To support a family, you need a lot of money, especially if you have a big one. For instance, families with middle-class earnings who had a child in 2015 could expect to spend around $233,610 on basic needs only (like groceries, housing, etc.) until the child reaches the age of 17. This number does not even cover any additional costs! To some people, that might be too much money to afford. For this reason, families may occasionally need to get assistance from supportive programs. The government is mindful that many families may seek assistance, which is why they have a variety of opportunities that may be helpful.
Government Programs That Can Support Your Family
Some people have no idea about how many supportive programs the government provides and how to benefit from them. This is why we are discussing some of the most important programs that may interest you. These programs include:
- Head Start
- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
- Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
- Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Head Start
A family will sooner or later have to deal with several expenses, including childcare. However, not everyone can afford it since the average monthly cost of preschool is $889. This is why the Head Start program was created. For those who qualify, Head Start programs offer support to babies, toddlers, and preschoolers. Head Start’s objective is to help children prepare for school. The program can be held in a variety of settings, such as childcare centers, the child’s home, and so on.
Head Start works to support other important family members, particularly the parents, in addition to the children. To have a long-lasting good effect on the wellness of the family, the program aims to develop strong relationships among the family members. This program works with the entire family to assist in the following points:
- The family’s health and well-being
- The children’s early development and learning
The term “Head Start” refers to a variety of supportive programs, such as:
- Standard Head Start
- Migrant and Seasonal Head Start (MSHS)
- Early Head Start (EHS)
- American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Head Start
Each one of these programs focuses on a different specialty. Therefore, one program may be a better fit for you than another, depending on your current situation. Although these programs are not available to everyone, you should apply! To do so, you can use the Head Start Locator tool. This tool shows people the closest program to them.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
It can be difficult to manage your food budget, especially if you have a large family to feed. Generally speaking, a family of four should aim to spend between $936.40 and $1,014 per month on food. If a family of four wants to get a good bang for their buck, they should aim to spend no more than $939.90 each month on food. In either scenario, a family of four will spend roughly $1,000 per month on food! Families may not be able to afford it depending on their financial situation (and if there are more than four family members, it will most likely cost more). SNAP can be a terrific choice for support for those who are in need. Families depend on this program even though they are not the only ones who can benefit from it.
SNAP’s objective is to help families become self-sufficient. The US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) agency, the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), is in charge of running it. Monthly nutrition assistance may be provided to families who meet the SNAP eligibility standards. The beneficiaries get monthly payments through an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card. Nevertheless, this kind of card can only be used to pay for qualified items at stores that accept it as a form of payment.
Applying for SNAP
You must apply to take advantage of this help option. You’ll find out if you qualify for this program through your application. It is important to remember that this program’s state-specific requirements will vary. The application procedure will therefore vary depending on the state. For further information on the program, the application process, and other matters, you should contact your state agency. You can get in touch with them by calling their toll-free number, going to their website, or stopping by their office in person.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
Families experiencing financial hardship may be able to benefit a lot from TANF. This federal program provides funding to the states (and territories) so they can manage their TANF program. The main goal of this program is to help families become financially independent and secure (just like SNAP). Along with this objective, this program also aims to accomplish the following things:
- Reduce or even prevent pregnancy among unmarried couples
- Encourage two-parent households
- Prevent parents from relying on public assistance
- Give children the opportunity to receive care in the convenience of their own home or a relative’s home
This program provides monthly cash payments to help families. You should understand that the public will not get this funding directly from the federal government. Rather, the state governments will receive the funds and then be in charge of providing support to recipients.
Along with regular financial assistance, this program may also provide additional support. Other types of help, such as assistance with childcare and employment, are also offered. TANF is intended for a particular demographic, therefore not everyone will be able to take advantage of it. So, to qualify for TANF, you must:
- Have a valid American citizenship
- Be either unemployed or underemployed
- Meet a specific income level
- Have a child that is younger than 18 years old, be pregnant, or be the family’s head of household and not older than 18 years old
Despite this, there might be some differences in each state’s standards. You can think of the things we spoke about above as general guidelines. You should get in touch with the program agency in your state if you believe you are eligible for TANF and want to apply.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
Another program that offers food assistance is WIC. Through this program, the federal government provides funding to the states, helping them offer benefits like:
- Supplemental food
- Referrals for medical care
- Referrals for social services
- Nutritional counseling and more
Just like the other opportunities on this list, not everyone is qualified for this assistance. Benefits are only available to those who satisfy particular eligibility criteria, such as:
- Pregnant women: both during pregnancy and for up to six weeks following it
- Mothers who are breastfeeding: until the child becomes one year old
- Women who have just given birth: up to six months after delivery
- Newborns: up until their first birthday
- Kids: up to the age of five
If you wish to apply for WIC, you must make an appointment with either your local agency or the state agency that manages it. The contact information for your state is available online.
Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Families could go through difficult times. They may have incomes that are too high to qualify for Medicaid but still be insufficient to pay for private health insurance. People who find themselves in this scenario could feel stressed. Fortunately, CHIP is one kind of assistance that might be effective in such a situation. This program can provide health coverage for kids without insurance. Despite being jointly funded by the federal and state governments, the program is managed by the states. However, they have to do so by working with federal laws! As a result, it is critical to understand that each state will have unique qualifying conditions for CHIP. Nonetheless, it is generally expected that children who meet the following requirements will qualify for this aid opportunity:
- Be no more than 18 years old
- Have legal citizenship
- Live in the state where they are applying
- Satisfy the income standards and additional state requirements
As a participant in the program, children can expect to get the following health benefits:
- Vaccines
- Medical assistance for children and newborns
- Dental coverage
- Services for mental health covered by insurance
If you want to benefit from this program, you should submit an application through the Medicaid/CHIP office in your state. This agency is in charge of running the program and managing the application process.
Conclusion
The responsibility of taking care of a family is hard and takes a lot of effort. This is why it’s so important to have a clear understanding of the several types of assistance that are available, such as Head Start, CHIP, SNAP, TANF, and WIC programs. The best support opportunity will depend on your current circumstances. In any case, if you want to learn more, get in touch with the program agency in your state.