Apply For South Dakota TANF

This page provides the South Dakota 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.

South Dakota 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 South Dakota welfare benefits. Read on for more information about applying for TANF. If you have additional questions or issues about this program, then contact TANF South Dakota.

South Dakota Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a temporary public assistance program administered by the Department of Social Services and the Department of Labor and Regulation. The main focus of the TANF Work Program is to help families to help themselves move from welfare to work by:

• Promoting family responsibility and accountability and
• Encouraging self-sufficiency through work

Applying for TANF

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) application process has two components:

• The work component is handled by employment specialists at Department of Social Services (DSS) offices in reservation areas or Department of Labor and Regulation (DLR) Local Offices
• The eligibility component is handled by caseworkers at local DSS offices

TANF is a work program. You begin the application process with an employment specialist, unless you are not required to participate in a work program. You are not required to participate if you meet one of the following conditions:

• You are a dependent child under 16 years old or a full-time student in high school
• You are a parent taking care of a baby who is under 12 weeks old. (This only applies to one parent per household)
• You are approved to receive Social Security Disability or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments from the Social Security Administration
• You are a veteran who has 100 percent disability and are approved to receive disability payments from the Veteran’s Administration

Time Limits for Benefits

An adult TANF recipient may not receive TANF benefits for more than 60 months (five years). The 60 months do not have to be consecutive months in a row and are not limited to assistance in South Dakota, but may be from any other state.

During this 60-month life time limit, recipients are required to participate in work activities. Adult TANF recipients are expected to become self-sufficient within this time limit.

Penalties for Failing to Cooperate

If you do not follow the TANF Work Program rules you will be penalized, which may affect your monthly payments as well as your TANF eligibility.

What are the work requirements to continue receiving temporary assistance?
TANF participants are required to work in allowable work activities a minimum of 30 hours each week. If you have a child under six years old, your weekly minimum requirement is 20 hours.

TANF Work Requirements

TANF participants are required to work in allowable work activities a minimum of 30 hours each week. If you have a child under six years old, your weekly minimum requirement is 20 hours.

A Personal Responsibility Agreement is a written and signed agreement between you and the TANF Program. You must agree to the following:

• TANF assistance is temporary
• TANF is a work program
• It is your responsibility to find and keep work
• You will accept responsibility for yourself and your children
• You will follow all program conditions such as developing a work plan, keeping appointments, participating in a work activity, completing and submitting time sheets, and making sure your children attend school

Your Personal Responsibility Plan will tell you what work activities you have and how many hours you must work. It is very important that you follow the activities you’ve outlined in your Personal Responsibility Plan.

Do I have to cooperate with Child Support to receive temporary assistance?
If you are receiving TANF and you are the custodial parent of a minor child whose other parent does not live in your home, you are automatically referred for child support services. You will not have to pay a fee or fill out an application.

Child support services will continue to be provided after benefits are terminated unless the custodial parent declines continued services. If you are not receiving assistance, you can apply for child support services by contacting any Division of Child Support (DCS) office or by calling (605) 773-3641. You will have to fill out an application and pay a $5 fee.

South Dakota Employment Search

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

Apply Online For South Dakota 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.