Grants for Women in Montana

Are you a woman living in Montana, and looking for a grant, a scholarship, or assistance with bills? This article covers some of the best financial aid and services that are available to female Montanans. Read on to see if there are any that can suit your needs.

Montana Tax Credit

As of 2020, single mothers with low income can qualify to pay slim to no federal income tax, or even get a tax refund from the IRS. Montana is the most recent state to join the EITC program, 28 other states are also participating. To learn more, click here.

Medicaid

Montana’s Medicaid program has expanded coverage recently. It was formerly only for kids under 18, pregnant women, disabled persons, and seniors, but now any adult between the ages of 19 and 64 can apply. You must meet the low income requirements that range from 133% to 157% of the poverty level, depending on your situation. If you qualify you can receive health care coverage for a wide range of things. There is even another program called Healthy Montana Kids, that covers younger children. To learn more about the program(s), and eligibility requirements, visit the link here, or call 1 (888) 706-1535.

Montana Unemployment Insurance

This government program gives financial aid to women (and men) who lost their jobs due to no fault of their own, i.e. the company went out of business, etc. Qualifying individuals can receive assistance for a maximum of 28 weeks, and you must actively seek a job and prove it on a weekly basis. Online work is allowed and viewed the same as an in-person job, which is nice in the digital age. You can file for Montana UI claims online, or, if that is not an option, you can call the unemployment center in your county. To learn more about this program, visit the link here.

The Amber Grant

Women looking for a small business grant in Montana, should apply for the monthly Amber Grant, from WomensNet. This cash grant is awarded to a different woman each month, with one of those women being chosen at the end of the year to receive an additional $10,000. The application process can be done entirely online, and you can head to their website here to apply and learn additional information. The application will ask about your business, what you will do with the money, and how you will pay it forward in some way in the future.

LIHEAP Program

Montana’s Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is available to single mothers and families. It assists in helping beneficiaries with paying utility bills on a needs-basis. Assistance comes in the form of cash grants that are to be used solely for paying electric and other home utility bills. Eligibility requirements hinge on two main things, income, and the number of people in your household. This is a very popular program in Montana amongst low income families and helps many people each year. To learn more, visit their website here.

Pell Grant

This college, or university, scholarship is provided by the federal government, but distributed by the individual schools. Eligible students can receive up to 12 years of assistance, and currently, the max amount paid out yearly is $6,000. This number varies yearly and by student and school. Income is a large factor in being accepted, and to apply, you must fill out a FAFSA, which you can do here, online. Once you have submitted the FAFSA form, head in to your schools financial aid office to talk with them. To see a full list of participating schools in Montana, visit the link here.

TANF

This cash assistance program (TANF) was created for low-income, needy families, and single mothers who have kids under age 18. It will help you get back on your feet and become financially independent, provided you meet the requirements set forth. One of the strings attached to this program is that while receiving benefits, you must be actively looking for a job. To apply, or find out more about this program, visit the link here.

Montana’s expanding programs, and various services, make getting assistance a breeze. Apply for one of these assistance programs today, to get the help you are looking for.