Apply For Nevada TANF Benefits

Learn how to apply for Nevada TANF. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, called Nevada Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, may help you become self-supportive while receiving monthly cash benefits to meet your everyday needs such as rent, utilities, clothes, transportation, or additional expenses.

Sometimes you may not be eligible to receive TANF for yourself, but a child or children in your household may. The TANF program is administered by the Department of Health and Human Services. In most cases, in order to qualify for TANF you must meet both types of eligibility, categorical and financial.

Additionally, to qualify for TANF there are work requirements. The NV TANF program requires most adults be employed or participate in certain work-related activities, which you will be assigned for a certain number of hours on a weekly basis in order to continue receiving TANF benefits.

The total number of hours needed to fulfill your work activity requirement depends on your family composition. Qualified state residents are required to produce information including household income, age, citizenship and resources.

Only household members who are eligible for Nevada TANF can receive welfare benefits. For more information about applying for NV TANF benefits, view the information below. If you still have questions or issues, then contact TANF Nevada.

The goals of the Nevada TANF program is to provide assistance to low-income families with children so they can be cared for in their own home, reduce dependency by promoting job preparation, reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies and encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

Nevada TANF eligibility

Below we list the different types of eligibility requirements for the Nevada TANF program.

Age/School requirements

The head of household must ensure their children age 7 to 12 attend school as required by state law and take every reasonable action to ensure the child is not at risk of failing to advance to the next grade level

• A child age 18 or over, not in school full-time, is ineligible
• A child age 18 in school (high school, technical or vocational, includes GED program) full time and expected to graduate before or in the month of their 19th birthday is eligible for TANF through their graduation month
• A child who will not graduate, or complete their GED, until after the month of their 19th birthday is ineligible the month following their 18th birthday
• For minor parents to be eligible for assistance, they must be enrolled and attending high school or actively participating in a GED program and making adequate progress

Agreement of cooperation

Adult household member(s) must sign an Agreement of Cooperation which includes their responsibilities as a condition of receiving benefits and describes the penalties that may be imposed for failure to comply.

Assessment

Assessment applies to the TANF-NEON, Loan and Child-Only programs. An assessment is required for each household member to evaluate existing skills, prior work experience and employability.

It also determines the family needs including job training, child care, substance abuse treatment, mental health services, domestic violence services, or other issues which may be barriers to self-sufficiency.

Child Support Enforcement Program (CSEP)

The parent(s)/relative caregiver of all children must cooperate in establishing paternity or seeking child support from non-custodial parents. TANF is denied or terminated if the parent(s) caregivers fail or refuses to cooperate with CSEP or the District Attorney in establishing paternity or seeking support, unless good cause for failing to cooperate is substantiated.

The children must be living with the individual applying for assistance on their behalf that provides care and supervision and is the child's (not all inclusive):

• Father, mother, sister, brother, grandfather, grandmother
• Uncle, aunt, nephew, niece, first cousin or
• Stepfather, stepmother, stepsister, stepbrother

Citizenship

All persons applying for or receiving TANF must provide satisfactory evidence of citizenship or qualified non-citizenship status.

Cooperation/Reporting obligations

TANF households are required to cooperate by providing necessary information to determine initial and ongoing eligibility, and to report changes which may affect their eligibility for TANF benefits.

Furnishing social security numbers

Each TANF member of the household must provide or apply for a Social Security Number (SSN) unless religious beliefs prohibit enumeration. Non-qualified non-citizens are not required to provide or apply for an SSN.

Immunizations

The head of household must provide proof immediately, or within six months, that all children for whom benefits are received are appropriately immunized. Each household is advised of the availability of standard immunizations through clinics. Exemptions are provided for religious belief or medical conditions.

Income/Consideration/Budgeting

The household members must have countable income within certain limits to be eligible for any TANF benefit. The maximum allowable income is based upon the number of eligible persons in the household. A monthly budget is completed for all households with income to determine eligibility without application of disregards.

Also, some types of income are counted in this test and not counted in the cash benefit computation. If gross income is less than 130% of poverty; next a 100% Needs Standard Test is used to determine if earned income disregards can be applied.

The cash benefit is computed by subtracting allowable disregards from gross earned income to arrive at the net earned income, adding unearned income to arrive at the total countable income.

The total countable income is compared to the payment standard for the household size. The income of stepparents and responsible parents are also budgeted towards the needs of the TANF household.

Residency

Applicants must be living in the state with the intention of making Nevada their home permanently, for an indefinite period, or entering Nevada with a job commitment or seeking employment.

