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 Pennsylvania, the TANF program is known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families in Pennsylvania (TANF). To learn more about TANF and the assistance benefits it provides, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website here.
Temporary Assistance for Families in Pennsylvania (TANF) provides temporary assistance to financially support families in need. The TANF program also provides eligible families with work preparation services to help them re-enter the workforce or find more stable employment.
For more information on the services, the TANF program provides to participating families, review page 36 of the Pennsylvania TANF State Plan found here.
TANF and Food Assistance are both assistance programs administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. While Food Assistance benefits can only be used to purchase foods that have been approved by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, TANF benefits are money that can be used however the participant sees fit, with some restrictions.
To learn more about the restrictions on TANF expenditures, visit the TANF Policy Handbook here.
Both TANF and Food Assistance benefits can be given to participants on an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) card. However, TANF benefits can be transferred directly into a participant’s bank account or withdrawn from an approved ATM. Food Assistance benefits cannot.
Many TANF participants also qualify for Food Assistance due to the low-income requirement of both programs. For more information about Food Assistance, click here.
To apply for Food Assistance and/or TANF, visit the Pennsylvania COMPASS Portal here.
If you have questions about TANF or Food Assistance, call the Department of Human Services at 1 (800) 692-7462.
The exact benefit amount a family will receive each month will depend on their household income, size and resources.
For example, eligible families for 3 can receive an average of $403 per month. Families can receive these benefits for up to 60 months throughout their lifetime.
Learn more information about TANF and benefit amounts in Pennsylvania here.
To qualify for TANF in Pennsylvania, you must meet the following requirements:
Learn more about income requirements and work and training requirements here.
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 TANF 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 TANF benefits, review page 12 of the TANF State Plan here.
Before you apply for Temporary Assistance for Families in Pennsylvania, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the TANF eligibility requirements here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website here.
To apply for TANF online, create an account on Pennsylvania’s COMPASS Portal here and fill out the virtual application form.
To apply for TANF in person, click here to find the nearest Pennsylvania county assistance office location.
To apply for TANF by fax, fill out the Application for Benefits found here and send it with copies of your necessary documents to your local county assistance office. You can find the nearest office to you here.
To apply for TANF by mail, fill out the Application for Benefits here and send it with copies of your necessary documents to your local county assistance office found here.
If you have any further questions about the application process, call the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services at 1(800) 692-7462.
If you need an application in Spanish, click here.
Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:
If you applied for TANF online, in person, by mail or by fax, you should receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Human 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.
If you have a valid bank account listed on your application, your TANF benefits will be deposited within 14 days of when you receive your determination letter. Otherwise, you will receive an EBT card in the mail within 14 days.
Once you receive your benefits, you can use them to support your family as you see fit, while following the restrictions.
Note that if you receive an EBT card, you will only be allowed to purchase items at stores that display the Quest Logo, and you can only withdraw cash from ATMs that display the Quest Logo.
Learn more information about how to use your EBT card and how benefits will be distributed here.
If you require additional assistance or have questions about your determination call 1 (800) 692-7462.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, you can appeal your decision in person or by mail within 30 days of receiving your determination letter.
Before requesting a Fair Hearing, remember to choose whether you would like a telephone hearing or an in-person hearing.
To file a request for a Fair Hearing by phone, by mail or in person.
To file an appeal by phone, you will need to call your local County Assistance Office (CAO) here and have your determination letter on hand.
To file an appeal for a Fair Hearing by mail, fill out a Fair Hearing Request form found here and mail it to your local CAO, which you can locate here.
To file for a fair hearing in person, you will need to visit your local County Assistance Office (CAO) found here and speak with a representative about a Fair Hearing and how to fill out a request form.
For more information about Fair Hearings, click here.
Instructions on how to fill out a Fair Hearing request can be found on the application here.
For help with obtaining Temporary Assistance for Families in Pennsylvania, or for any further questions about your application, call the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services directly at 1 (800) 451-5886.
You can also send your inquiries via the online department contact form here.
For specific help with assistance program information, call the assistance program Helpline at 1 (800) 692-7462 or contact a local assistance office for further information. 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.