It’s definitely not easy being a mom, especially if you’re a single mom. Even if you have a supportive ex who helps you out with the kids, it’s still tough to get everything done that needs to be accomplished. For newly single moms, that road can be even tougher if you’ve been out of the work force for a long time, or if you don’t have any job training or experience. Putting together a good resume can be hard if you haven’t worked in years, or if you’ve only worked part time during this time.
With the economy being as punishing as it has been for the last few years, it’s harder than ever to get a good job. Without a good background and a specific skill set, it may be close to impossible to get a job that can actually support a family. If you need a better job, but you don’t have the training or skills, you should consider going back to school.
Even though college can be an expensive proposition, the payoff in the end can be well worth the effort and expenditure. The good news for a lot of moms on their own today is that they may not have to spend a lot of their own money to go to school for job training. That’s because the government now has billions of dollars in grant money available for moms in this position.
Just this year the government increased the amount of grant money that will be available through the Pell Grant program. The Pell Grant is intended specifically for people who qualify based on financial need. It can provide students with up to $5,550 for school expenses, and for the first time this year, students may receive two disbursements during a given school year if they qualify.
Another type of government grant is the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), which is intended for students who have great financial need. The FSEOG is awarded to students have already been awarded a Pell Grant. Students who receive the FSEOG will still receive the full amount of their particular Pell Grant award; it is intended as a supplement to those funds. The FSEOG award can be as much as $4,000 per academic year, and can only be applied to undergraduate studies.
There are also numerous other types of government grants available for single mothers who want to go to school. For example, not every mom wants to seek a traditional two- or four year degree. Some may want to receive job training through a technical or vocational school. The Department of Education funds many grants for these types of schools, in addition to traditional colleges and universities.
Most states have some type of grant program for students who are residents. These will likely be funded through the state’s Department of Education, and will generally apply only to those students who intend to go to school in the awarding state. The amount of state’s grants varies from state to state, and certain eligibility requirements must be met. Check with your for details and application requirements.
Single moms who want to receive grant money from the government should first fill out a FAFSA application. The FAFSA calculates how much grant money a student is eligible to receive based on a students expected family contribution, and other financial considerations. For moms on their own who want to go to school to better their future and the future of their children, it may be time well spent, especially if you are awarded thousands of dollars in free money for college that never needs to be repaid.
Single dads aren’t left out in the cold either. Multiple grants for single parents exist, promoting education as a tool to better the lives of adults with a dual parenting role.
What many of these parents are finding is that earning an online degree dovetails nicely with their parenting responsibilities, allowing them to continue with quality care of their kids while they work on expanding their career possibilities.
Author: Michelle Conner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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