TANF and Child Support: What Parents Need to Know About How Benefits Are Affected

When a parent receives TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families), child support usually becomes part of the picture too. In many states, accepting TANF means some or all of the child support that would normally go to the parent is instead used to repay the TANF benefits.

This can be confusing and sometimes frustrating if you’re counting on both TANF and child support to make ends meet. Understanding how the two systems interact can help you plan ahead, avoid surprises, and ask better questions at your local TANF or child support office.

This guide explains how TANF and child support typically work together, what it can mean for your cash benefits, and what steps you can take through official channels if you have questions or concerns.

TANF Basics: What It Is and Who It Helps

TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) is a state-run, federally funded program that typically provides:

• Monthly cash assistance to very low-income families with children
• Work-related services, such as job search help, training, or child care support
• Time-limited help, usually with a lifetime limit on how long an adult can receive TANF (for example, 60 months in many states, but it can vary)

You generally must:

• Live in the state where you apply
• Have a low income and limited resources (such as savings or property)
• Be caring for a minor child, or be in the later stages of pregnancy in some states
• Meet work participation requirements, unless you have an approved exemption

TANF is managed by state or county agencies (often called the Department of Human Services, Social Services, or similar). Each state sets its own detailed rules, but they must follow general federal guidelines.

How Child Support Usually Works When You’re On TANF

When you are approved for TANF for your child, most states require that you:

• Cooperate with child support enforcement
• Sign over (assign) your right to receive child support for the time you are on TANF, with some exceptions

This does not change the other parent’s legal responsibility to pay child support. Instead, it changes who gets the money and how.

The general process

While rules vary by state, this is a typical pattern:

1. You apply for TANF at your local benefits or human services office.
2. As part of your TANF case, your information is shared with the state child support agency.
3. The child support agency:
   • Locates the other parent (if necessary)
   • Establishes paternity (if needed)
   • Sets or enforces a child support order
4. When the other parent pays child support:
   • The payment usually goes to the state first, not directly to you.
   • The state often keeps some or all of it to reimburse TANF.
   • In some states, the state passes a small portion (a “pass-through” payment) to you while you’re on TANF.

The details of how much is kept and how much you may receive depend on your state’s policies.

Why States Require Cooperation With Child Support

Most TANF programs require parents receiving benefits to:

• Help identify the noncustodial parent (the parent the child does not live with most of the time)
• Provide information that helps locate that parent
• Help establish paternity if it is not already legally determined
• Cooperate with establishing and enforcing a child support order

This cooperation requirement exists because:

• TANF is meant to be temporary support.
• Federal rules encourage states to collect child support to offset TANF costs.
• The goal is to have the noncustodial parent contribute financially for their child instead of relying only on public assistance.

If you do not cooperate and do not have an approved good cause reason, your TANF benefits can be reduced or denied.

Good Cause for Not Cooperating With Child Support

Many states allow “good cause” exceptions where a parent is not required to cooperate with child support enforcement, usually when cooperating could:

• Put you or your child at risk, especially in cases involving:
  • Domestic violence or abuse
  • Sexual assault
  • Stalking or harassment
• Be emotionally harmful to you or your child
• Conflict with adoption or other special circumstances recognized by your state

If you believe you have a good cause reason:

1. Tell your TANF caseworker as soon as possible.
2. Ask about the good cause process and what proof is needed.
3. Provide any supporting documents you may have, such as:
   • Police reports
   • Court orders (protective orders, restraining orders)
   • Medical records
   • Letters from counselors, shelters, or other professionals
4. Wait for the state’s decision on whether your good cause claim is accepted.

If good cause is granted, the state may:

• Not pursue child support, or
• Take special steps to protect your safety if any action is taken.

How Child Support Payments Affect Your TANF Cash Benefits

The most important piece for many parents is: Does child support reduce or replace my TANF?

Typically:

• While you are receiving TANF, most or all current child support is kept by the state to reimburse TANF.
• You may receive a small portion (often called a “pass-through” payment) each month, depending on your state.
• Once TANF ends, current child support usually goes back to being paid directly to you (or through your state’s child support payment system).

Common child support and TANF arrangements

Exact amounts and rules vary by state, but this table gives a general idea:

To get exact details for your situation, you would need to contact:

• Your TANF caseworker at the local benefits office, and
• Your local child support enforcement office

What Is a Child Support “Pass-Through”?

A pass-through payment is the portion of child support that the state chooses to send directly to you even though you are on TANF.

Key points about pass-throughs:

• Not all states offer pass-through payments.
• The amount is usually limited, such as the first $50 or $100 of monthly child support for one child, or a bit more for multiple children.
• Pass-through payments may or may not reduce your TANF payment depending on the state’s rules.

