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.

Vermont TANF FAQ Sheet

Table of Contents 

What Is the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program?

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 Vermont, the TANF program is known as Reach Up in Vermont. To learn more about the Reach Up program and the assistance benefits it provides, visit the Vermont Department of Children and Families (DCF) website here.

What Services Does Reach Up Provide in Vermont?

Temporary Assistance for Families in Vermont (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 Reach Up web page here.

What Is the Difference Between Reach Up and Food Assistance?

TANF and Food Assistance are both assistance programs administered by the Vermont Department of Children and Families. 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 PDF 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 However, TANF benefits can be transferred directly into a participant’s bank account or withdrawn from an approved ATM.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.

Most TANF participants also qualify for Food Assistance, known as 3SquaresVT in Vermont, 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 Vermont Benefit Portal here.

If you have questions about TANF or Food Assistance, call the Department of Children and Families at 1 (800) 479-6151.

How Much Assistance Does Reach Up Provide?

The exact benefit amount a family will receive each month will depend on their household income, size and resources.

Eligible families can receive a maximum of $150 per month depending on the grant. Families can receive these benefits for up to 24 months throughout their lifetime.

Learn more information about TANF and benefit amounts in Vermont here.

How to Qualify for Reach Up in Vermont

To qualify for TANF in Vermont, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Be a citizen of the United States or a legal resident
  • Be a resident of Vermont
  • Have children in your care
  • Participate in the Vermont Work and Training Program
  • Meet the Vermont state income requirements for your household size

Learn more about income requirements here 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.

How to Apply for Reach Up in Vermont

Before you apply for Reach Up in Vermont, complete the following three steps:

  1. Review the application requirements.

Learn about the income limits and personal eligibility requirements to receive TANF benefits here.

  1. Gather the documentation and information you will need for the application.

Find a list of what you need to apply in the MyBenefits PDF here.

  1. Choose how you are going to apply, whether online, in person or by mail.

To apply for TANF online, create an account on Vermont’s Assistance Portal here and fill out the TANF application.

To apply for TANF in person, click here to find the nearest Vermont Economic Services Division (EDS) district office location.

To apply for TANF by mail, you will need to call 1 (800) 479-6151 to request a paper application for you to fill out and send to the address indicated on the application. You may also pick up a paper application at one of the EDS offices listed here.

If you have any questions about the application process, call 1 (800) 479-6151. This line is available Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM.

How to Check Your Application Status

Depending on your method of application, you can check your application status in the following ways:

  • If you applied online, you can check your application status using the Vermont Assistance Portal here.
  • If you applied by mail, you can call 1 (800) 479-6151 to check your application status.
  • If you applied in person, you can contact the district office you applied through to find out the status of your application. For a full list of contact information for local EDS offices, click here.

What Happens After You Apply for Reach Up?

If you applied for TANF online, in person or by mail, you will receive a notice in the mail from the Department of Children and Families 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) 479-6151. 

How to Appeal a Denial of Benefits

If you do not agree with the benefit decision given to you by the Vermont Department of Children and Families, you can appeal your decision in person or by mail within 60 days of receiving your determination letter.

You can file an appeal for a Fair Hearing online, by mail, by phone or through email.

To file an appeal online, log in here and click on “My Requests.”

To file a request by phone, call Vermont Health Connect at 1 (855) 899-9600.

To request a fair hearing by mail, you will need to write a letter that includes the following information:

  • Your name
  • Your address
  • Your phone number
  • The reason for your appeal, whether you were denied benefits or you received a lower benefit amount than you believe you should have
  • Your desired solution for how the Department of Children and Families should remedy the situation

You must also enclose a copy of your determination letter when filing an appeal by mail and send all necessary documentation to:
Vermont Health Connect
280 State Dr.
Waterbury, VT 05671

To send your appeal request by email, attach the same letter you need to write for the “by mail” option and send it to the following address: AHS.DVHAHealthCareAppealsTeam@vermont.gov.

If you have any questions about the appeals process, visit the Vermont Health Connect Appeals page here.

Need More Help?

For help with obtaining Reach Up benefits, or for any further questions about your application, call the Vermont Department of Children and Families at 1 (800) 479-6151. This line is available Monday through Thursday from 8:00 AM to 6:00PM, and Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM.

If you wish to send documents or information physically to the Department of Children and Families Economic Services Division, use the following mailing address:
Economic Services Division (ESD)
280 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-1020

You can also visit or call a local district office for further assistance. Find your nearest location here. Local ESD offices are usually open Monday through Friday from 7:45 AM to 4:30 PM. Please call ahead to confirm when your local district office is open, as these times may differ.

View or Download Our Free Guide

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.