How can I help a 21 year old orphan?

She is not an orphan any longer, she is an adult. She maybe struggling but she seems to have made the transition just fine. Just don't take advantage of her.

When asking these specific questions it is important to state which country you are in, however I do not think with this question it matters. The reason being that at 21 years of age 13% of the world population if without parents. An Orphan is a child under the age of consent. 21 make this person an adult and it would appear and adult who has done pretty well without your help! Only someone who has not had to support themselves(been spoiled) would think it unusual that an 18 year old girl was supporting herself! I think it is you who runs the risk of being exploited. Do be careful. Tigers have beautiful eyes! They can eat you to!

She's 21- she's an adult not an orphan and it will likely be hard to offer any help without it seeming like charity or pity. She sounds like she is doing pretty well for herself and doesn't really need to be "taken in". A lot of people struggle to make ends meet, whether or not they have parents. If she has been on her own for a few years she probably knows a lot of the programs that are available. I would be cautious about offering too much advice as it might make her feel very self-conscious and could ruin the relatioship that you have at this point. Besides keeping her in your employment, and perhaps raising her wages I would not step to far into the issue - unless she asks for help it is really not any of your business.

For starters try contacting the College that she is already attending to find out if they have programs available. Call your local Welfare Department and maybe a Youth Service Group within your county. You may also have a local JC's all should be helpful in steering you in the right direction. Raise her baby sitting salary as well.

Because she is a ward of the state or was, then she is considered a Independent student. Independent students recieve a lot more money then dependents. Tell her to Fill out the FAFSA and there is a section i believe on the first or second page that ask if you if you where adopt or a ward of the state, tell her to check YES. Also check with your state to see if they have funding. I know here in Ky, they pay for your tuition. If you have any more question, please ask because i was adpot, got funding, and worked for my college with adpot/foster/ and state warded students.

She has a car and an apartment, and has been independent for 3 years, so she is not doing too badly. Could she sub-let the apartment, take in another student as a lodger? With the car, could she run errands for elderly or other people, for a fee? I am not au fait with government programs or other funding in your country, so can't help you there

She should apply for the FAFSA. If she has been a ward of the court, they calculate your financial aid differently. A friend of mine in college was a ward of the court, and was given all sorts of government grants to help her with school. It covered her tuition, room/board, and textbooks - at a private university, no less. I also helped a student of mine, who had homelessness/custody-bouncing-around issues for most of her life. We had to establish her case (probate court files, etc) in her FAFSA application, and also meet one-on-one with financial aid at her school, but she also qualified for a great deal of assistance. Coming from personal experience, don't take her in. Help her fill out the FAFSA and leave it at that. www.fafsa.ed.gov

There aren't any government programs-- they let you go at 18, their work is done. She is 21, so she is pretty much on the same level as most of the kids out there who support themselves. It's her life- don't look at her with pity.