This article, entitled Temporary Assistance for Needy Families comes from SingleMomFinancialHelp.com.

There never seems to be enough money to go around when the single mom is trying to take care of her family, but sometimes everything goes wrong at the same time, turning a difficult situation into a financial crisis. Knowing that the needs of the family are her first concern, the single mom may sometimes have to look to assistance to meet the most basic needs of the family.

The TANF program (government grants for single mothers) can offer assistance to the single mom who finds herself in a temporary situation where she needs assistance to take care of her family. The funds are distributed by the individual states, but come from the federal government under the Social Security Act.

The Temporary Assistance for Need Families program goal is to promote responsibility, work and self-sufficiency. It is a time limited benefit, for the single mother who needs additional support while she is dealing with a financial crisis and it is an opportunity that should not be overlooked.

To be eligible for the cash assistance program, you must have a child under the age of 18. When you apply for assistance, your total assets must be less than $1,000. If you own the home that you live in, it is exempt from the total assets.

The single mom can apply for TANF by contacting the local Division of Family Resources Office in the county where she resides. In most cases it will take 30 to 60 days after the application for the benefit is made to find out if the request is accepted or denied.

When an application is made for assistance under this temporary benefit program, the single mom will have to provide complete information of all children and adults who are in the household. State residency requirements will have to be met and Social Security numbers will have to be provided. Additionally, citizenship or alien requirements will have to be met. You will also have to provide information about child support assignment and employment.

Because TANF is a federal benefit that is run by the state governments, benefits and application requirements may differ from state to state. The availability of funds may also differ depending on the number of needy families who are being assisted by the program. Make sure that you get the information that is appropriate for the County and State in which you reside before applying for the benefit.

Part of the eligibility conditions for the TANF program in some states is that adult applicants may have to complete 20 days of job search activities. If you are required to participate in the job search or training program and fail to complete it, the application of the cash assistance benefit will be denied. If there is any change in your circumstances that may affect your eligibility for TANF, you must report them to your local DFR office within 10 days of the change.

Single moms can appeal any action that is taken on her case if she feels unsatisfied with the way her application was handled. In this situation, send a written request to have a hearing to your local Division of Family Resources – Hearings and Appeals Section within thirty days after the disputed action was made.

For more information on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, call your local Division of Family Resources office.

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