Social benefits for single mothers in Colombia

By Ethan Walker • May 4, 2023

Being a single mother and taking care of one or more children can be quite difficult, especially in Colombia, and many women wonder if there are benefits for single mothers.

Here in this article you will find that the answer to that question is yes.

And for those wondering what the benefits of being a single mother are, know that we will talk about them and much more in this article.

Starting with how to prove you are a single mother, then we'll talk about the requirements to get help, and much more.

If all of this interests you, read the article below and stay informed.

How to prove that you are a single mother?

To take advantage of these single mother benefits, you must first prove that you are the head of your household.

And in order to prove that you are a mother and head of household, you will have to meet some specific criteria.

By realizing that she meets these criteria, she will be able to prove that she is a single mother.

And if you're wondering what those criteria are, don't worry, here's a complete list of the criteria you must meet:

  1. First, be aware that you will have to take responsibility for all members of your family who are minors or unable to work.
  2. This responsibility must also be permanent; one must be fully responsible for these children and/or people unable to work.
  3. Above all, you must demonstrate that you are absent from a partner by showing that you do not help with household chores.
  4. You can prove it through, for example, a food complaint.
  5. And if so, he must prove that the father of the children cannot help take care of them, either due to physical or mental disability.

To declare that this is your situation, you only need to go to a notary.

But what about the requirements?

There are certain requirements you must meet to begin accessing the benefits for single mothers who are heads of household provided by the government.

There aren't many requirements to access the aid for single mothers, so don't worry.

If you can prove that you are a mother and head of household, then you probably already meet the requirements.

Here is a list of all the requirements you must meet if you wish to take advantage of the assistance offered by the government:

  1. Firstly, your children must be under 18 years old; once they turn 18, you will no longer be able to count on the aid.
  2. Above all, you need to have a low level in Sisbén IV; the required level may change depending on the program, so pay attention to this.
  3. Prove that you are the head of the household; you can read more about this requirement right above, don't worry.
  4. And last but not least, this is a requirement I probably already expected to see, given that I don't have the support of the children's father.

Benefits for single mothers

Now that you know the requirements to enjoy these benefits, it's time to talk about the benefits you will enjoy.

To that end, below is a list of the main benefits you will have as a single mother in our country:

  1. First, know that you will have access to assistance for women victims of domestic violence.
  2. In addition to the financial assistance for food, and I can assure you that this will be very helpful for you and your children.
  3. Another benefit is that you will have access to many government programs and grants.
  4. Above all, you will have access to health services for you and your children (Sisbén), which will be a great help in keeping your family healthy.
  5. And if needed, you will also have access to legal help; if you think you may have future problems with the children's parents, that will be helpful.
  6. One of the best benefits of this list is that you cannot be fired without just cause, as long as you can prove that you are the head of the household.
  7. And last but not least, the best benefit of all, their children will have access to public education.

Government aid for single mothers

And if you're wondering what government assistance programs you'll have access to, here they all are:

Families in Action, Youth in Action, VAT Refund, Empléate Program, United Network, Gran Colombia, FEST, Social Infrastructure and Housing and RESA.

Now that you know all the requirements and how to prove that you are a mother, don't waste any time.

Go to the nearest Notary Office, declare your situation, and start taking care of your children in the best way possible.

Being a single mother is one of the most difficult jobs in the world, but it is also one of the most rewarding.