Are all single moms eligible for a pell federal grant?
- By Sarah Short
- Published 04/22/2010
- Finances
- Unrated
Are all single moms eligible for a pell federal grant?
Money is tight when you are a single mom. The availability of inexpensive, or free childcare can be tight too. So, Mr. Obama has decided that single moms are special and are eligible for his grants to allow them to study, to get a qualification, which in turn will lead to a better paying job.
The Pell Grant program is named after Senator Claibourne Pell and was previously know as the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program. This grant is awarded on the basis of "financial need" and the grant is aimed at students from low income families. This fact means that researchers often use receipt of the Pell Grant as a method of establishing the numbers of students from low income families when conducting research on economic diversity amongst students.
A grant, unlike a loan, is money that you are given and you do not have to pay back. It is money that the government have decided you, as a single mom, can apply for to help further your education. You are not restricted to what it has to be spent on either. Obviously, you have to pay college fees out of it, but you can also use it to pay for childcare to enable you to attend college. Even more appealing to the single mother is that fact that there are online courses and qualifications that are considered acceptable places to spend you grant money, so that you can study at your pc at home, without the need for childcare at all. Clearly, this leaves some grant money over that can be spent on books and other learning aids.
How Much Money Is Available?
For the academic year ending in June 2010, the maximum amount that can be awarded to a student is $5,350 and this will increase for the academic year 2010/2011 to $5,550. However, you will, as a single mom, not necessarily get this level of financial aid. The amount awarded depends not just on your financial status, but also the cost of your school fees, whether or not you have full or part time status and whether or not you are planning to attend for a full academic year, or just part of one.
It is worth noting that if your parent or guardian died after 9/11 and whilst in military service in either the Iraq or Afghanistan wars and you were either in (at least) part time education, or under 24 at the time of their death, you are automatically eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award.
How Do I Receive This Money, If I Am Eligible?
Your school must tell you in writing how much your award will be and how and when you will be paid. You will usually receive a check from the school and they may have already deducted your fees from the financial aid grant. Your school must pay you once a term (irrespective of whether they use semesters, trimesters or quarters). In the even that your school uses none of these methods of dividing their academic year, then they have to pay you at least twice per year.
The Pell Grant program is named after Senator Claibourne Pell and was previously know as the Basic Educational Opportunity Grant Program. This grant is awarded on the basis of "financial need" and the grant is aimed at students from low income families. This fact means that researchers often use receipt of the Pell Grant as a method of establishing the numbers of students from low income families when conducting research on economic diversity amongst students.
A grant, unlike a loan, is money that you are given and you do not have to pay back. It is money that the government have decided you, as a single mom, can apply for to help further your education. You are not restricted to what it has to be spent on either. Obviously, you have to pay college fees out of it, but you can also use it to pay for childcare to enable you to attend college. Even more appealing to the single mother is that fact that there are online courses and qualifications that are considered acceptable places to spend you grant money, so that you can study at your pc at home, without the need for childcare at all. Clearly, this leaves some grant money over that can be spent on books and other learning aids.
How Much Money Is Available?
For the academic year ending in June 2010, the maximum amount that can be awarded to a student is $5,350 and this will increase for the academic year 2010/2011 to $5,550. However, you will, as a single mom, not necessarily get this level of financial aid. The amount awarded depends not just on your financial status, but also the cost of your school fees, whether or not you have full or part time status and whether or not you are planning to attend for a full academic year, or just part of one.
It is worth noting that if your parent or guardian died after 9/11 and whilst in military service in either the Iraq or Afghanistan wars and you were either in (at least) part time education, or under 24 at the time of their death, you are automatically eligible for the maximum Pell Grant award.
How Do I Receive This Money, If I Am Eligible?
Your school must tell you in writing how much your award will be and how and when you will be paid. You will usually receive a check from the school and they may have already deducted your fees from the financial aid grant. Your school must pay you once a term (irrespective of whether they use semesters, trimesters or quarters). In the even that your school uses none of these methods of dividing their academic year, then they have to pay you at least twice per year.
Sarah Short
To find out more about the grants available, click here Good luck with your research and application Sarah Short
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