Apply For Utah TANF Benefits

Learn how to apply for Utah TANF. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, called Utah Family Employment Program (FEP), 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 Workforce 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 UT 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 Utah TANF can receive welfare benefits. For more information about applying for UT TANF benefits, view the information below. If you still have questions or issues, then contact TANF Utah.

The Utah TANF program, called The Family Employment Program (FEP), is a temporary cash assistance program for families. The program can provide up to 36 months of financial support to a family within a lifetime. While in the program, they will work with you to help you:

• Gain greater financial independence
• Learn work skills that may lead to a better paying job
• Learn valuable life skills
• Be a positive role model for your children

When you apply for the Family Employment Program or cash assistance, your case was assigned to two different workers - an eligibility worker and an employment counselor.

• Your eligibility worker is involved in multiple programs at DWS, not just the Family Employment Program
• Your employment counselor is different than your eligibility worker. Your employment counselor is assigned to work with you specifically because of the Family Employment Program

Utah TANF requirements

As part of the application process you may be asked to provide proof of:

• Members of your household
• Household income
• US citizenship
• Financial Assistance received in other states

Utah TANF eligibility

To receive FEP you must:

• Have one child under 18 (some 18-year-olds may be eligible if they are in school and expect to graduate before age 19) or
• Be a single, pregnant woman in your third trimester

Apply for Utah TANF

You can apply for the Utah TANF benefits online at jobs.utah.gov. You can also download a copy of the Utah TANF eligibility form. If you need help applying for Utah TANF program, then you can contact your local DWS employment center. To find a location, view a list of DWS employment centers near you.

Utah TANF benefit amounts

You must meet a certain level of poverty to qualify to get help from FEP. The chart below will help you see if your income is low enough to qualify. Gross income means your household's total income each month before any deductions have been made.

Utah TANF time limits

The Family Employment Program has a 36-month time limit. You may be allowed to extend your benefits beyond 36 months if you meet an extension reason. This will be determined by meeting with your employment counselor.

TANF activity review

The Activity Review process is used to:

• Identify if the activities on your employment plan are relevant to your employment and family goals
• Ensure you have an opportunity to establish reasonable cause for not participating at your maximum level
• Make sure that your employment counselor has made every attempt to support and engage in resolving any non-participation issues
• Explain the consequences of non-participation
• Your Financial assistance will close for one full calendar month if you do not present reasonable cause for not participating in your negotiated activities
• If your Financial program closes for non-participation, you must reapply for Financial assistance and complete a trial participation before your case will be re-opened

When TANF benefits are available

Participation is required before payment is authorized.

• Most financial benefits are available on the first of the month
• Payments for some programs are issued on the 5th and 20th of the month. Your Employment Counselor will let you know when you will received your benefits

If financial benefits are issued to your Horizon Card account that you are not eligible to receive, the funds may be removed and returned to the State of Utah without prior notification to you of the removal. You will receive notification after the financial benefits have been removed.

How to use TANF benefits

You may use your card to buy the things you need at stores that accept EBT. You can also withdraw your cash benefits at most ATM's and store point-of-sale (POS) machines.

• A small transaction fee may be charged to your account
• Stores may limit the amount of cash you can get back with a purchase

An EBT card cannot be used to access cash benefits at a Point of Sale or ATM in an establishment that primarily sells liquor, allows gambling or gaming, or provides adult-oriented entertainment where performers disrobe or perform. A customer who accesses FEP cash benefits at one of the above establishments may be disqualified from Family Employment Programs for 12 months for an intentional program violation.

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 UT TANF office.