Grants for Single Mothers in South Carolina

Where to start when you feel overwhelmed

Start with the problem that can hurt your family first. Food, shelter, health care, child care, safety, shutoff notices, and court dates should come before long-term plans. You can apply for several programs, but each one makes its own decision.

What changed in 2026

• October 1: DSS opened an online child care scholarship waitlist for working families outside protected groups. Joining the list is not an award.
• November 1: South Carolina plans to start limits on buying certain candy and sweetened drinks with SNAP. The old August 31 start date was delayed.
• October: TANF payment rules are reviewed each year. Child-only cash amounts are not the same as a parent-and-child grant.

South Carolina help at a glance

What “grants for single mothers” really means

A true grant is money that normally does not have to be repaid when you follow the rules. South Carolina examples include college grants and some local emergency awards. Many programs people call grants are actually benefits, vouchers, discounts, tax credits, or payments sent to a provider.

Cash, child support, tax, and unemployment help

TANF cash assistance

TANF pays short-term cash to some families with children. South Carolina has different payment rules for child-only cases and families that include a parent. DSS has listed $229 for one child, $308 for two, and $388 for three for child-only grants. Do not use those figures as the maximum for a parent who also receives TANF. The state’s TANF program page and your DSS office can confirm the current amount for your case. Pay can be lower when income counts.

Parent included? Reports based on the October 2026 DSS payment table list up to $460 per month for a family of three that includes a parent, if there is no countable income. DSS must work out your case. Do not mix this amount with the child-only figures above.

Most adults who receive cash for themselves must follow employment and training rules unless an exemption applies. South Carolina generally limits TANF to 24 months in a 10-year period, and the federal lifetime limit is generally 60 months. Hardship exceptions may apply in limited cases.

Relative caregivers may be able to apply for cash on behalf of a child without asking for a payment for themselves. The ASMOM South Carolina TANF guide explains applications, work rules, child-only cases, and safety concerns.

Child support services

South Carolina Child Support Services can help locate a parent, establish parentage, set or enforce support, and track payments. Applying is free, and the child must live with the applicant. Use the child support program to reach the secure portal.

If contact with the other parent could put you or your child at risk, tell DSS or a legal advocate before giving unsafe information. The ASMOM South Carolina child support guide covers applications, enforcement, changes, and safety.

Tax credits and free filing

Working parents may qualify for the federal Earned Income Tax Credit, Child Tax Credit, or other tax benefits. Credits depend on income, filing status, children, and tax rules for that year. The United Way’s free tax help page connects qualified taxpayers with IRS-certified volunteers.

The ASMOM South Carolina tax guide explains common records and filing questions.

Unemployment after job loss

Unemployment insurance is not a grant, but it can replace part of lost wages for eligible workers. South Carolina’s current weekly amount ranges from $42 to $350 before taxes, with up to 20 weeks available on an eligible claim. Start with the DEW benefit page and keep filing weekly claims while the case is active.

Food, pregnancy, and health coverage

SNAP food benefits

SNAP helps eligible households buy groceries with an Electronic Benefit Transfer card. The South Carolina SNAP page says approved regular cases receive benefits within 30 days, while some urgent households qualify for expedited benefits within seven days.

Starting November 1, 2026, South Carolina plans to bar the use of SNAP for candy, energy drinks, soft drinks with added sugar, and other sweetened drinks. The earlier August 31 date was postponed. Diet and zero-sugar soft drinks remain allowed under the current plan. See the federal DSS SNAP notice and state notices for updates.

EBT card safety is a separate rule. Since April 28, 2026, DSS has blocked out-of-state and online EBT purchases by default. To use the card for those sales, unlock it through ConnectEBT or call 1-800-554-5268. In-state store purchases still work as usual.

Food pantries and summer meal sites can help while an application is pending. The ASMOM South Carolina SNAP guide explains application steps, EBT security, and local food help.

WIC for pregnancy and young children

WIC provides approved foods, nutrition support, breastfeeding help, and referrals for eligible pregnant and postpartum people, infants, and children under age 5. Call 1-855-472-3432 or use the South Carolina WIC page to begin.

A person who receives Medicaid, TANF, or SNAP already meets the WIC income test, but must still meet the other WIC rules and complete an appointment. The ASMOM South Carolina WIC guide lists common documents and clinic steps.

The WIC income chart runs from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027. If you are not in a benefit program, the clinic can check your household size and income using the current chart. Children still need a WIC nutrition check.

Healthy Connections Medicaid

Healthy Connections covers eligible children, pregnant people, some parents and caretaker relatives, people with disabilities, older adults, and other groups. Apply through the Medicaid application portal or call 1-888-549-0820.

