Quick Answer
In Pennsylvania, you apply for TANF through Department of Human Services, online or by phone. Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services policy manual requires county assistance offices to decide cash assistance eligibility within 30 calendar days of a complete application.
Pennsylvania processes TANF — referred to on state forms simply as Cash Assistance — through COMPASS, the same online system used for SNAP and Medical Assistance, and every applicant is paired with a County Assistance Office (CAO) caseworker who helps complete an Agreement of Mutual Responsibility (AMR), a signed plan spelling out the steps (job search, training, applying for Social Security) the household will take to move off assistance. Pennsylvania caps the resource limit at just $1,000 in countable assets, excluding your primary residence.
What You'll Need
- Social Security numbers for household members (or proof you have applied for them)
- Proof of U.S. citizenship and Pennsylvania residency
- Information on resources/assets (limit is $1,000, primary residence excluded)
- Proof of all household income
- Child support and paternity information, if applying for a dependent child
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Apply online through COMPASS
Go to compass.dhs.pa.gov and apply in your county of residence for Cash Assistance, SNAP, and Medical Assistance together.
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Or apply in person at your County Assistance Office
Find your local CAO to fill out an application, ask questions, and get help from a trained worker.
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Or apply by mail
Download and complete the Application for Cash Assistance, SNAP and Medical Assistance Benefits (Form PA-0600, also available in Spanish) and return it to your local CAO.
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Complete an Agreement of Mutual Responsibility
Work with your caseworker on an AMR, a signed plan for how you will move toward self-sufficiency, such as looking for work, attending training, or applying for Social Security benefits.
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Cooperate with paternity and child support requirements
If you're seeking assistance for a dependent child, you generally must cooperate with paternity and child support requirements unless you have good cause not to.
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Track your application status
Check the status of your TANF, SNAP, Medicaid, or LIHEAP application anytime at trackmybenefits.pa.gov.
Submit Your Application
Need help before your application is processed?
Pennsylvania's Department of Human Services policy manual requires county assistance offices to decide cash assistance eligibility within 30 calendar days of a complete application. If your family needs money sooner, most states offer a faster, one-time emergency payment.
See emergency & one-time assistance →Compare Other States
TANF rules, income limits, and benefit amounts are set state by state. These share Pennsylvania's census region — useful if you're moving, or comparing how another state runs the same program.
Helpful Guides
TANF Eligibility & Frequently Asked Questions
Income limits, time limits, and work requirements, answered in plain language.
Learn more →How Much Does TANF Pay? Benefit Amounts Explained
How your payment is calculated, a real worked example, and how the amount scales by family size.
Learn more →TANF Income Limits by State
See each state's own income limit and maximum monthly benefit, side by side.
Learn more →How to Use Your TANF EBT Card
How to withdraw cash, avoid ATM fees, and what to do if your card is lost or stolen.
Learn more →TANF Work Requirements Explained
Hours, activities, exemptions, and how strictly states actually enforce this.
Learn more →What Is TANF?
What the program covers, who runs it, and how it varies by state.
Learn more →TANF Kinship Care & Relative Caregiver Benefits
Child-only TANF grants for grandparents and relatives raising a child — and how they differ from a regular case.
Learn more →TANF vs. SNAP: Is TANF the Same as Food Stamps?
How the two programs differ, and whether you can get both.
Learn more →