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An Introduction to TANF

TANF is the new name for welfare. The program provides cash help for eligible people who are homeless with dependent children.

Tips:

> Your Clients Can Receive Cash Help for a Variety of Reasons
> Understand the Special Information for Parents
> Eligibility Varies from State to State
> Your Client May Need to Fulfill Work Requirements
> Applications are Handled Locally

For more detailed information on TANF, scroll down.

Your Clients Can Receive Cash Help for a Variety of Reasons
  • Help finding a job
  • Help finding and paying for day care
  • Help to cover the costs of housing and other basic needs
  • Help while you are working but earning too little
  • Help while you recover from an illness or if you are disabled
  • Help while you move out of a home where there is abuse
  • Help while you get treatment for alcohol or drug abuse
  • Help while you go to school or receive training
  • Help for an emergency
  • Help with the cost of transportation

In some states, your clients may be able to receive emergency housing money if they are receiving TANF benefits.

Understand the Special Information for Parents
If your client is a single parent with a child or children, it is important to counsel him/her about the Child Protective Services (CPS) provision. A single parent will not lose their children because they applied for TANF benefits, nor will an investigation be opened.

Eligibility Varies from State to State
Basic eligibility varies from state to state, but in general, a person who is homeless with little or no monthly income (approximately $400 or less), no other appreciable assets, and one or more dependent children will be eligible for TANF.

To be eligible to receive TANF benefits, your client must:

  • Be a resident of your state
  • Be a U.S. citizen –any child born in the U.S. is a citizen and eligible for benefits if the parent is not
  • Provide Social Security numbers for all members of the family applying for benefits (Social Security numbers and cards can be requested through the Social Security Administration (SSA) Web site at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

Time limits vary from state to state, but in general, your client can receive TANF for five years (60 months).

Your Client May Need to Fulfill Work Requirements
TANF recipients may be required to work a certain number of hours per week. Work can also be referred to as "work activity"and includes the following: work, work experience (unpaid internships), education, or vocational education training. You can do more than one work activity to reach your weekly hour requirement (e.g., 20 hours work, 10 hours of other work-related activities).

Depending on your state's requirements, your clients may be exempted from the work requirement for some of the following reasons:

  • Have a very young child
  • Age 60 or over
  • Need treatment for drug or alcohol abuse
  • Are injured or disabled
  • Pregnant and expecting to give birth in the next 120 days
  • Teen parent going to school

If your client is a teen parent living with his/her parents, then the cash benefit will be paid to the teen's parents.

Applications are Handled Locally
To apply for TANF, your client must go to the local social services office. To locate your local TANF office, visit www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/hs_dir2.htm.

> More information on TANF

Benefits Your Client May Receive
What Makes Your Client Eligible
What Your Client Needs to Apply
If Your Client is an Immigrant
Contact Information
TANF Program Q & A
TANF Fact Sheet