Temporary Assistance for Needy Families · ASSISTANCE for Needy Families T emporary Assistance for...
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TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE for Needy Families T emporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as TANF, assists families with children when parents or other responsible relatives struggle to make ends meet to provide for the family’s basic needs. The program is a crucial safety net for more than 96,963 children and 37,332 adults in Pennsylvania. THERE ARE SEVERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS There must be a child younger than 18 in the household, or a child who is 18 and expected to graduate before turning 19. Parents with dependent children who meet one of the following criteria are TANF-eligible Unemployment of one or both parents Absence of a parent Disability of one or both parents In addition to meeting income requirements, a family must have no more than $1,000 in countable resources. Countable resources include: Bank account Savings account Second car FAMILIES AREN’T GETTING RICH FROM TANF The average family on TANF is a family of three receiving $403 per month in assistance. The program is time-limited. With limited exceptions, families are only able to receive TANF for up to five cumulative years. PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES • FEBRUARY 2018 • DHS.PA.GOV
Transcript of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families · ASSISTANCE for Needy Families T emporary Assistance for...
TEMPORARYASSISTANCEfor Needy Families
T emporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as TANF, assists families with children when parents or other responsible relatives struggle to make ends meet to provide for the family’s basic needs. The program is a crucial safety net for more than 96,963 children and 37,332 adults in Pennsylvania.
THERE ARE SEVERAL ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
There must be a child younger than 18 in the household, or a child who is 18 and expected to graduate before turning 19.
Parents with dependent children who meet one of the following criteria are TANF-eligible
Unemployment of one or both
parents
Absence of a
parent
Disability of one or both
parents
In addition to meeting income requirements, a family must have no more than $1,000 in countable resources. Countable resources include:
Bank account
Savingsaccount
Secondcar
FAMILIES AREN’T GETTING RICH FROM TANF
The average family on TANF is a family of threereceiving $403 per month in assistance.
The program is time-limited. With limited exceptions, families are only able to receive TANF for up to five cumulative years.
PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES • FEBRUARY 2018 • DHS.PA.GOV
TANF HAS WORK REQUIREMENTSMany people who receive TANF must participate in a work activity
for a minimum number of hours per week. Hourly requirements varybased on:
OR
Whether 1 or 2 parents live in the household The age of child(ren) in the household
(Exceptions are made for people who can’t work due to a physical or mental disability.)
TANF IS FEDERALLY FUNDEDHowever, keeping federal funding requires a Maintenance of E�ort (MOE)
from states. States must spend a minimum specified amount of their own funds for benefits and services, or else they can lose federal grant money.
WHERE TANF FUNDING GOESMost TANF funds are spent on child care and supporting early learning
programs so parents with low incomes can work, participate in job training, or complete an educational program.
$100M
$200M
$300M
$400M
$500M
Cash Employment,assistance training, & workforce County development child
welfare AdministrationOther
Child care, Head Start,
& early learning
$409M
$204M
$124M
$286M
$59M$42M
$6M $1M$6M $18M$53M
$0
PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES • FEBRUARY 2018 • DHS.PA.GOV
= federal dollars spent in PA= state MOE
