Modern day Widows

In My Humble Opinion
1

New idea for a thread. Sort of. I’m soliciting (or taking a poll) reponses to see if anyone really knows what its like to be poor. I seem to remember the bible makes it quite clear that widows were to be looked after by society. It follows for me that single mothers are no different from widows when faced with the loss of a financial supporting loved one.

So,

Assuming you were an orphaned friendless 23 year old woman who is suddenly a single mom without income,

Where do you turn to? Is there a network that is available that will restore you and your children to a reasonable existance? What’s it like in your state or province ?

PS: Don’t read too much into the bible reference. I was connecting with antiquity.

2

Just a slight hijack. It is possible to be a widow and not poor. My Grandma is a widow and is quite well off. She spends a lot of her time travelling the world.

3

Well I became a widow at 27. I remain a widow at 38.

I turned to both my govt and my family (I had a VERY young child) both helped me. We couldn’t have survived without the help of both.

I am not ashamed to admit that over those 11 years the govt has helped pay to raise my child when it was needed.

4

Provided your spouse worked, in the United States your children will qualify for survivior benefits through Social Security. It isn’t a lot, but its better than starting out as a single mom (assuming you can’t find sperm donor for child support).

5

Um, there’s a huge distinction; in the case of a single mom, the father is alive. And therefore capable of providing for his child.