How TANF Can Help Your Family

March 8, 2011

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF, provides financial help for children and their parents or relatives who are living with them. Monthly cash payments help pay for food, clothing, housing, utilities, furniture, transportation, telephone, laundry, household equipment, medical supplies not paid for by Medicaid and other basic needs. The amount of the TANF payment depends on family size and income.

To receive TANF, a family must be within the income and resource limits set for the program. Families who are approved for TANF will receive payments for six months. Families in the TANF program can also get Medicaid benefits. Even better, they can choose if they want to receive one or both types of benefits.

The total time the parent or relative can receive TANF ranges from 12 to 36 months. This is based on his or her education, work experience and personal or economic situation. There are no time limits for children.

In most cases, a child must be under 18 years old to receive TANF. If an 18-year-old is a full-time student and is expected to graduate before he or she turns 19, TANF payments may be made until he or she graduates.

If a child’s parent or relative is also approved for TANF, some states require that the parent or relative must sign and follow the Personal Responsibility Agreement. By signing the Personal Responsibility Agreement, the parent or relative agrees to:

Train for a job or look for employment, if capable
Cooperate with child support requirements
Not voluntarily quit a job
Not abuse alcohol or drugs
Take parenting skills classes, if required
Get medical screenings and all required immunizations for all children in the household (adults and children who receive TANF can get health care services through Medicaid)
Make sure that children are attending school

These are the general guidelines. Some states may have additions or modifications .

TANF also provides emergency assistance for families with a short-term crisis. The following are some of the qualified reasons:

Loss of a job
Loss of financial support for a child, such as child support or help paying living expenses (rent, utilities and food)
Not being able to find a job after graduating from a university, college, junior college or technical training school
Not being able to get a job because vehicle is not working
Loss of a home
Medical emergency

It can be given only once in a state-determined period (normally within 6 to 12 months). But if a family is already receiving payments, they cannot qualify for this.

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