Temporary Cash Assistance For Single Moms

Last Updated on August 28, 2023 by Lori Pace

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families helps make ends meet for single moms through cash assistance in the United States. On this page, we’ll talk about TANF and the fundamentals of how to apply for benefits.

What Is Cash Assistance For Single Moms?

The TANF program aims to help low-income families and single moms achieve self-sufficiency. Block grants are distributed throughout the United States to serve local communities.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program helps families with children by securing housing. Still, it can also help single moms prepare for work to ensure that their children have a secure future.

How It Works

Local Assistance Offices are in every state in the United States (usually located within their Department of Human Services division). As a result, TANF is a various assistance program depending on the state. Single moms may be eligible for short-term cash assistance through their local TANF programs, which will help them pay for basic needs like food, housing, and educational costs.

To receive cash assistance from the TANF program, participants must engage in work activities. However, there are a few exceptions for single moms with children under the age of six. They can’t penalize you for failing to meet the program’s work requirements if you cannot find adequate childcare. To meet program requirements, you may be eligible for a 20-hour workweek.

Benefits from the TANF are only valid for a maximum of 60 months (or five years). This timeline ensures that single moms have enough time to find proper jobs and begin building their careers before exiting the program, allowing them to become self-sufficient.

How To Apply For Temporary Cash Assistance For Single Moms

The TANF program is funded by the United States Office of Family Assistance (part of the Office of the Administration for Children and Families), making it available to local communities through their Department of Human Services. If you’d like to apply for TANF benefits, please contact your local office. By going to the ACF website and choosing your state, you can find program contacts.

If you have trouble finding or contacting your local DHS office, you can also call them at 202-401-9275. You can learn more about the TANF program and how it can help you as a single mother by visiting the US Department of Health and Human Services website.

We hope that this page has helped demonstrate how TANF will benefit you and point you in the right direction for applying for assistance. For much more assistance, you can also visit our grants for single mother page.