While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the LIHEAP program and compiled a guide and the following answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides financial assistance to low-income families. The goal of TANF is to help families become financially self-sufficient. States and U.S. Territories receive block grants from the federal government, which are used to fund each state and territory’s specific TANF program.
Learn more about the TANF program and its primary purposes here.
In Guam, the TANF program is known as Cash Assistance (CA) in Guam. To learn more about CA and the assistance benefits it provides, visit the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services website here.
Cash Assistance (CA) in Guam provides temporary assistance to financially support families in need. The CA program also provides eligible families with work preparation services to help them re-enter the workforce or find more stable employment. Likewise, the program helps with childcare costs.
For more information on the services the CA program provides to participating families, review the website here.
CA and Food Assistance are both assistance programs administered by the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services. While Food Assistance benefits can only be used to purchase foods that have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, CA benefits are money that can be used however the participant sees fit, with some restrictions.
Both CA and Food Assistance benefits can be given to participants on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. However, CA benefits can be transferred directly into a participant’s bank account or withdrawn from an approved ATM. Food Assistance benefits cannot.
Many CA participants also qualify for Food Assistance due to the low-income requirement of both programs. For more information about Food Assistance, click here.
If you have questions about CA or Food Assistance, call the Department of Public Health and Social Services at (671) 735-7101.
The exact benefit amount a family will receive each month will depend on their household income, size and resources.
Families can receive these benefits for up to 60 months throughout their lifetime.
To learn more information about CA and benefit amounts in Guam, contact the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services at (671) 735-7101 or the following regional offices:
To qualify for CA in Guam, you must meet the following requirements:
Caretakers of children who cannot be taken care of by their immediate family may also qualify for benefits under the Caretaker Relative Grant or Child-Only CA Grant. This grant takes into consideration the situation of emergency caregivers and will only count the resources and the income of the child (if any) and not those of the caretaker.
To learn more about who can receive CA benefits, click here.
Before you apply for Cash Assistance in Guam, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the CA eligibility requirements here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services memorandum here.
To apply for CA in person, click here to find the nearest Guam DPHSS office location.
To apply for CA by phone, call (671) 735-7101 or call a nearby Guam DPHSS office. Find office contact information here.
To apply for CA by fax, fill out the Application for Public Benefits here and send it with copies of your necessary documents to (671) 735-7092.
To apply for CA by mail, fill out the Application for Public Benefits here and send it with copies of your necessary documents to the following address:
Department of Public Health and Social Services
123 Chalan Kareta Mangilao, Guam 96913-6304
To apply for CA by email, fill out the Application for Public Benefits here and send it to PublicAssistance@dphss.guam.gov.
If you have any further questions about the application process, call the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services at (671) 735-7101.
You can check your application status by contacting the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services at (671) 735-7101 or the DPHSS office where you applied. Click here to find the contact information for the nearest DPHSS office.
You will need to complete an interview, and the DPHSS where you applied will contact you for an appointment and tell you which documents you need to bring.
If you are approved for benefits, you should receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Public Health and Social Services within 30 days of receiving your application with your determination, your benefit amount and how you will be receiving the benefits, if you are eligible.
You should receive an EBT card in the mail, and your CA benefits will be deposited regularly. Once you receive your benefits, you can use them to support your family as you see fit, while following the restrictions.
If you require additional assistance or have questions about your determination call (671) 735-7101.
If you do not agree with the CA benefit decision given to you by the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services, you can appeal your decision.
To file an appeal, contact a representative at a local Department of Public Health and Social Services office. You will need to tell them why you are appealing your determination. You will also need to bring your benefit determination letter and evidence that supports your appeal. Find your nearest location here.
Your appeal request will need to include the following information:
You must also submit a copy of your determination letter.
For help with obtaining Cash Assistance in Guam, or for any further questions about your application, call the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services at (671) 735-7101. You can also call the following regional offices:
Send your inquiries via email to PublicAssistance@dphss.guam.gov.
To send the Guam Department of Public Health and Social Services information physically, you can fax your documents or questions to (671) 735-7092 or mail them to the following address:
Department of Public Health and Social Services
123 Chalan Kareta Mangilao, Guam 96913-6304
You can also visit or call a local DPHSS Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
While we are not affiliated with the government in any way, our private company engaged writers to research the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program and compiled a guide and these answers to frequently asked questions. Our goal is to help you get the benefits that you need by providing useful information on the process.
Our free TANF Guide is filled with helpful information about how to apply, program eligibility requirements and how to get in touch with local offices. You can view our free guide here.