Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Social Security
• Part 2 of 3: TANF
• Part 3 of 3: Applying for TANF and Getting Benefits
• What do you need

Social programs are designed to help individuals and families with financial difficulties.When it comes to social security in the United States, the term "welfare" usually refers to the TANF program, but there are other welfare programs as well. If you want to know more about TANF and other similar programs, then this article is for you.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Social Security

1. 1 Find out about the programs that are right for you. Usually people in the United States refer to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) by social assistance. This program helps families with low income or bereaved families with paying taxes. There are other similar programs in the states as well. The Department of Health and Human Services will determine which one is right for you.
   • Child allowances and childcare allowances provide families with children with the necessary means. Guardians will be able to work or study more, while children will be partially or fully financially secured.
   • State aid for utility bills is provided to citizens unable to pay for heating, electricity, gas and water.
   • The Food Stamp Program distributes food stamps, also known as SNAP (Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program), to provide food assistance to low-income families. There is another program called WIC (Women, Infants and Children), which is limited to helping mothers with children.
   • Health care programs mainly help those who cannot afford to get insurance free of charge. The two most widely used are Aged Health Insurance and the State Assignment to Health Care for the Poor.
   • Professional adaptation services help to take retraining courses and give the unemployed hope to get somewhere.
2. 2 Do not forget also about federal and state programs, which are not announced for the whole country, but, nevertheless, exist. Perhaps your state has them too.
   • Go to the DHHS website and check for federal and local programs.
   • The federal DHHS website can be found here: http://www.hhs.gov
3. 3 You must meet the required requirements. Not everyone is eligible for social assistance. Financial and other requirements may vary by state and program. Below you can find some of the necessary federal conditions for applying for welfare benefits.
   • You must prove that you are unable to find a job. This may be due to a shortage of employers or positions in which you can work.
   • Be prepared to prove that you are determined to become a self-sufficient citizen within a specified period of time.
   • All heads of household who wish to receive benefits must sign an agreement that they commit to follow the rules of the program. You must also follow the terms carefully and accurately.
   • In most cases, there are minors in the family. All children are required to go to school and have all vaccinations.
   • You must be 18 years of age or older to receive benefits.
   • You must reside permanently in the state in which you applied as a citizen or legal resident of the United States.
   • Be prepared to disclose all of your sources of income. In addition, you will have to plan your family budget and stick to it strictly.
4. 4 You need to understand how this process works. It can vary from state to state and from program to program, but there are also similarities.
   • An appointment should be made at your local Department of Health and Human Services or its branch in your city.
   • You need to fill out an application, which includes several forms - many of which can be found on the DHHS State website.
   • At the interview, please submit the required documents along with your application.
   • During the interview, you have the right to ask questions that interest you.Such a consultation will be very useful to you. If your application is accepted, you will be informed after the end of the interview.

Part 2 of 3: TANF

1. 1 The TANF program was created to help “needy families”. A family, as defined by TANF, consists of at least one breadwinner and a child or one pregnant woman. The minimum benefit amount is set by the state and depends on the family's income.
   • The goal of TANF is to help families in need so that they can provide the necessary conditions for their child.
   • There are preventive measures for pregnant women out of wedlock, as well as programs that encourage full families.
   • TANF is also committed to finally reducing the dependence of low-income parents on their training.
2. 2 You must meet income and job requirements. To qualify for TANF, your income must meet federal and local guidelines. These guidelines are generally comparable from state to state.
   • Accountable assets, including bank accounts and money held in your home, must not exceed $ 2,000. If the family has a car, then it shouldn't be more expensive than $ 8,500.
   • Usually, at the time of application, the person is unemployed. But you will be expected to actively participate in training and other programs.
3. 3 Only citizens or persons legally residing in the United States are eligible to apply for TANF. You must also legally and permanently live in the state in which you applied.
   • The overriding right is for US citizens, so if you are stateless, you must have a green card, be an American Indian born out of the country, a victim of human trafficking, a member of rare ethnic groups, or a "qualified foreigner."
   • Qualified foreigners can be considered those who entered the United States before August 22, 1966 and continuously resided in the country before obtaining legal status. Others who come to the United States must wait for special status for 5 years. Exceptions are refugees, asylum seekers, etc.
4. 4 Children. In most cases, you must have a child under the age of 18 to receive TANF social assistance. But there are additional conditions that give you this right.
   • If you are pregnant and have no other children.
   • You are a single parent with a child under the age of 18.
   • You are not the biological parent of the child, but the guardian.
   • Your child is 18 years old but not yet 19 and has not graduated from high school but is a high school or college full-time student.
   • You are the guardian of a disabled person between 19 and 21 years of age in college.
5. 5 Please note that if you are on bad terms with the law, you will not get TANF benefits. For instance:
   • You may be denied social assistance if you committed a serious crime and fled to another state to escape justice, violated parole conditions and failed probation, are an illegal immigrant, have been accused of drug dealing, or have been convicted of fraud in the past.
   • Also, your application may not be accepted if you have been on strike or your children live with a parent who no longer receives social assistance.
6. 6 Check out the criteria in your state. Although the TANF program operates throughout the United States, federal law allows each state to set its own restrictions.
   • Visit your DHHS state website for more information.

Part 3 of 3: Applying for TANF and Getting Benefits

1. 1 Schedule an interview with your local Department of Human Services. Call your local branch and ask for a social worker. Briefly explain to him that you want to schedule an interview for the TANF application.
   • This department may also be called Social Assistance, Family Assistance, or Family and Adult Assistance.
   • You can find the local branch in your city in the directory, phone book or online.
   • When speaking with a social worker, he should give you a complete list of documents that you need to have with you for your interview.
2. 2 Required documents. Your social worker will tell you what documents you need. These are usually: proof of income, identification photos and proof of residence. You may also be asked to provide proof of your children's eligibility for TANF.
   • You will also need a document proving your identity, such as a driver's license. But if you don't have them, then a birth certificate or social security card is enough. Make sure you have a government-issued ID in advance.
   • Past utility bills are usually sufficient to prove residency.
   • You may also be asked for a child's birth certificate or school report card.
3. 3 Fill out the application form. If possible, locate your state's Department of Health and Human Services website and print the required application forms. Fill them out in advance so that you do not have to do it in a hurry later.
   • If you do not have access to the Internet or the ability to print documents, then contact your social worker for help in advance.
   • Don't worry if you can't fill out something yourself. If you have any questions, then it is better to ask a social worker to explain to you how to fill out the required forms correctly.
4. 4 Go to interviews and wait for news. You should arrive on time and bring all the required documents and forms. A social worker will review your documents and tell you what your chances of receiving benefits are.
   • The social worker may be done with the review by the end of your interview, but very often you have to wait days or even weeks for a decision.
5. 5 Take up your job search. When applying for TANF, it is best to work or attend refresher courses.
   • People receiving benefits must start working no later than two years after they apply.
   • You should work at least 30 hours a week, or 20 hours for those who have a child under the age of 6 at home.
   • There are 9 main categories that fit the bill: non-subsidized employment, subsidized private employment, subsidized public employment, job search and willingness to work, community service, on-the-job training, work experience, vocational training and childcare for the child public works.
   • There are also three additional categories: skills training, job education, and high school curriculum.
6. 6 Prepare yourself well in advance for the day when your welfare payments will stop. The maximum term of receipt is 60 months.
   • But in many states, the parental benefit does not count towards those 60 months. It depends on your state, so check in advance.

What do you need

• Identification
• proof of residency
• Proof of income
• Official forms and application for participation in the social program (s).