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Temporary Assistance to Needy Families is a time limited federal
program designed to provide temporary cash payments to families with
minor children who have little or no income. In New Jersey, Work First
New Jersey (WFNJ) is the state program created to help such families.
This program is state supervised, but administered through the county.
Under TANF/WFNJ a family may receive assistance
for a lifetime total of sixty months. These months do not have to be
consecutive and may be accumulated over many years. Also, any assistance
received in any other state counts toward the lifetime limit. Disabled
persons and those over 60 years of age are not included in this limit
nor are children under age 18.
Eligibility for this program is contingent upon having minor children in
the home. The youngest child must be under 18 years of age or over 18 if
a full time high school student expected to graduate before the 19th
birthday. Single and two parent families may be eligible. All applicants
and clients, as a condition of eligibility must cooperate in
establishing paternity and/or in seeking child support for TANF/WFNJ
children. Persons who refuse to cooperate without good cause will be
ineligible to receive any assistance.
In some cases eligibility may exist when
neither parent is in the home and the child(ren) is being cared for by a
blood related relative (referred to as a parent-person) who may choose
whether or not to receive assistance along with the child. Persons who
have legal custody of an unrelated child may also apply for assistance.
Most families eligible for TANF also receive
Food Stamp and Medicaid benefits.
TANF and Food Stamp benefits are accessed
through an Electronic Benefits (EBT) Card.
To screen for TANF,
Food Stamps and
or Medicaid eligibility click here:
NJHELPS
ONLINE APPLICATION COMING SOON.
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