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What is Temporary Assistance for Needy Families?

When people refer to welfare, they’re often thinking of the government program that is more formally known as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). It provides financial assistance to families with children.

The federal government awards grants to the states to design and operate their programs to accomplish the four purposes of the TANF:

• assisting needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes
• reducing the dependency of needy parents by promoting job preparation, work and marriage
• preventing out-of-wedlock pregnancies
• encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

If you’re in desperate need of money to take care of your family, you are probably just concerned about the first objective.

Each state has its own TANF office, but the titles vary from state to state. Click here to look up the TANF office of your state.

What are the benefits I can receive?

The exact amount of money you will receive varies by state. In a state like CA, the average benefit can be $427 per child every month, while in a state like Missouri, it may just be $234 per child. The exact amount also depends on your monthly income. The more you make, the less you will receive. You will need to contact your local TANF office to learn more about the benefits that are available to you.

How do I qualify for TANF?

Eligibility requirements vary state to state but are usually based on a combination of your income and your assets. In other words, it’s not enough to be out of work; your savings must be almost depleted as well.

What conditions are there to keep receiving TANF?

In order to keep receiving TANF, you will need to make an effort to find work.

Here are the exact requirements:

• Recipients must work as soon as they’re ‘job ready’ and no later than two years after they first started receiving benefits.
• Single parents have to participate in work activities for at least 30 hours per week. Two-parent families have to participate in work activities 35 or 55 hours a week.
• Recipients who fail to participate in work requirements may see their benefits reduced or terminated entirely.
• If you’re a single parent with a child under six years old, you can’t be penalized for failing to meet work requirements because you couldn’t find childcare.

If you’re unable to meet the requirements, the state may reduce or eliminate your benefits. Of course, you’re not expected to find a full-time job in order to meet these requirements. Otherwise, you wouldn’t even be in need of any assistance. The term “work activities” is used rather loosely. Here are some of the activities that qualify:

• unsubsidized or subsidized employment
• on-the-job training
• work experience
• community service
• job search - not to exceed 6 total weeks and no more than 4 consecutive weeks
• vocational training - not to exceed 12 months
• job skills training related to work
• satisfactory secondary school attendance
• providing child care services to individuals who are participating in community service.

Finally, it’s important to realize that TANF benefits can’t go on forever. You can’t receive TANF benefits for more than 60 months, or 5 years.

Part 1: How to Apply for Food Stamps

Part 2: How to Apply for Housing Assistance

Part 3: How to Apply for Medicaid

Part 4: How to Apply for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Part 5: How to Apply for Supplemental Security Income

Photo Credit: bigberto

• How to Apply for Supplemental Security Income (Part V - Welfare Programs)
• How to Apply for Medicaid (Part III - Welfare Programs)
• How to Apply for Housing Assistance (Part II - Welfare Programs)
• How to Apply for Food Stamps (Part I - Welfare Programs)
• How to Apply for Welfare

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