Jonah JacobsDo you feel like you’re paying an arm and a leg for child care? If so, you’re certainly not alone, as a 2022 Care.com study found that over half of families spend $10,000-plus per year on child care. Put all of that burden on one person, and nobody can blame you if you feel burned out.
Just imagine what you could do with that extra money. Since the average in-state college tuition is $9,410, you could pay for college to make yourself more marketable, increase your income, and stabilize your child’s future. And while it may seem like child care will never go down in price, we’ll show you various ways to make it happen.
Ways to Help Pay for Child Care
These are ways to get government help for single moms. Check them and choose the best option for your kids.
Your School
If you’re taking in-person classes, you know that child care is a must. Who else knows this? The schools themselves, which is why many colleges have come up with their own child care assistance programs to help their students.
Whether it’s through on-campus child care or helping you pay those costs, contact your school to see if they can put a dent in your expenses.
Your State
Have you checked to see if your state has any child care assistance programs? Although the federal government is often the source of the funding, they dish it out to states, who distribute it to parents in need.
We can’t list every single state child care assistance program here, as there are too many of them, and each has its own requirements. To find yours, search “child care assistance” plus your state to see what you come up with.
Your Taxes
Filing your taxes can help pay for your child care expenses in three primary ways:
- Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit – Lets you reduce tax burden by itemizing a maximum of $16,000 in child care expenses.
- Child Tax Credit – Equals $3,600 per child up to age six and $3,000 per child up to age 18.
- Earned Income Tax Credit – Varies according to your filing status and children.
To maximize your benefits and minimize your child care costs, be sure to ask whoever prepares your taxes about these credits. They can make a huge difference in your bottom line.
Your Military Service
The Department of Defense offers child care subsidies through different branches and agencies. If you’re in the military and want that the government help for single moms!, learn more by visiting this link.
Your Employer
Do you work for a large company? If so, it may have a relationship with child care providers that can offer you a discount on their services. You can get in touch with your company’s human resources representative to see if they offer such benefits. And even if the company isn’t large, they may still offer something of the sort, as many know that their employees have children that need to be cared for.
Others things to consider reducing child care costs:
Research affordable child care programs: You can look for affordable child care programs in your area. Some programs offer rates based on your income, which can help you save money on your child care.
Share child care with other single mothers: You can explore sharing child care with other trusted single mothers. This can reduce childcare costs and allow children to interact and play together.
Use community resources: Investigate whether your community offers free or low-cost programs or resources for child care. Some community centres, libraries, or local organizations may provide affordable childcare services or free activities for children.
Raising children had become increasingly expensive over the years, even for those who budgeted for their new babies before they were born. Childcare costs have risen rapidly and are a significant financial burden for many families. For this reason, the government creates and promotes these options with public and private entities to help you give the best to your children. Choose the best suits your children’s needs so they can have a financially stable future.
These been valuable information of how to get the government help for single moms? We are glad to shared with you! We hope you see all the opportunities to have benefits assistance for your kids.
