Cash Assistance Programs in Tennessee

Cash Assistance Programs in  Tennessee

Are you in need of financial aid from the federal  agencies in Tennessee? Worry no more! Here’s a guide to help you understand  different programs that your government offers financial assistance to  families, individuals, and communities. 

Government Programs in Tennessee That Help People  in Need of Money

Families First Temporary Assistance for  Needy Families (TANF) program

Families First TANF is Tennessee’s employment and  development welfare program that helps its members or beneficiaries by  providing temporary financial benefits, job training, childcare services,  transportation, educational support, work activities, and other support  services. TANF seeks to inspire families for long-term achievement, personal  responsibility, and strong family ties.

Who qualifies to apply?

To be eligible for this program, you must comply  with financial eligibility and technical standards and should accept the  Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP). By agreeing to the PRP you accept to:

 
1. Ensure your  children get immunization shots and health checkups

 
2. Ensure that your  children attend school regularly

 
3. Cooperate with the  requirements of child support

 
4. Participate in  training or work

To qualify, you should:

 
1. Be a legal alien,  U.S. citizen, or permanent resident in Tennessee

 
2. Be disabled, pregnant,  uninsurable, or elderly

 
3. Be underemployed  (very low wage) or unemployed

 
4. Accept work and  participate in work preparation activities

 
5. Be taking care of a  child who’s below 18 years old

How do you apply?

Cash assistance benefits of the Families First  program are accessed and issued electronically. You can use an EBT Card or  Benefit Security Card. Also, you need to create a One DHS (Department of Human  Services) Account to access the service through the One DHS  Customer Portal. To apply for the financial benefit, you can visit  your local DHS county office or submit your details to  this portal.

How long does it take?

Family First applicants are notified of the  eligibility decision via mail within 45 days of the scope of the application.

Do you have to pay the money back?

No. However, a TANF recipient is prone to TANF  Claim which requires repayment to the department. This happens when:

 
1. A recipient makes  mistakes while reporting their situation to the department

 
2. An error is made by  the department concerning the amount a recipient should get

 
3. TANF beneficiaries  use their benefit money at illegal locations against the compliance  requirements of the program

 
4. A recipient  withholds information or gives misrepresenting or misleading facts

The integrity division in the department  establishes the overpayment claims and informs recipients of the amount and how  to repay it. The amount can be deducted from the benefit if the recipient is  currently receiving it. Else, monthly claim statements for repayment are sent  to them via mail. If a recipient fails to make repayment as required, the claim  attracts additional charges. 

What can the money be used for?

You can use the money depending on your needs and  your family’s. This includes rent, food, healthcare, and paying school fees.  According to Tennessee federal law, it is illegal for a participant to use  their EBT card at strip clubs, casinos, liquor stores, or retail stores that  associate with smoking accessories – tobacco, pipes, cigarettes, and cigars.

How much money could you get?

Getting financial assistance with TANF in  Tennessee highly relies on the size of your family and your income. The maximum  that can be paid is $277 per month for a family of three individuals.

TN Supplemental Nutrition Assistance  Program (SNAP)

SNAP, previously known as “food stamps”, is a  nutritional assistance initiative managed at the state level by the U.S.  Department of Agriculture (USDA). In Tennessee, SNAP is governed by the  Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS). The program aims to improve  people’s wellness and take care of their worries about meals. This way,  individuals can focus more on school, family, and work.

SNAP provides qualified households with a grocery  stipend for a certification period. The benefits are issued using an EBT Card  during this set length of time. This card can be used to access online retail  services and stores for grocery purchases. The certification period and amount  offered depends on the household’s circumstances and resources.

Who qualifies to apply?

You are eligible for SNAP if you meet the  qualifications. The eligibility criteria for SNAP take into consideration age,  citizenship, residency, income, employment, and other deduction factors. An  applicant must:

 
1. Be residing in  Tennessee State

 
2. Be a U.S. citizen,  legal alien, or U.S. national to benefit from the program

 
3. Register for work  and take part in employment and training activities

 
4. Strikers must be  eligible for income and resources before the strike. College learners should be  working at least 20 hours a week, recipients of Family First, responsible for  young dependents, and enlisted in work-study

 
5. Income test: SNAP  does not consider most loans, grants, or scholarships. The income limit for  households is $1,355 for 1 household, $1,833 for 2, $2,314 for 3, and $2,792  for 4 household sizes

 
6. Resources test:  Your household should have resources amounting to $2,255 and below to be  eligible for SNAP benefits

How do you apply?

You can apply for SNAP online and submit the  required documents through this portal.  Alternatively, consider uploading a printed application to the TDHS after  downloading here.

When applying for SNAP, ensure that you have  document copies that disclose the following information:

 
1. Social security  number

 
2. Income

 
3. Shelter expenses

 
4. Residence

 
5. Identification

 
6. Utility expenses

The availability of this information during  application expedites your application process. To learn more about other  documentation requirements that can be needed to process and maintain your  subsidy, click here. 

How long does it take?

SNAP program applications are confidential and  free. Using an online app, it can take you about 30 mins to complete the  process.

After submitting your SNAP application, it takes  30 working days to process. Once approved, you might be needed to submit extra  documents based on your benefit classification.

Do you have to pay the money back?

No. Food stamps are not to be paid back as they  aim to help. However, in the event of an overpayment claim, you will be  required to make payment to the department based on the program rules.

SNAP claims happen when:

 
1. You sell or trade  your benefits for drugs, weapons, or money

 
2. You conceal  information or give misleading facts

 
3. The department  makes errors while determining the amount to be issued to the household

 
4. A mistake is made  by the household when making a report about their situation

What can the money be used for?

You can use SNAP to purchase staple food from  online retailers and grocery stores. 

How much money could you get?

SNAP benefits depend on the number of individuals  in your household, your income, and your expenses. An individual can get a  maximum benefit of $194 per month. The average you can receive monthly is about  $126.

Community Services Block Grant (CSBG)

This is a government-funded grant whose  objective is to fight poverty in communities by abolishing limitations to  self-sufficiency faced by families and individuals. 

Who qualifies to apply?

It is mostly eligible for a network of agencies,  non-profit institutions, or schools that need to address community aspects like  health, enforcement of the law, or social services. The customers must depict  the need for the CSBG benefit and meet income requirements – below 125% of the  DHHS poverty standards.

The organization should be a Community Action  Agent recognized at the state level.

How do you apply?

You can download the  document and fill in the required details. Submit the printed application to  the DHS of your location. Indicate your need for the service and income  eligibility.

How long does it take?

The application process takes around 30 minutes.  Once approved, the grants last for a year.

Do you have to pay the money back?

No. It is federally funded financial aid for the  community. 

What can the money be used for?

The money is used to finance different services  offered by the local agencies to the community. Such services include financial  management, adult education, and work development.

How much money could you get?

The money given to the state or agencies highly  depends on the services or community needs. The website doesn’t specify how  much an individual can receive, but you can request assistance in paying  emergency utility bills and rent or mortgage. The Tennessee Department of Human  Services doesn’t directly allocate funds for these, but most Community Action  Agencies, which are the eligible entities that secure the funds, use some for  housing, utilities, and transportation assistance.

You can contact your local CAA here to see if  they provide the services mentioned above.