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Delaware Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

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Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is Delaware's main cash assistance program. It is administered through a joint effort of the Division of Social Services (DSS), Delaware Department of Labor, Delaware Department of Transportation and the Delaware Economic Development Office. The goal of TANF is to give people temporary help until they get a job that enables them to become self-sufficient. Within the program both the state and the TANF client have responsibilities. The state provides positive incentives for the family to become self-sufficient, and the family must accept responsibility to become self-sufficient and self-supporting. Time on TANF is limited for most people. You can get benefits for 36 months, but you must work to receive your TANF check.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is Delaware's main cash assistance program. It is administered through a joint effort of the Division of Social Services (DSS), Delaware Department of Labor, Delaware Department of Transportation and the Delaware Economic Development Office. The goal of TANF is to give people temporary help until they get a job that enables them to become self-sufficient. Within the program both the state and the TANF client have responsibilities. The state provides positive incentives for the family to become self-sufficient, and the family must accept responsibility to become self-sufficient and self-supporting. Time on TANF is limited for most people. You can get benefits for 36 months, but you must work to receive your TANF check.

To be eligible for Delaware TANF, you must be a resident of Delaware, and a U.S. citizen, legal alien or qualified alien. You must be unemployed or underemployed and have low or very low income. You must also be one of the following:

  • Have a child 18 years of age or younger, or
  • Be pregnant, or
  • Be 18 years of age or younger and the head of your household.

Click here to go to Delaware's Application for Social Services and Internet Screening Tool (ASSIST).

You can also download and fill out an application on the Delaware Health and Social Services website.

The completed application will then need to be submitted to your local Division of Social Services office. You can find your nearest office on the Office Locations page.

Apply for TANF

For more information please the Delaware TANF program page. 

To ask about the TANF program you can also call the Delaware of Division of Social Services (DSS) at:
302-255-9500

302-255-9500

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