If I am emancipated amI eligible for any kind of government financial aid to pay for living expenses?
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If I am emancipated amI eligible for any kind of government financial aid to pay for living expenses?
I am 17 and am living with legal guardians. I have a 3.4 GPA and have football scholarships lined up, but my situation at home is far from helpful or nurturing. We argue every day about the littlest things and it is not a healthy environment for me to be a part of; I would like to get emancipated. With football I would not have time for a job so I’m wondering if there is some type of financial aid that the government provides you with to help with living expenses?
Asked on July 22, 2011 California
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
There are no particular or special types of government aid for emancipated minors. You could apply for the same aid as any other impoverished person--food stamps in order to eat; medicaid for medical costs; *possibly* you might qualify for public housing or a housing subsidy (e.g. Section 8), though there is a huge waiting list for that. However, bear in mind the following:
1) All of these benefits have more people who want them than they can always pay for, and also have significant paperwork, application, bureaucratic, etc. requirements; therefore, it may take months before you get any appreciable aid.
2) These aids, even all together, do not provide a good lifestyle--they just keep you from starving. I work in landlord-tenant law, specializing in public housing, and please believe when I say that you do not want to live like public housing tenants if you have any options whatsoever--for example, the places they can afford to live are often in the most dangerous areas.
If you have football scholarships, wait until you turn 18 and go to college; then see if you can get additional scholarships, student loans, or work study to help support you. You're not that far away from it.
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