TANF Benefits: Are You Eligible for Extra Payments You Can Use for Food, Clothes, and Housing?

Aside from SNAP, there are several other assistance programs that can help low-income individuals and households, such as the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF benefits.

TANF provides funds to states and territories to financially help families and individuals. TANF was enacted in 1996 and replaced the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).

Under TANF, the federal government gives a fixed block grant to states that use these funds to operate their own programs. Sometimes states named the program differently, like in California, it called the initiative CalWORKS.

The purposes of TANF are to assist families in need "so children can be cared for in their own homes or the homes of relatives" and to decrease the dependency of parents in need by encouraging job preparation, work, and marriage.

TANF also aims to prevent pregnancies among unmarried people and encourage the creation and maintenance of two-parent families.

The main difference between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP and TANF is that food stamps provide food-purchasing power to low-income households and individuals, while TNAF aims to help low-income families with dependent children achieve self-sufficiency.

TANF Benefits Eligibility

Eligibility for the TANF benefits is based on income. Applicants must be unemployed or underemployed and have a child age 18 or younger or are pregnant or be a child age 18 or younger, according to the Go Banking Rates.

Applicants must also be residents of the state where they apply. Eligibility differs by state. As a general rule, to be eligible for TANF benefits, one must be a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, or legally qualified migrant.

Some individuals are banned from receiving benefits, such as those with drug felony convictions. However, states can partially or fully lift the ban by passing legislation.

D.C. and 18 states have partially lifted the ban, while 25 states have fully lifted the ban. Meanwhile, seven states maintain the full lifetime ban.

TANF Benefits Application

States have different ways and processes when it comes to TANF benefits applications. In California, interested applicants can file their applications online at BenefitsCal.com or contact the local social services office in their county.

Washington state also offers the same application procedure, with those eyeing to receive TANF benefits can apply online or by phone at 877-501-2233. Applicants for the TANF benefits can also visit their local Community Services Office.

TANF benefits can be used for various household needs, unlike SNAP benefits, which only focus on eligible food items.

TANF benefits recipients can pay their rent and mortgage with TANF funds. It can also be used for household appliances, laundry services, personal hygiene products, internet and phone service, and medical bills and supplies, which Medicaid does not cover.

TANF beneficiaries also receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that can be used to buy goods and services. EBT cards also allow ATM withdrawals.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

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