It’s important that student parents take advantage of available assistance programs to help with household expenses while balancing school priorities. Women Infants and Children (WIC) helps with nutrition and food benefits. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP/Food Stamps) can help you get food for your household. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides monthly cash benefits for housing, utilities, and clothing. Child Care Assistance helps pay for the costs of early childhood education and child care for children up to age 12. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps income-eligible households pay for heating and cooling costs/utilities. There are also programs that help with tuition assistance, utility assistance, and Medicaid. Your college may also have student-specific financial supports available or be able to help you apply to state benefits programs. To find out more, look for student services at your school. These kinds of resources may be under the umbrella of a Student Resource Center or a Family Resource Center. There is more information on these resources here.
Learn more on the Family Support & Resources page