholic Charities in your area if you need assistance with pregnancy.
Pregnancy Resource Centers
The Pregnancy Resource Centers provide medical services and counseling help so that pregnant ladies can secure financial resources and supportive services in their community.
Every Mother Counts
Every Mother Counts is a nonprofit organization that works to make pregnancy smooth and safe for every mother across the globe. One mother dies every two minutes due to childbirth or pregnancy complications.
The nonprofit collaborates with local organizations and communities to serve low-income and underprivileged communities and help them with low-cost solutions to boost their maternal health.
Crisis Of Health International
The Circle Of Health International works in partnership with local organizations to offer needy women good quality care in times of need. In 17 years the organization has assisted more than 3.25 million disadvantaged women. From helping women in times of disaster relief, providing them supplies to fulfilling their needs the nonprofit helps women in various ways.
March Of Dimes
Another nonprofit organization that is leading when it comes to advocating for the health of pregnant women and babies is the March of Dimes. The organization emphasizes research and education on prematurity, birth defects and infant mortality.
The organization is dedicated to supporting mothers during their pregnancy and beyond. You can visit their official website to locate resources and get involved with them.
Salvation Army
Salvation Army is a popular non profit organization that offers assistance to low-income individuals including pregnant ladies who are struggling to cover their basic needs like food, shelter, rent, utilities, transportation, medical services and so on.
The organization serves thousands of people and helps them to make ends meet. If you’re facing any difficulty during your pregnancy you can contact them directly or visit their local office.
YMCA
The nonprofit organization YMCA assists low-income families including pregnant women and single moms in various ways. They help to provide rental and housing assistance to individuals going through financial hardship and also provide permanent long-term housing solutions.
The organization is geared towards the safety and welfare of needy women in society. The supportive programs are related to affordable housing cover rental assistance, protection from domestic violence and abuse and employment development.
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Conclusion
Pregnant women have multiple resources to turn to in times of need that help them to reduce their living expenses. The aforementioned government programs and help from nonprofit organizations and charities enable pregnant women to make ends meet. From housing and utility assistance to education, medical and food assistance pregnant women in the USA can avail many options. With these resources, you need not worry about how to take care of yourself during your pregnancy and provide for your baby’s needs.
Check out our blogs at Get Government Grants for more information on government and private assistance programs. If you are facing housing troubles, read our article on Emergency rental assistance program- Need help paying rent.
