Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

Temporary Aid for Needy Families (TANF)  provides cash payments that help families pay for basic needs.  

 You can apply for TANF online at Your Texas Benefits. You can also apply by visiting an HHSC benefits office. To locate an HHSC benefits office near you use the Your Texas Benefits find an office website. 

TANF provides monthly cash payments to help pay for: 

• Food 

• Clothing 

• Housing 

• Utilities 

• Furniture 

• Transportation 

• Phone 

• Laundry 

• Supplies for the home 

• Medical supplies not paid for by Medicaid 

• Other basic needs 

TANF is for families with children aged 18 and younger. Families who can get this help have little to no money or don’t have a way to get money. 

A family can be parents and their children, or relatives caring for related children. 

The amount of money the family has, the value of things the family is paying for or owns, and the amount the family pays for childcare and child support. 

Yes. See below for a chart that gives a general idea of the amount of money/income a person/family can get and still qualify for TANF.  

Maximum monthly income limits 

For each additional person, add $43.

Note: Some people might be able to get benefits even if their income is higher than what is listed in this chart. 

The child or children you are caring for might be able to get TANT even if your income is higher than what is listed in the chart. 

The child or children you are caring for might be able to get TANT even if your income is higher than what is listed in the chart.

Yes. If a child’s parent or relative gets TANF, the parent or relative must agree to: 

• Train for a job or look for work. 

• Follow child support rules. 

• Not quit a job. 

• Not abuse alcohol or drugs. 

• Take parenting skills classes. 

• Get vaccines for their child. 

• Make sure their child is going to school. 

If you receive TANF, you will be told how you can get help in following the program rules. 

See below for a chart of the maximum monthly TANF amount.

Maximum monthly TANF amount

For each additional person, add $72. 

Yes. TANF offers money to families in crisis  so that they can pay for basic needs such as the ones listed earlier. TANF only provides this help to a family once a year. 

TANF considers the following a crisis: losing a job, a home, or experiencing a medical emergency. 

Yes. TANF provides a once in a lifetime payment of $1,00 to certain relatives that care for one or more related children. The payment can only be given once, no matter how many related children live or move in with the relative. 

Grandparents, aunts, uncles, sisters, and brothers who: 

• Care for a child who gets TANF, 

• Are 25 or older, 

• Do not have a lot of money or have a way to get more money. 

Yes. See below for a chart that gives a general idea of the amount of money/income a relative can get and still qualify for the one-time TANF payment. 

For each additional person, add $787.

If a relative isn't able to get the one-time TANF for relatives payment, the child they care for still might be able to get monthly TANF.