Understanding TANF and How it Can Benefit Your Family

An alarming rate of American households are still struggling to make ends meet. To address this, the federal government is implementing various assistance programs.

These programs help individuals get access to various needs, such as housing, education, and healthcare.

Getting to know the different assistance programs carried out by the government can get overwheling and confusing.

Fortunately, the government has a website that can help people navigate through these various programs.

Check it out here.

What is TANF?

One of the many welfare programs implemented by the government is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

The states run this program, which was developed by the federal government. The types of benefits to be given to beneficiaries are decided by the states. 

The goal of the program is to help low-income families with children get back on their feet and become self-sufficient.

In simple terms, this program aims to help these families stay stable and avoid going through the need for additional help.

How TANF Works

The federal government doesn't just provide cash grants to families with children.

Instead, the states use these funds to provide cash assistance to these families.

The grant fund also provides a variety of services designed to help individuals become self-sufficient.

TANF's Main Goals

• Ensure that children from low-income households can grow up in their own homes.
• Enable the parents' career readiness to help them break free from their reliance on government support programs.
• Reduce the amount of unplanned pregnancies.
• Encourage a more stable dynamic and structure among families. 

 

Applying for TANF

Before applying for the program, it's important that people first contact their local state's social services office and the TANF office.

This will allow them to make an informed decision regarding the program. It's also important to note that the application is free, so it would be beneficial to check it out.

 

TANF Eligibility

Decisions regarding the program's eligibility and benefits are made by the local governments. This means that the qualifications for the program can vary depending on the state.

One of the main reasons why the program is focused on helping low-income families with children is because these families often have the most challenging financial situations.

Since the program has a limited budget, the government has to make sure that the families it helps are the right ones. It also needs to make sure that the financial assistance is helping the development of families.

This is why the government has various criteria that can disqualify people from the program.

Work Restrictions for TANF

The program is known as a work program, which means that it helps its participants find well-paying jobs and improve their skills. This is the reason why people who refuse to work can be considered unqualified for the program.

The number of people who are eligible to receive work-related benefits through the program is known as the Work-Eligible Beneficiaries Rate (WPR).

To determine this figure, the local governments use two measures: an all-families rate and a two-parent families rate.

The two-parent families rate requires families with two parents to work at least 35 hours per week. To maintain the program's funding, the states need to reach a 90% two-parent families rate.

TANF Sanctions

Since it's clear that a beneficiary of the program needs to work to receive their benefits, the federal government can sometimes force a state to cut off the payments for those who refuse to do so.

Unfortunately, this method can be very costly for families affected by the sanctions.

In most states, the sanctions are referred to as "full family sanctions." This means that the entire family would lose its benefits.

Conclusion

If you're struggling with the rising cost of living and money, then you're not alone. The economy has been going through a tough time recently. Some people can get loans from private lenders, while others may not have the necessary credit scores.

The government knows that many Americans are going through a tough time, and it's why it has created various financial assistance programs to help individuals and families.

To learn more about these programs, visit the government's website, Benefits.gov.