Know Your Rights: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

WHAT IS TANF?

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a federally funded program that offers cash assistance to families with low incomes

GENERAL ELIGIBILITY

1. There must be children under 18 in the home & they must be Oklahoma residents
2. There must be a deprivation of parental support due to absence, death, incapacity, or chronic unemployment of 1 or both biological parents
3. You must agree to pursue child support from the absent parent unless good cause is shown not to do so
4. You must agree to drug screening & testing policies
5. You must agree to participate in an education or work training program for at least 30 hrs./wk. (20 hrs./wk. for single parents with young children)
6. You must meet income, household, & resource eligibility factors discussed during an in-person interview at your local DHS office

FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY

• Families must meet both a gross & net income test to be eligible
  • Gross income = total income before deductions
  • Net income = gross income minus deductions
• Your assets must be <$1000 (vehicles <$5,000 are exempt)
• Countable income cannot exceed the income standards for family siz
• You must agree to give the State your child support payments
• The state may choose to “disregard” portions of income for the net income test (such as subtracting part of your earnings from gross income)

DRUG SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

• Oklahoma requires screening using a “Substance Abuse Subtle Screening Inventory”
• Positive test results in ineligibility for 1 year. You can reapply after 6 months upon completion of a substance abuse program
• Dependent children may continue to receive benefits through a protective payee and this person must also pass a drug test. A protective payee is simply another adult who can maintain the funds for the dependents.

WORK REQUIREMENTS

• You must agree to participate in an education or work training program for at least 30 hrs./wk. (20 hrs./wk. for single parents with young children)
• Oklahoma disregards the first $240 and 50% of remaining monthly earned income when you begin to receive TANF, making it easier to work and meet income requirements

HOW DO I APPLY?

• You must know the Social Security Numbers of all the people in the household
• You can find the application here: https://www.okdhslive.org/Default.aspx

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) (PDF document)

Watch Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Know Your Rights