In some states, the pass-through is not counted against your TANF cash benefits, meaning:

• You still get your full TANF grant, and
• You also receive the pass-through child support amount.

In other states, pass-through may affect your total benefit. Because this varies, it can be helpful to ask your local TANF office:

• “Does my state offer a child support pass-through for TANF families?”
• “If so, how much is it, and does it affect my TANF cash amount?”

What Happens to Child Support Owed Before You Got TANF?

Money the other parent owes from before you started TANF is often called “arrears” or past-due child support.

States usually handle this in two separate buckets:

1. Pre-TANF arrears (owed to you personally):

   • Child support that should have been paid before you received TANF is usually still owed to you, not to the state.
   • When these arrears are collected, many states send that money to you, even if you are currently on TANF, but rules can vary.

2. During-TANF arrears (owed to the state):

   • If the other parent did not pay court-ordered support while you were on TANF, the amount that should have been paid during that time is often considered owed to the state, because the state supported your family.
   • When those arrears are collected, the state may keep them to repay TANF.

If you are unsure how your arrears are being handled, you can:

• Request a child support payment history from your local child support agency.
• Ask for an explanation of who arrears are owed to (you, the state, or both).

How Being On TANF Can Affect Future Child Support

Receiving TANF can affect how your future child support is handled, even after you leave TANF.

Common scenarios:

• After TANF ends:

  • New child support payments usually go directly to you (or via the state payment system) again.
  • The child support agency might still collect arrears that are owed to the state for the time you were on TANF.

• If you go back on TANF later:

  • You may again need to assign child support to the state during the new TANF period.
  • The process of pass-through and arrears may restart under current rules.

Because policies can change over time, it’s useful to ask your child support office how your future payments will be handled after TANF ends.

What If You Receive Child Support Directly While On TANF?

If you are receiving TANF and the other parent sends cash, checks, or electronic payments directly to you, it can affect your benefits.

In many states:

• You are required to report any child support or income to your TANF caseworker.
• Not reporting can lead to:
  • Overpayments (benefits you were not supposed to get)
  • Repayment bills
  • Possible penalties, such as benefit reduction or case closure

If the other parent is paying you directly:

• Let your TANF worker know how much and how often.
• Ask whether those payments must be sent to the state instead, or how they should be reported.
• Ask how this might change your TANF cash amount.

Common Reasons TANF Benefits Change Because of Child Support

Here are some ways child support may affect your TANF benefits:

1. You do not cooperate with child support enforcement

   • Your TANF may be reduced or denied, unless you are granted good cause.

2. The other parent begins paying child support regularly

   • The state may keep most or all of the payment to repay TANF.
   • If your state uses child support as “income” in its TANF calculation, your TANF cash benefit may go down.

3. The other parent pays a large lump sum

   • If paid through the state system while you’re on TANF, the state may keep the lump sum to reimburse TANF.
   • If paid directly to you, it may be counted as income or a resource, possibly affecting eligibility. You would need to report it to your TANF office.

4. You move off TANF because child support increases your income

   • In some cases, once child support plus any other income pushes you over eligibility limits, TANF may end.
   • You may still be eligible for other programs such as SNAP (food assistance) or Medicaid, depending on your income and state rules.

Documents to Prepare When TANF and Child Support Are Involved

Having documentation ready can make your interactions with TANF and child support offices smoother.

Commonly requested items include:

• Identification

  • Driver’s license, state ID, or other photo ID
  • Social Security numbers (for you and your children, if available)

• Proof of relationship and residency

  • Birth certificates for your children
  • Proof of address (lease, utility bill, or official mail)

• Income and expense information

  • Pay stubs or income statements
  • Information on any other benefits (SNAP, unemployment, etc.)
  • Rent or mortgage amounts, utility bills

• Child support and legal documents

  • Any existing child support orders
  • Divorce or custody orders
  • Proof of any child support payments already being made (receipts, bank statements)
  • Any paperwork about arrears or enforcement

• Good cause or safety-related documents (if applicable)

  • Restraining or protective orders
  • Police reports or court records
  • Letters or reports from domestic violence shelters, counselors, or medical professionals

Your state may ask for more or fewer documents. It can help to call your local TANF office ahead of time and ask what to bring.

How to Apply for TANF and Start the Child Support Process

HowToGetAssistance.org does not process applications or handle cases. To actually apply or manage your case, you need to go through official state or county offices.

Typically, you can start the TANF application by:

• Online: Through your state’s official benefits portal (search using your state name plus “TANF apply” on a trusted browser).
• By phone: Calling your state’s human services or social services hotline.
• In person: Visiting your local Department of Human Services, Social Services, or Family Assistance office.

