Apply For Texas TANF

This page provides the Texas TANF eligibility requirements. Applicants must meet both state and federal guidelines for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. Individuals who apply for TANF must meet the monetary and non-monetary state guidelines, complete work-related activities, provide paternity information about the children in the household and report as required by the state.

Texas residents who qualify for welfare are required to furnish information such as citizenship, income, resources, and age. Only household members who are eligible can receive Texas welfare benefits. Read on for more information about applying for TANF. If you have additional questions or issues about this program, then contact TANF Texas.

Application, Determination of Eligibility, and Furnishing TANF Cash Assistance


Coverage and Conditions of Eligibility

Domicile/Relationship
Living with specified relative in a place of residence maintained by one or more such relatives as his or their own home. The following is a list of the relatives with whom a child may be living:


The State's criteria for establishing "day-to-day care" and "care and control" are:


The definition of "temporarily absent" is when a person is out of the home temporarily:


As specified in section 408(a)(10), Texasmay allow eligibility in situations of achild's absence that does not exceed 180 consecutive days; denies a parent or caretaker relative who fails to timely report a child's absence.

Continued absence
Continued absence of a parent usually occurs in divorce, desertion, abandonment, incarceration, deportation, hospitalization or unwed parent situations. However, the parent may be absent for any reason if the nature of the absence interrupts or terminates the parent's function as a provider of maintenance, physical care or guidance, and the duration of the absence precludes relying on the parent for the present support or care of the child. Deprivation based upon continued absence also may occur when these three factors are present simultaneously:


The parent may be absent for military service, employment or any other reason so long as an evaluation of all the facts results in a reasonable conclusion that the absence is not of a temporary nature. Absence of less than thirty days is considered temporary unless facts indicate that the absence will continue past thirty days. Parental absence based solely on active duty in the uniformed services is not a basis for establishing deprivation because of continued absence.

Incapacity
A child is deprived due to incapacity if the parent has a physical or mental disability supported by competent medical testimony, which is of such a debilitating naturethat it precludes him from substantial gainful employment for a continuous period of at least 30 days. A certification of Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) or Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) disability is sufficient proof of incapacity to establish TANF deprivation.

Unemployment
A child is deprived if both parents are in the home and one or both parents are unemployed or under-employed and a financial need exists.

Death
A child is deprived if one or both parents are deceased.

The determination that a child has been deprived of parental support or care is made in relation to the child's legal parent.

The State agency's definition of an unemployed parent who is the principal earner includes a principal earner unemployed because of conduct or circumstances thatresult or would result in disqualification for unemployment compensation under the State's unemployment compensation law.

Assistance is provided to a needy and otherwise eligible 18-year-old child who is a full-time student in a secondary school, or in the equivalent level of vocational or technical training, and who may reasonably be expected to complete the program before reaching age 19

To be eligible for TANF cash assistance in Texas, an unmarried minor parent must reside with a parent, legal guardian, or other adult relative as specified in Section 408 (a)(5). A minor parent may reside elsewhere and be eligible for cash assistance if good cause is established by one of the following reasons:


A child is not denied aid either initially or subsequently "because of the conditions of the home in which the child resides," or because the home is considered "unsuitable".

Eligibility is limited by the additional State conditions or requirements, as described below:


Assistance payments are made in the situations and under the conditions below:


TANF Eligibility Criteria

Extent to which Standard of Assistance has been consolidated
The State agency has developed a fully consolidated standard of assistance. All needs are included in a flat amount per family size. In the process of developing the consolidated standard, grants were averaged for each family size.

Special Needs
The State standard of assistance does not contain other recognized needs or special circumstance items.

Area differentials
In the standard of assistance, area differentials do not exist. The same standard of assistance is applicable throughout the State

Grant Levels/Standard and Maximum Need Amounts


Income and Resources

The amount of real and personal property that can be reserved for each assistance unit is not in excess of $1,000 equity value excluding:


Policies provide for allocating an individual's income for his or her own support if the individual is not applying for or receiving assistance; for the support of other individuals living in the same household but not receiving assistance; and for the support of other individuals living in another household. Such other individuals are those who are or could be claimed by the individualas dependents for determining federal personal income tax liability, or those he or she is legally obligated to support.

Those included for allocation are all individuals living in the home who are not applying for or receiving TANF, and are not sanctioned for failing to comply with a program requirement.


Texas Employment Search

Part of the requirement, while on the TANF program, is finding a job to help sustain your financial needs. Texas provides an online job site for you to search for employment. You can view the job site by clicking here.


Apply Online For Texas TANF

If you have questions about applying for TANF benefits, or you want to see if you can apply for TANF Georgia online, then visit the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families website here.