Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF)
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families or TANF Program is a federal-funded block grant program that provides temporary cash assistance to eligible families that include at least one specified relative adult and a minor dependent child who resides in the same home. In addition, family members must be U.S. citizens. These program requirements are in accordance with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-193) also known as “Welfare Reform”. Prior to the federal Welfare Reform, the Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) did not distinguish between citizen or non-citizen or single or two-parent families.
In response to the federal Welfare Reform, and to remain consistent with Hawaii’s State Constitution, Article IX, Section 3, Hawaii created the state funded Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families or TAONF Program to continue to provide cash assistance to families that would have been eligible for benefits through the former AFDC Program but are not eligible through the TANF Program due to their citizenship status. The state funded TAONF Program policies mirror the federal TANF Program policies and provides the same benefits and services to Hawaii’s vulnerable families with children, which include mixed citizens and non-citizens, and single- and two-parent households.
The TANF and TAONF Programs provide monthly cash assistance that families may use to pay for food, clothing, housing and utility expenses, and other daily needs. To qualify, a family’s monthly gross income must be below 185% of the 2006 Federal Poverty level (FPL) or $2,941 for a family of three, and the adjusted net income must be below 100% of the 2006 FPL or $1,590 for the same family size. Allowable deductions, in accordance with program policies, may be applied to determine the adjusted net income if a family has earnings. Effective April 18, 2013, assets are disregarded under the TANF and TAONF Programs. Families may receive no more than sixty (60) months of cash assistance benefits in their lifetime through the TANF or TAONF Program.
The TANF and TAONF Programs are designed to provide temporary financial relief to families and enable them to stabilize their current financial situation. As a condition of eligibility, TANF and TAONF recipient families are required to participate with the First-To-Work Program. The First-To-Work Program assists families to gain financial independence by providing education and vocational training support, job readiness training, job search assistance, employment placement services, case management and counseling services, and other supportive services so families may obtain and maintain employment. To support participating families, they may receive child care subsidies, assistance with transportation costs, work- and education-related expenses, while engaged in the First-To-Work Program.
There are other program requirements that families must meet as conditions of eligibility for TANF or TAONF cash assistance such as furnishing social security numbers for each family member; cooperating with the Child Support Enforcement Agency to pursue additional financial support if a child has an absent parent; and seeking treatment services for adult family members who are confirmed disabled, or recovering from substance or alcohol use disorder, or are currently in a domestic violence situation.
SNAP and Financial Assistance Application Form (DHS 1240 REV 12-2024)
Public Assistance Information System (Online Application Form)