Where can I go for financial help?

If you are afraid that you won't have enough money to provide for yourself with a baby, there are many options available to you. The previous concern listed some good ideas for material support, but there are bills that need to be paid, groceries to be bought, etc. The following is a list of resources you can check into. 

 

WIC - WIC stands for “Women, Infants, and Children,” and it is a federal program that assists participants with buying nutritious food by giving them vouchers to take to the store.  These vouchers are as good as cash and can be used for certain WIC foods.  WIC foods include infant formula and infant cereal, adult cereal, fruit and/or vegetable juice, eggs, milk, cheese, peanut butter, dried beans or peas, tuna fish, and carrots. Special infant formulas and certain medical foods may be provided when prescribed by a physician or health professional for a specified medical condition.

 

Pregnant or postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5 are eligible. They must meet income guidelines, a State residency requirement, and be individually determined to be at "nutritional risk" by a health professional, which is pretty easy to come by.

 

Most states will go by the following:

• A family of 1 needs to make less than $1,670 a month before taxes to qualify.
• A family of 2 needs to make less than $2,247 a month before taxes to qualify.
• A family of 3 needs to make less than $2,823 a month before taxes to qualify.
• A family of 4 needs to make less than $3,400 a month before taxes to qualify.

 

Also, if you or another family member are eligible for any other state or federal program you are automatically eligible for WIC  So don't lose hope if your income is over the limit. See the WIC website for more information.

 

TANF - TANF stands for “Temporary Assistance for Needy Families,” which was previously called “Aid to Dependent Families” or welfare. TANF provides a monthly check that can be used for bills, groceries, or anything else you need. TANF encourages recipients to get out and work as soon as possible; however, states cannot penalize single parents with a child under six for failing to meet work requirements if they cannot obtain child care. A state may even exempt single parents with children under the age of one from the work requirements.

 

Eligibility and benefit amounts will vary by state.  All available income for all members of your household is counted when they determine your eligibility for TANF. However, certain expenses (such as childcare) are subtracted.  Since this goes by state, you're best off checking the eligibility requirements for your state. You can click on your state on this map to go directly to your state’s TANF information.

 

Food Stamp Program - The Food Stamp program (also called the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) is a federal program managed by each individual state that helps low-income households buy the food they need. This is separate from the WIC program. As with WIC, if you are receiving other public assistance you are qualified to receive food stamps as well.

 

The monthly allotment varies depending on the size of your family. 

• A family of 1 can receive $200/month.
• A family of 2 can receive $367/month.
• A family of 3 can receive $526/month.
• A family of 4 can receive $668/month.

 

Generally, the following income guidelines will be followed:  

• A family of 1 needs to make less than $1,174/month before taxes to qualify.
• A family of 2 needs to make less than $ 1,579/month before taxes to qualify.
• A family of 3 needs to make less than $1,984/month before taxes to qualify.
• A family of 4 needs to make less than $2,389/month before taxes to qualify.

 

More information can be found at the Food Stamp program's website. They even have a pre-screening tool that will help you establish whether or not you qualify.

 

Child Support - Although it might not seem like a "nice" thing to do, seeking child support is a very necessary thing to consider when planning for a baby.  After all, you were not the only one that created this child, and there is no reason that the father can't help out financially. By seeking child support, the government will locate the father, give him a paternity test, establish a "support order," and then collect payments from his paycheck. The amount he is charged will vary from state to state.  A check will be sent to you to assist you in any way you need it. You are eligible to receive child support payments if you have custody of a child and the other parent does not live with you.  Here is a handy map that will take you to your state's child support website.