Pregnancy-related Medicaid coverage continues for 12 months after the pregnancy ends for people covered under the pregnancy group. Children and adults follow different income and category rules, so apply instead of assuming you do not qualify.

For help after birth, check the postpartum coverage guide. A parent or child with a disability can also check the disability support guide. Medicaid rules depend on age, income and other facts.

The ASMOM South Carolina health guide covers Medicaid, clinics, dental care, and case problems.

For a toothache or dental bill, the South Carolina dental guide lists coverage and lower-cost care options.

Summer meals

South Carolina’s Summer Break Café and Seamless Summer Option provide free meals at approved schools, churches, libraries, recreation centers, and other sites. Children age 18 and younger can receive meals at participating locations. Use the Summer Break Café page to check current local information.

Child care, Head Start, and early learning

The South Carolina Child Care Scholarship Program can pay all or part of approved care directly to a provider. Families normally must meet child age, income, work, school, training, or child welfare rules.

Starting October 1, 2026, families outside the protected groups can join a Working Families waitlist through the DSS portal. This is not an offer of aid. Under the new waitlist rules, children must be under 6 and not yet in kindergarten. Aid may cover up to two children per family. Initial income must be at or below 55% of state median income. Parent work, school, training, or disability rules also apply.

Families in protected groups, such as TANF, homelessness, domestic violence, special needs, or child welfare cases, have a different way to apply. The older pause that began December 1, 2025 does not remove these paths. Check the official child care rules. If you reach the waitlist top, DSS gives you 15 calendar days to apply using its link and send proof, and you must already have a provider. Also ask about Head Start, Early Head Start, First Steps 4K, school district preschool, afterschool care, and local scholarships.

The ASMOM South Carolina child care guide explains the pause, protected categories, providers, and backup options.

Housing, rent, and utility help

Housing vouchers and affordable rentals

Housing Choice Vouchers lower rent for some very low-income households, but they are not fast emergency money. The SC Housing voucher page says its waiting list is closed to all applicant categories until further notice.

SC Housing directly handles vouchers only in Clarendon, Colleton, Dorchester, Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, and Lexington counties. Other counties use local public housing authorities. Use the rental housing finder to search subsidized properties and local contacts.

If rent is late or eviction papers have arrived, call 211 and legal aid now. Do not wait for a voucher list to open. The ASMOM South Carolina housing guide covers shelters, public housing, local rent help, and renter rights.

If you move into a new home with few items, look for furniture and household help near you. Stock and delivery rules vary by group.

LIHEAP and Community Action

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program funds help eligible households with heating, cooling, and energy crises. Applications are handled by local agencies, not by the state Office of Economic Opportunity. Use the county agency finder to locate the correct office.

LIHEAP does not pay water or sewer bills and is not designed to cover every energy cost. Community Services Block Grant programs may also help with emergencies, housing, employment, nutrition, or health needs when local funding is available.

The ASMOM South Carolina utility guide explains shutoff steps, documents, and weatherization.

Education grants and work support

College grants and scholarships

South Carolina offers need-based and merit-based aid for residents attending eligible schools. Programs include the South Carolina Need-Based Grant, Lottery Tuition Assistance, HOPE, LIFE, Palmetto Fellows, and Workforce and Industry Needs Scholarships.

Start with the FAFSA and the state grants page. Ask the school financial aid office about Pell Grants, campus aid, work-study, emergency grants, books, and child care. Award amounts and deadlines differ by program and school.

The ASMOM South Carolina education guide gives a longer list of state and federal aid.

Jobs and training

SC Works centers can help with job searches, training, resumes, unemployment questions, and referrals. Ask whether the program you enter can help with transportation, tools, uniforms, testing fees, or child care. Support services vary by workforce area and funding.

Need a ride to work, training or a clinic? The South Carolina transportation guide covers ride services and local options. Check service areas and fares.

Documents and information to gather

Do not wait for every paper when a deadline or crisis is close. Submit the application, explain what is missing, and ask what other proof the office accepts. Save copies and upload receipts.

Put your proof in a safe folder or phone album. Keep photos of each notice and a copy of each upload receipt.

Local help while you wait

South Carolina programs are often run through county DSS offices, Community Action agencies, housing authorities, schools, clinics, legal-aid groups, churches, and charities. A “no” from one office may mean the fund is closed, it does not serve your ZIP code, or a different agency handles the need.

• Call 211: Ask which programs are open now and which documents they need.
• Ask the school: A social worker may help with meals, supplies, transport, afterschool care, or unstable housing.
• Ask the clinic: Staff may connect you with WIC, Medicaid, transportation, medicine, or baby supplies.
• Ask Community Action: The agency may screen for energy, housing, employment, nutrition, and emergency services.
• Ask legal aid early: Get help when benefits, eviction, safety, disability, or child support involves a deadline.