|
|
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
|
