Download the fact sheet here.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is often the only financial support available for grandfamilies like yours– families in which children are being raised by extended family members, like grandparents, and close family friends.
TANF may provide you and your grandfamily with support in several ways:
- Monthly cash to help meet the needs of your grandfamily
or to meet the needs of just the children you’re raising - short-term help to meet a need like buying a crib or paying
a utility bill - a pathway to access other important supports, like the
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/food
stamps and Medicaid
TANF is a federal program, so it’s available in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam. However, it varies dramatically from state to state. States have a lot of flexibility to decide who is eligible and how much support to provide. States can even call TANF by different names. For these reasons, this fact sheet answers questions from caregivers like you in general terms that apply no matter where you live. This fact sheet also has a chart that has contact information so you can get information about the specific TANF program in your state.