Services for a Disabled Single Mother on TANF Help Learning Disabled Single Mothers

Disabled Single Mothers Overlooked and Under Recognized in the Decade of Welfare Reform

Services for a disabled single mother should help fill the voids that the disability has carved out from the single mother’s already struggling life.   The American Disabilities Act serves to protect physically disabled single mothers and mentally disabled mothers from discrimination at work, but services for a disabled single mother must do more than protect, they must provide.

Services for a disabled single mother suffering from a physical disability, a mental disability, or a learning disability can help the disabled mom overcome the handicaps that interrupt her potential in life.  According to a 2008 US Census Fact Sheet, over 41 million people in the US are disabled.  The majority of these are females, but single mother programs pushing single mothers to work have been blind to disability. 

Little Services for a Disabled Single Mother Trapped Between TANF and SSI

The median income for a non-severely disabled individual is $22,000, but only $12,000 if they are handicapped with a severe disability.   A study by the Institute for Women’s Policy Research reported that half of the singe mothers receiving Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) are likely to be a disabled single mother or have a disabled child, yet welfare reform policies limit the number of recipients that can exempted from work requirements at 20% of the total caseload.    Only 1/3 of these receive Social Security Income (SSI) since the welfare reform act came along with more stringent qualifications to label a disability.  

TANF services for a disabled single mother includes case management providing SSI  application services for a disabled single mother, however many caseworkers are not familiar with SSI services and SSI cases get denied at alarming  rates.  In February 2009, the National Council for State Legislatures suggested to welfare officials that the state TANF office work with SSI to expedite claims.  One county has, and SSI applications were approved at a 45% higher rate, and the TANF load was lightened.   Federal law prohibits TANF services for a disabled single mother being received as the same time as SSI services for a disabled single mother. 

TANF services for a disabled single mother include referring the mother to the One Stop Career Center at the Department of Labor.  One Stop has disability resources and services for a disabled single mother, as well as connections to employers and single mother programs that offer services for a single disabled mother.  Single mother subsidies for childcare are also available services for a disabled single mother that can work.  Welfare and disability services differ for every state.  A list of services for a disabled single mother can be provided from any social service agency.

Screening Services for a Disabled Single Mother with a Learning Disability on TANF

Learning disabilities are under-recognized in single mother and welfare reform programs, and only recently have states started screening services for a disabled single mother with a learning disability.  Only 15% of the US population has a learning disability, but 25-40% of TANF recipients have a learning disability.  TANF can arrange single mother support services for a disabled single mother to obtain her GED and integrate her into the workforce through vocational and educational services for the disabled. The Administration on Children and Families has reported that once a learning disability is recognized, there is a high chance of success for the single mother in school and at work.

Services for a disabled single mother can come from many agencies. Outside of TANF, there are single mother scholarships for the disabled, and services for a disabled single mother that seeks a single mother adoption.  Disabled single mothers need assistance and services to fill their handicapping voids. Policies for the disabled must be updated to include more services for a disabled single mother that focuses on assistance with personal care as well as vocational rehab.  Until then, the disabled single mothers will remain suspended between TANF and SSI without the services they need.