Community Support for Single Mothers in Delaware

Where to start in Delaware

Start with the problem that cannot wait. No food today, an unsafe home, a shutoff notice, missing child care, or court papers may need action first. You do not have to solve every problem before asking for help.

For a broader set of public programs in the state, see Delaware assistance options. If you face a sudden crisis, use the Delaware emergency help guide for other next steps.

Quick reference: who to contact

Benefits and cash aid

Delaware ASSIST and Social Services

ASSIST lets you apply for several health and social programs, check an application, report changes, renew benefits, and read notices. Its list includes the Food Supplement Program, Medicaid, Delaware Healthy Children Program, cash assistance, child care services, LIHEAP, WIC, and SUN Bucks. Each program still has its own rules and steps.

If you cannot apply online, ask DSS about paper application forms through the Division of Social Services. Ask whether a form can be sent by mail, fax, or in person. If you need help with a notice or your ASSIST account, the DSS contact page lists customer service at 1-866-843-7212.

SNAP food benefits

SNAP, also called the Food Supplement Program, helps eligible families buy groceries. The Delaware SNAP page gives the current October 2026–September 2027 income and benefit table. Household size, countable income, expenses, and special rules can change the answer. DSS may need an interview and proof before it decides.

If food is needed before a decision, tell DSS right away and ask if you may qualify for expedited service. Use a food pantry while you wait. Do not assume the same time frame applies to every case.

TANF and other cash programs

Delaware TANF offers temporary cash assistance to certain families caring for children. Income rules and work-related duties apply. There may be exceptions or different rules for non-parent caregivers. If you care for a relative’s child, ask DSS about the child-only option and kinship support rather than assuming you cannot apply.

Delaware also has General Assistance for certain adults who do not qualify for TANF or other federal cash benefits. This is not open to all low-income adults; health, caregiving, age, school, income, and other conditions matter.

Food, WIC, diapers, and baby needs

A pantry may provide food while a benefit case is pending. The Food Bank of Delaware has a food-help finder for partner pantries, mobile food services, and food benefit help. Ask if you need an appointment, ID, or proof of address. State Service Centers may also direct you to emergency food.

WIC provides certain healthy foods, formula support, nutrition guidance, breastfeeding help, and health referrals for eligible pregnant women, postpartum or breastfeeding women, infants, and children under 5. WIC is not a general cash payment. The Delaware WIC program says to call for a WIC appointment: 302-283-7540 in New Castle County and 302-424-7220 in Kent or Sussex. Bring income, identity, address, and child or pregnancy records as requested. For a step-by-step overview, use the Delaware WIC guide.

If your family needs diapers, wipes, clothing, safe sleep supplies, or a car seat, ask 211 about verified local drives and charities. The Delaware baby items guide can help you plan what to ask for. For beds, tables, and other household basics, check Delaware furniture help. Donations, sizes, safety standards, and stock can vary by site.

Housing, shelter, and utility support

Shelter and housing

If you need shelter after Centralized Intake closes, search the Delaware 211 online directory for local shelter contacts. During severe cold, ask about Code Purple shelter when it is active. No after-hours bed is guaranteed.

For a household with nowhere safe to sleep, Centralized Intake is Delaware’s main shelter referral contact during its posted weekday hours. Staff screen people who are experiencing homelessness and refer them when space is available. A person staying with someone else, or facing eviction but still housed, may not meet the shelter referral rule. Still call 211 and a State Service Center to ask about prevention help before losing housing.

The state describes possible emergency and transitional housing, including limited motel vouchers, on its emergency housing page. Vouchers are not automatic. Shelter capacity, screening, and funding can limit help.

For longer-term housing or questions about affordable rentals, consult the Delaware State Housing Authority. The HUD Delaware page can help you find housing agencies and approved housing counseling. The Delaware housing guide covers other paths to check. Waiting lists may apply.

