Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a program that provides financial assistance and support services for eligible low-income families with children under age 18, children age 18 and attending school full-time, and pregnant women. The program is time-limited and helps families when parents or other relatives cannot provide for the familys basic needs. The federal government provides grants to states to run the TANF program, and states carry out their own programs and decide on things like the design of the program, type and amount of assistance payments, range of services to be provided, and rules for determining who qualifies for benefits.
To apply for TANF, individuals can print an application and fill out as much information as possible and mail the paper application to their local DFCS office. The eligibility for TANF varies by state, and individuals can find the nearest TANF office in their state or territory on the HHS website. The Georgia TANF program, for example, provides financial assistance and support services for eligible families to meet basic needs.
