Apply For Virginia TANF
This page provides the Virginia 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.
Virginia 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 Virginia welfare benefits. Read on for more information about applying for TANF. If you have additional questions or issues about this program, then contact TANF Virginia.
TANF Eligibility
A child will be categorically eligible for TANF if he meets the following requirements:
- Is under the age of 18 years or if 18 but not yet 19 is enrolled and attending asecondary school or vocational/technical school of secondary equivalency, and isexpected to complete the high school or vocational/technical program prior to or in themonth he attains age 19.
- Is living in the home of a parent or a relative (201.5) or is in foster care undercertain conditions
- Is a resident of Virginia
- Is a citizen of the United States or an eligible alien
- The family is in need of financial assistance
Exception: A child who meets all of the above requirements may beineligible forassistance due to the family cap provision.
To be eligible, a child who meets the requirements above, a parent, or a caretaker-relative other than the parent, must meet the following conditions:
- Provide a social security number or proof of application for an SSN
- Participate, as required, in the Virginia Initiative for Employment Not WelfareProgram unless otherwise exempt
- Provide, or have provided on his behalf, a written declaration of citizenship or alienstatus. The declaration requirement is met for all members of the assistanceunit when the applicant/recipient age 18 or older completes and signs the"Application for Benefits" or the "Eligibility Review, Part A" form, as applicable, orsigns the ADAPT Statement of Facts
- Comply with the compulsory school attendance requirement if he is a child or minorparent
- Cooperate in identifying the parents of a child, establishing paternity, and obtaining support unless he is a child
The parent or caretaker/relative shall be eligible for TANF unless one of the exceptions is applicable. Eligibility of the caretaker/relative may exist even though:
- The only eligible child in the home receives SSI. The SSI child must meet all of the eligibility criteria. (school attendance) for the caretaker to be determined eligible for TANF
- The only eligible child in the home receives an adoption assistance payment. Eventhough the child who receives an adoption assistance payment may not be eligible tohave his needs included in the TANF grant amount, he is deemed eligible for TANF for purposes of qualifying the caretaker-relative for TANF
- The only eligible child in the home receives a federal, state, or local foster caremaintenance payment.Even though the child who receives a foster care maintenancepayment is not eligible to have his needs included in the TANF grant amount, he isdeemed eligible for TANF for the purpose of qualifying a non-parent caretaker, butnot a parent, for TANF
Immunizations
All applicants and recipients for TANF must supply verification that all otherwise eligible children have received the immunizations required by the Code of Virginia.* The agency must inform applicants of the immunization requirement at initial application. The immunization schedule is established by the State Board of Health.
ACTION AT FIRST REDETERMINATION OR TWELVE MONTHS AFTERNOTIFICATION
By the first redetermination or twelve months, whichever is laterafter being informed of the immunization requirement, the recipientmust provide thefollowing or the worker must reduce the TANF grant:
- Verification that the child has received all immunizations appropriate to his age
- Verification that the child has received at least one dose of each of the requiredimmunizations as appropriate for the child's age and that the child's physician orthe local health department has prepared a plan for completing theimmunizations. The plan needs only to indicate when future immunizations aredue or
- Verification that the child is exempt
ACTION AT SECOND REDETERMINATION AFTER NOTIFICATION
At the second redetermination and subsequent redeterminations after being informed of these requirements, the recipient must provide verification of compliance with the immunization schedule or the plan prepared by the physician or health department, until the child has received all required immunizations. Failure to provide the necessary verifications shall result in a grant reduction
ADDING A CHILD TO THE ASSISTANCE UNIT AND TRANSFERS
When a child is added to the assistance unit, the eligibility worker must advise the parent/caretaker of the immunization requirement. The parent/caretaker shall be allowed at least twelve months to provide verification that the child has met the immunization requirement. As verification of immunizations is only required at redetermination, penalties shall not be imposed for such a child until the first redetermination occurring at least six months after the child is added.
For cases that are transferred, the receiving agency must ensure that the recipient has been notified of the immunization requirement. If no notification has occurred, the eligibility worker must advise the recipient of the immunization requirement. The receiving agency shall not impose an immunization penalty unless the transferring locality initiated the penalty or the receiving locality's redetermination occurs at least six months after notification of the requirement.
Screening for Eligibility & Applying
- Option 1: Screen for eligibility and/or apply online through CommonHelp
- Option 2: Bypass eligibility screening and submit an application manually. Fill out an "Application for Benefits" from the forms section on this page and return it to your local department of social services
Virginia Employment Search
Part of the requirement, while on the TANF program, is finding a job to help sustain your financial needs. Virginia provides an online job site for you to search for employment. You can view the job site by clicking here.
Apply Online For Virginia 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.