Apply For New Mexico TANF Benefits

Learn how to apply for New Mexico TANF. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, called New Mexico Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (NMWorks), 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 Human Services Department. 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 NM 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 New Mexico TANF can receive welfare benefits. For more information about applying for NM TANF benefits, view the information below. If you still have questions or issues, then contact TANF New Mexico.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, known in New Mexico as NMWorks, provides a monthly cash benefit used to meet basic family needs such as housing, utilities, and clothing.

New Mexico TANF qualifications

To qualify for the New Mexico TANF program, you must:

• Live in New Mexico
• Be below income and resource limits set for the program
• Have dependent children age 18 or younger who are citizens or have eligible alien status
• If children are 19, they must be a full-time high school student expected to graduate before the end of the month in which they become 20
• Provide information on monthly income, view the income table below

Deductions

For dependent care:

• For a child under age 2 = $200
• For a child age 2 and over = $175

Work incentives

Earned income disregard:

• Single parent = $125 & 1/2 remainder
• Two-parent = $225 & 1/2 remainder

After submitting your TANF application

Once you submit your New Mexico TANF application, you will be asked to come in for an interview in about ten days. Your assigned worker will give you a list of things you need to provide. This information will tell your worker about you and your household so he or she can determine if you qualify for cash assistance.

Bring as much of the requested information as you can to the interview. This will help them speed up the process. If, after your interview, you need to provide more information, your worker will make a list of things you need to do.

Your worker will explain how much time you have to gather the information. If you need more time, or you can't get the information required, tell your worker as soon as possible.

You can check on the status of your application on YesNM. They ask to give them 14 days before you check. You can also get information about the status of your application and benefits by calling their automated response line at 855-309-3766.

If you submitted your application in-person at one of their field offices, then you can contact that office to get a status on your NM TANF application.

When a decision is made on your TANF application

You will be notified by letter within 45 days as to whether or not your cash assistance was approved. If you do not agree with the decision, you can ask for a Fair Hearing. It is their policy to ensure that everyone who applies for and qualifies for cash assistance receives those benefits in a timely manner and in accordance with the law.

How access your NM TANF benefits

Each month your cash assistance allotment will be deposited into an EBT (Electronic benefit transfer) Card. Like a debit card, you can use your EBT card to withdraw your benefits at ATMs throughout New Mexico or pay for purchases at participating grocers.

Check balance on New Mexico EBT card

The easiest way to know your account balance is to keep your receipts. If you don't have your receipts, you may check your balance on the Internet at www.ebtedge.com and you will be guided through the steps to check your balance.

You will need the 16-digit card number from the front of your EBT card. You should always check your account balance before you go to get cash or shop or you can call the 24-hour Fidelity Information Services (FIS) Customer Service Help Desk at 800-843-8303.

Apply for New Mexico TANF

You can apply for TANF online, by mail or in-person. Once you have successfully submitted an application you will be contacted by the Human Services Department regarding the next steps to take. To apply online, go to yes.state.nm.us. To apply by mail, download a copy of the TANF application, fill it out and mail it to the following address along with the required documents:

Central ASPEN Scanning Area (CASA)
PO Box 830
Bernalillo, NM 87004

If you rather fax it in instead of mailing it, then fax it to 855-804-8960. If you prefer to submit your application in-person, then find a local Income Support Division (ISD) office. To view a list of locations, find a ISD office near you.

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 NM TANF office.