What is tanf

Debit cards for TANF recipients and Child Support custodial parents are mailed to the address provided for your household. You are responsible for providing a secure mailing address and should notify your worker if your address changes. TANF benefits or child support payments used from the debit card sent to the address you provide will not be replaced. The PIN is very important and should be memorized or kept in a safe place. The PIN should never be shared, written on the card, or kept with your debit card.

The debit card has a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, toll-free Customer Service. The number is You can call the automated response unit ARU to find out how many benefits are left in your account or to inquire about child support payments. You can also report lost, stolen or damaged cards, get your transaction history, pin or re-pin your card or discuss any problems you are having with your debit card. You are allowed five 5 free calls to Customer Service each month to ask about your balance or to hear your transaction history.

Do not call this number to discuss your TANF eligibility or child support case. Call your worker at the county office to discuss questions about your case. You should always know your PIN before you go to the store. If your debit card is lost, stolen or damaged, call Customer Service to report it.

It will be deactivated and a new card requested. No one will be able to use your card once you report it is missing.

A new card will be mailed to you and should arrive in days. It is necessary to select a new PIN for your replacement card. Your debit card may be dirty or damaged. Call Customer Service and explain that your card will not work.

If the card is not working properly, a new one will be mailed. Always read the ATM messages carefully. You can cancel if you wish to avoid the fee or press enter and pay the fee. Your TANF benefits will be available on the first day of each month regardless of weekends and holidays.

What is TANF? Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a program that provides cash assistance and supportive services to assist families with children under age 18, helping them achieve economic self-sufficiency. Who is eligible for TANF cash assistance? Children under 18 who are living with their parent s or relative such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle etc.

Click here for a printable version of the graph. What are the responsibilities of the applicant for or recipient of TANF cash assistance? The applicant or recipient must provide the Division of Family Resources with accurate and complete information regarding the child ren , parent s and all other household members whose income and needs are to be assessed in order to determine eligibility. How does the Division of Family Resources determine the amount of cash assistance?

A review is done of all the income available to meet the needs of the family. WorkFirst Support Services can help you with some of the expenses of getting and keeping a job, including:. As with all our programs, the only way to know for sure if you are eligible is to apply.

Skip to main content. Who is eligible: Washington State residents who are responsible for the care of children or who are pregnant. Some of the requirements you must meet include: Income and resource requirements Citizenship and alien status requirements Income and resource Requirements: Your TANF benefits are based on your family size and income.

If you are found eligible for the TANF Program, you must: Cooperate with the Division of Child Support If you are a parenting teen, live in an approved living situation Participate in the WorkFirst Program, if required The WorkFirst Program expects that you will: Complete all requested reviews Participate in all required job search and work preparation activities Time limitations: As of August , TANF families are limited to sixty months of benefits in their lifetime unless they qualify for a time limit extension.

The WorkFirst Program assists you by: Helping you pay for child care expenses through our Child Care Subsidy Program formerly Working Connections Child Care Helping you with job search, including resume writing and job interview skills Providing you opportunities to get training to increase your skills and get a better job A job, a better job, a better life If you are participating in the WorkFirst Program, your case manager will do everything possible to help you succeed.