Dear Liz: I have a daughter who is 21 and a single mother with a 1-year-old. She has been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and major depressive disorder. She hasn’t worked since high school and can’t hold a job. She is no longer a dependent as of this year. My question is what assistance is she eligible to apply for? She already is with WIC and getting benefits for the baby. She’s a mess and I’m having difficulty understanding what she can apply for, and what is realistic in terms of Supplemental Security Income, disability, housing assistance and so on.
Answer: Government benefits can be a nightmarish maze to navigate, but you and your daughter may be able to find your first guide in the WIC program. WIC — which is formally the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — provides low-income women and children with supplemental food and nutrition counseling. WIC also provides screening and referral to other benefit programs that could help your daughter and grandchild.
Another resource is the benefits finder tool at USAGov, the official site of the federal government. Start at https://www.usa.gov/benefit-finder.
You didn’t mention health insurance, but making sure your daughter and her child have coverage is crucial. With medication and counseling, your daughter could stabilize enough to become employable and start to build her young life. Under the Affordable Care Act, she can continue on your health insurance until age 26 even if she’s not a dependent for tax purposes. Otherwise, check the health exchanges at https://www.healthcare.gov/. Please act quickly, as open enrollment ends Dec. 15.
People should call 211 to find right resources, and contact local legal aid office.