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TANF, TANF-SP, & OTTANF

What is TANF?

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

  • Serves needy dependent children and their parents or relatives
  • Provides monthly cash and Medicaid benefits

What is TANF-SP

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - State Program

  • Serves families with two parents who both receive benefits
  • Provides cash assistance

What is OTTANF?

One Time TANF

  • Serves families in crisis and do not currently receive TANF but are eligible.
  • Provides emergency cash for families in crisis who do not receive TANF but are eligible.

Who is eligible?

There are 10 categories that need to be met in order to be eligible for food stamps:

  1. Residence
    • You must live in Texas and plan to stay.
  2. Citizenship
    • United States citizens
    • Non-citizens who are legal aliens who meet special criteria and have been living in the U.S. for 5 years or more
  3. Age
    • The child must be under 18 yrs. old
    • The child can keep receiving help if
      • the child is a full-time students
      • will graduate before or during the month of his/her 19th birthday
  4. Relationship and Domicile
    • The child must live with a relative close in relationship (father/mother, grandfather/mother, brother. Sister, uncle/ aunt, nephew/ niece, stepfather/mother, stepbrother/sister, step-grandparent, first cousin).
    • A grandparent is also eligible for a one-time supplemental payment of $1000. if he/she is 45 years of age or older and meets income criteria.
      • He/She can only receive it once, regardless of how many grandchildren he/she cares for
      • He/She cannot receive it if the grandchild has already received the payment.
  5. Deprivation
    • A child must be deprived of the support or care of a legal parent due to these reasons
      • Death of the parent
      • absence of a parent
      • physical or mental incapacity of the parent
      • unemployment of underemployment of the parent
  6. Child Support
    • The relative responsible for the child must cooperate with the child support program. Except those receiving TANF-SP
    • Failure to cooperate, without good cause, results in a full-family sanction. Except if the relative is a pregnant woman
  7. Employment Services
    • All unemployed person who are 16 - 59 yrs. old and able to work need to register for employment services before applying and should remain after applying
    • Persons who meet special criteria do not need to register
  8. Resources
    • Families cannot have more than $1,000 in resources
  9. Income
    • The Department of Health Services (DHS) decides who is eligible
    • Everyone must pass two income tests:
      • Budgetary Needs test
      • Recognizable Needs Test
  10. Social Security
    • Households must provide a social security card unless they meet special citizenship criteria

How to apply?

If you live in Texas and need services (Medicaid, food stamps, TANF, WIC, medicare, etc.) follow these instructions to apply:

  1. Print these two forms and fill them out
  2. Contact your Texas Department of Human Services office
  3. Make an appointment
  4. Take a picture I.D., your Social Security Card, and proof of pregnancy (if applicable), and filled out forms

To find your local office:

Go to http://www.txstars.net/ and type your zip-code in the box that looks like this:

Office Locator Sample

Once you get the name of an office, click on the address and you will find a map with directions to get there.

If you live in the San Antonio area you can also call 871-6434 / TDD 871-6443

If you live in another state click here to get a telephone number, address, and internet address.
 
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