{"id":3041,"date":"2026-09-25T22:54:20","date_gmt":"2026-09-26T03:54:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hepacom.org\/ayudas-para-madres-cabeza-de-hogar\/"},"modified":"2026-09-25T22:54:20","modified_gmt":"2026-09-26T03:54:20","slug":"ayudas-para-madres-cabeza-de-hogar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hepacom.org\/en\/ayudas-para-madres-cabeza-de-hogar\/","title":{"rendered":"Support for single mothers: what's available and where you'll be prioritized"},"content":{"rendered":"

In many neighborhoods, the scene is repeated: a woman who pays the rent, takes the children to school, cares for her grandmother, and also has to figure out on her own what benefits she's entitled to. She almost always receives a message via WhatsApp about a "subsidy for single mothers" that no one can find at any government office. aid for single mothers<\/strong> Yes, they exist, but they don't work as a separate payment: the law gives this family priority within existing programs, especially for housing. Here we tell you what they are, what the law says, and where to apply for each one.<\/p>\n

What real support exists for single mothers?<\/h2>\n

The short answer: priority in housing (in-kind subsidies, home improvements, and loans from public institutions), preference for children to attend public schools and universities, free training, and support for entrepreneurship. All of this stems from Law 82 of 1993, which was rewritten by Law 1232 of 2008 and amended again by Law 2115 of 2021.<\/p>\n

These laws don't create an account where you're paid monthly. What they do is require institutions to prioritize you once you meet a program's eligibility requirements. Therefore, the useful question isn't "How much do I get for being a single mother?" but rather "Which programs should I be prioritized for, and what do I need to qualify?".<\/p>\n

One detail that changed in 2021: several of these protections now refer to "women and men who are heads of household." If the father is the sole provider for the children in your home, this also applies.<\/p>\n

Who is a single mother according to the law?<\/h2>\n

The definition is found in Article 2 of Law 82 of 1993, as amended by Law 1232 of 2008. A single or married woman is considered a head of household and is permanently responsible for her own minor children or other dependents who are unable to work. This must be due to the permanent absence or incapacity of her spouse or partner, or because other members of the household contribute very little.<\/p>\n

Focus on three words. Permanent<\/em>It does not count if the father is working in another city for a few months and continues to contribute. In charge<\/em>It's not enough to just live with your children, you have to be the one who supports them. Single or married<\/em>Marital status doesn't decide; who takes on the responsibility for the household decides.<\/p>\n

That's why being a single mother is not the same as being a single mother who is the head of a household. A single mother who lives with her current partner, and that partner contributes to the household income, may not meet the definition.<\/p>\n

How is the status of single mother proven?<\/h2>\n

With a declaration before a notary. The paragraph of the same article states that the condition, and also the moment it ceases to exist, is declared before a notary, detailing the basic circumstances of the case, and that no notary fees are charged for this declaration. If a notary tries to charge you, ask them to show you the regulation: the law states that this procedure is free of charge.<\/p>\n

The declaration alone is not enough in all programs. When an entity cross-references data with the Sisb\u00e9n system, what matters is how your household appears on the record. If the children's father left years ago but is still registered in your family group, the system will continue to see him there. In our guide to the Sisb\u00e9n family group<\/a> We explain how to correct it.<\/p>\n

What priority does a single mother have in housing?<\/h2>\n

Here is the strongest support. There are three fronts with legal backing:<\/p>\n