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 Texas, the TANF program is known as Texas Cash Help. To learn more about Texas Cash Help and the assistance benefits it provides, visit the Texas benefits website here.
Texas Cash Help, also known as 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 the Texas TANF page found here.
TANF and Food Assistance are both assistance programs administered by the Texas Department of Health and 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 website 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 However, TANF benefits can be transferred directly into a participant’s bank account or withdrawn from an approved ATM.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 Texas Benefit Portal here.
If you have questions about TANF or Food Assistance, call the Department of Health and Human Services at (877) 541-7905.
The exact cash benefit amount a family will receive each month will depend on their household income, size and resources.
For example, eligible families of 4 with a single caretaker can receive a maximum of $364 per month. Families can receive these benefits for up to 24 months throughout their lifetime.
Learn more information about TANF and benefit amounts in Texas here.
To qualify for TANF in Texas, 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, click here.
Before you apply for Temporary Assistance for Families in Texas, complete the following three steps:
Learn about the TANF eligibility requirements here.
Find a list of what you need to apply on the Texas Department of Health and Human Services website here.
To apply for TANF online, create an account on Texas’s benefits portal here and fill out the TANF application.
To apply for TANF in person, click here to find the nearest Texas HHSC office location.
To apply for TANF benefits by fax, print out and complete the Texas Benefit form found here and send it to 1 (877) 447-2839.
To apply for TANF by mail, fill out the benefit application form here and send it with copies of your necessary documents to the following address:
Health and Human Services Commission
PO Box 149024,
Austin, TX 78714-9968
Note: There may be some restrictions for in-person applications due to COVID-19. Please call ahead before visiting an office in person.
If you have questions about the application process or require assistance, you can call the DHHS customer service line at 1 (877) 541-7905 or toll-free at 211. Services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00AM to 6:00PM.
You can also visit a local Community Partner if you would like in-person assistance filling out your application or if you do not have access to a computer or printer and wish to apply for benefits. You can find a local Community Partner Program (CPP) 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 will receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Health and 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, or Lone Star Card as it is also known in Texas, 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 211 or 1 (877) 541-7905.
If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC), you can appeal your decision in person or by mail within 30 days of receiving your determination letter.
You can file an appeal for a Fair Hearing in person, by phone or by mail.
To file an appeal in person, you will need to go to a local HHSC office and speak with a representative about your appeal. You can find the office closest to you here. Be sure to bring your determination letter.
To file an appeal by phone, call the Texas Appeals Division at (512) 231-5701 or 211 for application assistance. Be sure to have your determination letter on hand for reference.
To request a Fair Hearing by mail, download the Fair Hearing Request form found here and mail it to the following address:
Health and Human Services Commission
PO Box 149024,
Austin, TX 78714-9968
If you have any questions about the appeals process, visit the Appeal Division’s website here and their FAQ page here.
If you need further assistance contact 211.
For help with obtaining TANF benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) directly at (512) 424-6500.
You can also contact their TTY number at (512) 424-6597 if you have a speech impediment or are hard of hearing.
If you wish to contact the HHSC’s customer service line, call 1 (877) 541-7905 or toll free at 211.
To send the Texas Health and Human Services Commission information physically, you can fax your documents or questions to 1 (877) 447-2839 or mail them using the following address:
Health and Human Services Commission
PO Box 149024,
Austin, TX 78714-9968
You can also visit or call a local HHSC Office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here.
Offices and services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 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.