| There are a lot of misconceptions and stereotypes | | | | single parent statistics state the following: 79 percent |
| when it comes to single parent households, but when | | | | are employed, 50 percent work full time all year long, |
| single parenting statistics are closely examined, these | | | | and 29 percent work part time or for part of the year. |
| false ideas are quickly put to rest. United States | | | | It is also not as common as you may think for single |
| census data from 2000 shows that at the time there | | | | moms to need welfare or some other financial |
| were 13.5 million parents with sole custody. In fact, | | | | assistance program to support themselves for their |
| most of these households even have more than 1 | | | | children. Only 31 percent of these moms receive some |
| minor child to take care of. Additionally, 84 percent of | | | | form of public assistance and only 6 percent are |
| these households have mothers as custodial parents | | | | enrolled in welfare, also known as Temporary |
| leaving only 16 percent headed by the father. | | | | Assistance for Needy Families. |
| Single parent statistics state that of all the households | | | | Another common myth which single parenting statistics |
| headed by the mother, 44 percent are divorced or | | | | puts to rest is that most single mothers are teenagers |
| separated, 33 percent were never married, 22 percent | | | | or young adults. Actually, 37.7 percent of all custodial |
| are women who have remarried, and only 1 percent | | | | mothers are 40 years old and up. Also, while it is true |
| are widows. | | | | that many of them live below the poverty level, just |
| It is a common misconception that single moms can | | | | barely getting by, the stats show that only 27.7 percent |
| support themselves and their children with child support | | | | of these moms live in what is considered abject |
| received from the father, but single parenting statistics | | | | poverty. However, this is still larger than custodial |
| make it clear that this is not the case. In fact, the stats | | | | fathers, only 11.1 percent of which live in poverty. |
| show that the average amount a single mother would | | | | The few examples of single parenting statistics that |
| receive from child support is about $4,900 a year. | | | | we have looked at in this article have painted a picture |
| That's not enough to pay for one person besides | | | | of the average single parent which is much different |
| support a family. It is common for the mom to work at | | | | than is commonly accepted. Most single parents are |
| least part time, and the average income earned in a | | | | responsible individuals who work hard in order to |
| year is about $28,000. So even with help from the | | | | support themselves and their children with the limited |
| father, it can be difficult to make ends meet. | | | | resources they have available. |
| When it comes to a custodial mother's work status, | | | | |