Resources/Property

Liquid and non-liquid resources are evaluated to determine whether or not they are countable. Countable resources cannot exceed $6,000 per TANF household. If the resources exceed the limit, the application will be denied or the case will be terminated. There are certain types of resource which are not counted when determining eligibility such as:

• One automobile
• The home, including any contiguous land, which is the usual residence of the assistance unit that the household owns or is buying
• One burial plot for each member of the household
• One Bona-fide funeral agreements for each member of the TANF assistance unit
• Household goods and personal items

School Attendance

The head of household must ensure their children age 7 to 12 attend school as required by state law and take every reasonable action to ensure the child is not at risk of failing to advance to the next grade level.

• A child age 18 or over, not in school full-time, is ineligible
• A child age 18 in school (high school, technical or vocational, includes GED program) full time and expected to graduate before or in the month of their 19th birthday is eligible for TANF through their graduation month
• A child who will not graduate, or complete their GED, until after the month of their 19th birthday is ineligible the month following their 18th birthday
• For minor parents to be eligible for assistance, they must be enrolled and attending high school or actively participating in a GED program and making adequate progress

TANF time limits

A TANF-NEON and or TANF Loan household in which any adult member received TANF cash assistance from Nevada or any other state for 60 months, regardless of whether consecutive or cumulative, is prohibited from receiving TANF-NEON and/or Loan cash benefits unless they experience a qualifying hardship.

Nevada TANF-NEON and/or Loan households may receive 24 months of cash assistance, after which time they are ineligible to receive cash benefits for 12 consecutive months, unless they experience a qualifying hardship. The 24 months of benefits need not be consecutive but the 12 month sit-out period is consecutive.

A recipient may receive a six month extension to the two-year time limit if the District Office Manager determines the recipient would achieve self-sufficiency by giving the additional time.

Types of Nevada TANF benefits

The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) administers five different TANF benefit programs. They are listed below:

TANF Child Only

This is a cash assistance program for households with no work-eligible adults. Generally, the monthly cash benefits are paid because the children is living with a relative, referred to as a relative caregiver, because the parent(s) is not in the home or if they are in the home, they are ineligible due to citizenship requirements or receiving SSI.

An example of a Child-Only case would be an Aunt applying for assistance on behalf of her niece who is in her care and supervision. Child-Only benefits are considered assistance however Time-Limits do not apply.

TANF Loan

This program provides eligible households with a monthly cash payment to meet the family's immediate basic needs when an adult member has a future anticipated source of income and the expectation is the benefits will be repaid upon receipt of the anticipated income.

The expectation is that the benefits will be repaid upon receipt of the anticipated income. Benefits from the Loan program are not defined as assistance. Time-Limits do apply.

Temporary Program

This program provides monthly cash payments to meet an immediate episode of need and is limited to no more than four months per episode. An episode of need is defined as an unforeseen circumstance such as fire, earthquake, etc. Benefits from the TEMP program are not defined as assistance. Time-Limits do not apply.

Self-Sufficiency Grant (SSG)

This is a one-time lump sum payment to help families who would otherwise be eligible for another program to meet an immediate financial need. The intent is to preserve the family's independence from long-time dependence on Welfare.

Recipients of a Self-Sufficiency Grant (SSG) are not eligible to receive TANF benefits for a period of time determined by dividing the SSG benefit amount provided by the maximum TANF benefit for the family size. Any part of a month counts as a full month.

Households may receive TANF assistance prior to the end of the ineligible period if a qualifying hardship exists. Although the receipt of SSG benefits are not considered assistance, they can preclude a household from receiving TANF/NEON benefits. Time-Limits do not apply to SSG.

TANF-NEON

This is the state's cash assistance program for families with a work-eligible adult in the home. Most parents and needy relative caregivers are defined as work-eligible by federal regulation and are required to meet work participation requirements as a condition of eligibility.

For this reason, it is commonly referred to as their work program. The head-of-household must enter into a Personal Responsibility Plan for reducing or ending their household's dependency on public assistance. Adult(s), unless they meet an exemption, will be required to engage in a defined number of hours of work activities every week to maintain eligibility for cash benefits. TANF-NEON benefits are considered assistance and Time-Limits do apply.

Apply for Nevada TANF

If you want to apply for the TANF program then you must complete an "Application for Assistance". The applicant or their representative may request an application by:

• Contacting the local DWSS district office
• Downloading a copy of the TANF application
• Accessing DWSS's online electronic application "ACCESS Nevada" at dwss.nv.gov
• Completing the application form and faxing it to the local DWSS Office for processing

An eligibility decision is generally made within 45 days from the application date.