During or after your application:

1. You’ll complete forms where you list the other parent’s information (name, last known address, employer, etc.).
2. Your TANF case may be referred to the state child support agency automatically.
3. The child support agency may contact you to:
   • Gather more details about the other parent
   • Schedule interviews or court hearings
   • Explain how payments will be handled while you’re on TANF

What Happens After You Apply: TANF and Child Support Steps

While each state is different, many parents experience a general process like this:

1. TANF application submitted

   • You provide information about your household, income, and children.
   • The caseworker explains that you may need to cooperate with child support.

2. Eligibility review

   • The TANF office checks your income, resources, and living situation.
   • If eligible, you receive a TANF approval notice with your monthly benefit amount.

3. Referral to child support

   • Your case is sent to the state child support enforcement agency.
   • They may open or update a child support case for your child.

4. Child support enforcement actions

   • Establishing or modifying a child support order
   • Enforcing payments through wage withholding, tax refund intercepts, or other legal tools
   • Tracking what portion is owed to you versus the state

5. Ongoing coordination

   • If your income changes, including new child support payments, you must report it to your TANF caseworker.
   • Your benefit can be adjusted, renewed, or closed based on state rules and your changing situation.

Common Reasons for Delays or Denials When Child Support Is Involved

Your TANF or child support case may be delayed or denied for reasons such as:

• Missing information about the other parent
• Failure to appear at required interviews, appointments, or court hearings
• Not responding to requests for documents
• Refusing to cooperate with child support efforts without an approved good cause claim
• Unreported child support or income, which can cause confusion or suspected overpayments
• Not meeting work requirements for TANF, unless you have an exemption or good cause

If you receive a notice of denial, reduction, or closure, read it carefully. It should list:

• The reason for the decision
• The effective date
• Your right to appeal and how to request a fair hearing

How Reviews, Appeals, and Hearings Usually Work

If you think a decision about your TANF or child support case is incorrect, most states offer:

• Case reviews: You can request that a supervisor or another worker re-check your case.
• Fair hearings or appeals: You can usually ask for a formal hearing within a set time (often 10–30 days) after a decision.

To start an appeal or hearing:

1. Use the instructions on your notice (mail, phone, or in-person request).
2. Keep copies of all letters and forms you send or receive.
3. Bring any supporting documents to your hearing, such as:
   • Pay stubs or proof of income
   • Records of child support payments
   • Copies of court orders
   • Any evidence related to good cause or safety concerns

You may also ask if your state offers free legal aid or advocates to help with TANF and child support hearings. Local legal aid organizations or 211 information lines can often tell you what’s available in your area.

Alternatives If You Do Not Qualify for TANF or Choose Not to Apply

If you are not eligible for TANF, or decide TANF’s child support cooperation requirements are not right for you, there may be other supports to explore:

• SNAP (food assistance) – Helps with groceries based on household income and size.
• Medicaid or CHIP – Health coverage for children and, in many states, low-income adults.
• Child care assistance – State programs that help with the cost of child care so you can work or attend school.
• Housing assistance – Public housing agencies and Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) in some communities.
• Energy assistance (LIHEAP) – Helps with heating or cooling bills.
• Local charities and nonprofits – Food pantries, clothing closets, emergency rent or utility help, and more.

You can:

• Call 211 in many areas to ask about local assistance programs.
• Contact your county or city human services office to ask what non-TANF programs you might qualify for.
• Reach out directly to your state’s child support agency if you want help establishing or enforcing support without TANF.

How to Make Sure You Are Using Official Channels (Avoiding Scams)

When dealing with TANF and child support, it is important to protect your personal information and avoid scams.

You can:

• Check the website address
  • Official state sites usually end in “.gov” or clearly show a state or county government as the owner.
• Call known official numbers
  • Use phone numbers listed on government mail you already receive, or on your state or county’s main government website.
• Be careful with fees
  • TANF and child support applications through official channels are generally free.
  • Be cautious of anyone who asks for upfront payment for “faster approval” or to “guarantee benefits.”
• Protect your information
  • Do not share your Social Security number, bank account details, or full birthdate with anyone unless you are certain you are speaking with an official state or county office.

If you are unsure whether a website or caller is official, you can:

• Call your local human services office using a number from a phone book, your past benefit notices, or your state government’s main website.
• Ask the person to provide their name, department, and office location, and then verify that information by calling back through a publicly listed number.

Understanding how TANF and child support interact can help you make informed decisions for your family. If you have questions about how these rules apply in your exact situation, the most direct next step is to contact:

• Your local TANF office (often part of the Department of Human Services or Social Services), and
• Your state or county child support enforcement agency

They can explain your state’s specific policies, how your child support will be handled, and what options you have if you have safety concerns or need to request a review.