Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is Delaware’s main cash assistance program. It is administered through a joint effort of the Division of Social Services (DSS), Delaware Department of Labor, Delaware Department of Transportation and the Delaware Economic Development Office. The goal of TANF is to give people temporary help until they get a job. Within the program both the State and the TANF client have responsibilities. The State provides positive incentives for the family to become self-sufficient, and the family must accept responsibility to become self-sufficient and self-supporting. Time on TANF is limited for most people. You can get benefits for 36 months, but you must work or participate in work related activities for 30 hours a week to receive a TANF check.
Eligibility
You must have minor children or be taking care of minor children you are related to in order to qualify. Delaware extends eligibility to women in their ninth month of pregnancy and to 18-year-old high school students who will graduate before turning 19.
Additionally, it must be determined that a family is financially eligible for assistance through consideration of all incomes and resources available to that family.
The TANF monthly income limits are based on the TANF Standards below:
TANF Monthly Income Limits
|
Family Size |
Maximum Grant Amount |
Maximum Gross Monthly Income Limit |
Applicant Net Monthly Income Limit |
Recipient Net Monthly Income Limit |
|
1 |
$201 |
$1,491 |
$201 |
$806 |
|
2 |
$270 |
$2,015 |
$270 |
$1,089 |
|
3 |
$338 |
$2,540 |
$338 |
$1,373 |
|
4 |
$407 |
$ 3,065 |
$407 |
$1,657 |
|
5 |
$475 |
$3,589 |
$475 |
$1,940 |
|
6 |
$544 |
$4,114 |
$544 |
$2,224 |
|
7 |
$612 |
$4,640 |
$612 |
$2,508 |
|
8 |
$681 |
$5,165 |
$681 |
$2,792 |
|
9 |
$750 |
$5,691 |
$750 |
$3,076 |
|
10 |
$819 |
$6,216 |
$819 |
$3,360 |
We subtract $90 for work related expenses, up to $200 for child care, and the first $50 of child support received to determine the net income. (Non-parent caretakers can elect to be payee for related children in their care. The income of these caretakers does not count but income of the children may count.)
Families receiving TANF (recipients) are entitled to additional subtractions from their earned income. By setting the income limits higher for recipients, many families continue to receive the support of the TANF program after becoming employed.