Documents needed when applying for TANF

You or your representative must provide the following items as they apply to your household. These items are needed for whom assistance is requested. They need proof of your household's current circumstances.

It will help the application process if you or your representative submits the items or information with your completed application. All documents will be returned to you. Your worker will answer any questions you have in your interview.

• Identification/Citizenship
• Government Issued Driver's License
• Government Issued Identification Card
• Certificate of Degree of Indian Blood
• School Identification
• US Military Card or Draft Record
• US Military Dependent ID Card
• US Coast Guard Merchant Marine Card
• United States Passport
• Certificate of Naturalization
• Certificate of United States Citizenship
• Certified Original United States Birth Certificate
• If you do not have any of the items listed above, your caseworker will inform you of other possible sources of verification

• Proof of Nevada residence
• Current lease or rental agreement
• Rent Receipt
• Current Mortgage Statement
• Nevada Driver's License
• Nevada Voter Registration
• Statement regarding Homeless situation

• Earnings
• Paycheck Stubs or Employer Statement
• If employment ended in the last 90 days, verification of the job ending

Copy of award letter or other verification for:

• Other money
• Social Security Benefits (RSDI)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Worker's Compensation
• Unemployment Benefits
• Veteran's Benefits
• Retirement Pensions/Benefit
• Child Support Payments including copy of Support Order
• Alimony
• TANF or other Government Payments
• General Assistance
• Educational Income
• Any other money received by any person in your household

• Expenses
• Rent or mortgage receipt
• Current Utility Bill
• Landlord Statement - Signed and Dated
• Proof of Home Taxes and Insurance

Dependent care

Receipt or statement from sitter or daycare center with the following information:

• Name of Sitter or Center
• Monthly Payment
• Name and ages of persons cared for
• Reason for care

• Education expenses
• Statement from school
• Receipts

• Court ordered child support payments
• Copy of Court Order
• Verification of Payment

• Resources
• Bank or Credit Union Statement
• Vehicle Registration
• Savings Bonds
• Life Insurance Policies
• Retirement Account Statements
• Educational Account Statements
• Trust Documents

• Out of state benefits
• Proof of any benefits received from another state other than Nevada
• Verification the out of state benefits have been terminated

Please note, this list does not cover all of the possible types of verification you may need to provide to verify your household circumstances. Some programs will not require all of the verification listed above. Your caseworker will inform you of the specific verification needed based on the assistance you are requesting.

Nevada TANF need standard and payment allowance

Agency need standards are used to determine eligibility and payment amounts. The need standard includes food, clothing, recreation, personal incidentals, fuel for heating, cooking and water heating, electricity for refrigeration and lights, household supplies, medical chest supplies and shelter.

The following table provides a guide to income levels and maximum payment amounts. A maximum payment is issued when there is no countable income. If all or a portion of monthly income is budgetable, the reduction in the benefit amount is dollar for dollar. However, there are specific deductions allowed for earned income and application of the earnings disregard for certain household members entitled to use them.

What happens at the interview?

Your worker will question you about the facts you give on your application. Your case manager will give you a copy of your Rights and Obligations. They recommend you read it carefully before signing. If you have any questions or do not understand something, ask the case manager to explain it to you.

What happens to my TANF application?

Your application will be processed. As soon as all the needed information is in the case file, a decision will be made. You will get a letter in the mail telling you if you will receive assistance, how much, and for how long. If you are denied assistance, the letter will tell you why.

TANF Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT)

Your Nevada TANF benefits are accessed by the use of an EBT card (like a debit or credit card) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Each time the card is used, the benefit account balance is reduced by the amount of the purchase.

If the card is lost or stolen, it can't be used by anyone who does not know the PIN, and it may easily be canceled and replaced. It is your responsibility to protect your benefits. You can help protect your benefits by:

• Promptly reporting a lost or stolen card, or
• Promptly changing your PIN if someone knows your PIN and you do not want them to use your card

If you already have your EBT card and want to check the current EBT card balance, then go to ebtedge.com.

I was denied TANF benefits. What can I do?

State and local agencies are responsible for establishing the eligibility criteria and procedures that apply in their programs, not the Federal government. If you disagree with a decision regarding welfare benefits, you have the right to file an appeal. For more information about your state's appeals procedures, contact the NV TANF office.