Power, heat, and water bills

The Delaware LIHEAP page lists winter heating assistance from October 1 through March 31. It also describes year-round energy crisis help, summer cooling assistance, and weatherization. Help can depend on income, your bill, and program funds. Year-round crisis screening does not mean a payment is guaranteed all year.

Apply through ASSIST or ask the program’s listed partners, such as Catholic Charities and First State Community Action Agency, how to be screened. If shutoff is near, contact the utility company as well. Ask about a payment plan, hardship policy, and any medical protections that may apply to your account.

Child care, school, work, and training

Help paying for child care

Delaware’s Purchase of Care subsidy may help pay for child care so a parent can work, train, or meet certain family needs. The official child care rules generally cover children under 13, with a path to ask about care beyond that age for a child with special needs. Income and service-need rules apply. Families may owe a weekly co-pay, and the provider must accept Purchase of Care.

Apply through ASSIST or a State Service Center. The My Child DE guide gives a child care search and lists 1-800-734-2388 for help finding a provider after approval. The Delaware child care guide has more questions to ask about approved providers and fees.

If work ends or hours are cut

If you lose a job or your hours drop, check the official Delaware unemployment page. It links to the state claim system and claimant support. Do not pay an unknown website to file for you.

For help with job skills, rides, food, or other needs, ask 211 or First State Community Action Agency what programs are taking clients. If you want to return to school, the Delaware education grants guide covers aid and school funding paths. Scholarship deadlines and school rules may differ.

Help through your child’s school

Ask your school about free school meals, summer food, SUN Bucks, school supplies, after-school care, bus routes, and a school social worker. If your family is doubled up due to loss of housing, in a shelter, or living in a car, ask for the school district’s homeless education contact. Delaware school housing guidance explains the McKinney-Vento rules for keeping children in school and getting needed transport. School rights can apply even if a shelter program does not accept your family.

Health coverage, legal help, child support, and safety

Medicaid and the Delaware Healthy Children Program can help eligible adults or children get health care. Check the official Medicaid eligibility information and the October 2026 changes noted above. Keep renewal notices and report address changes. If immigration status affects a case, ask the agency or qualified legal aid for advice before making decisions; rules can differ for parents and children.

For child support, the Delaware Child Support Services office helps with applying for services, locating a parent, parentage, support orders, case records, and review requests. A court order or case does not mean payments will arrive on a set day. If the other parent has used threats or control, tell a legal or safety advocate before taking steps that may affect your safety.

For civil legal help, use Delaware Legal Help Link to ask about screening. The Delaware Courts help page lists legal aid resources, and Community Legal Aid Society helps eligible people with civil matters such as benefits, housing, disability, and some family-related issues. For a state-focused overview, see Delaware legal help. Court staff cannot give you personal legal advice.

If violence, stalking, or threats are involved, start with a trained hotline advocate, not a routine housing application. The Delaware family safety guide gives more places to ask for support. If a shared phone, email, or benefits account is being watched, ask the hotline how to contact services more safely.

Documents to gather before you apply

Programs ask for different proof. You do not always need every item below, and another type of proof may be accepted. Ask the office first if something is missing. Keep a private paper folder or secure copies, as your situation allows.

Do not send full account numbers or personal records to an unknown person who claims they can speed up benefits.

Where to start by county

Local programs may serve only one county or ZIP code. Check the office before you go, especially if you need transportation or language help.

If you are denied, delayed, or cannot get help

Ask the program for the decision and the reason in writing. Check any deadline to ask for a review or appeal. Write down when you called, who spoke with you, what they said, and what you sent. Keep a dated copy of the notice.

For benefits run by Delaware DHSS, the fair hearing process may apply to a denial, delay, cut, or closure. Follow the deadline in your notice. Delaware DSS also lists a fair-hearing email address on its official contact page. Do not assume that asking for reconsideration stops an appeal deadline.

If you uploaded proof, ask whether it reached your case record. If you do not understand a notice, ask for language help or call legal aid. For rental or utility programs run by nonprofits, ask about any review process; they may not use the same benefits hearing rules.