TANF Appeals: What To Do If Your Cash Assistance Is Denied or Stopped

If your TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) application has been denied, or your cash assistance was reduced, sanctioned, or cut off, you usually have the right to appeal.

This guide explains how TANF appeals typically work, what steps to take, and how to protect your case through official channels in your state.

HowToGetAssistance.org is not a government office, application portal, or legal service. This article is here to help you understand the usual process so you can better navigate it with your local TANF agency.

Understanding TANF and Why Decisions Get Made

TANF is a state-run cash assistance program for low-income families with children. Each state sets its own rules within federal guidelines, but TANF often helps with:

• Basic living costs (rent, utilities, clothing, etc.)
• Work-related expenses (transportation, child care, uniforms)
• Job preparation or work activities

Because TANF is needs-based, the agency reviews your situation and decides:

• Whether you qualify
• How much you can get
• For how long you can receive it
• What work or participation requirements you must meet

A denial or cut-off usually means the agency believes you do not meet one or more of your state’s rules. That does not always mean they are correct, which is why an appeal process exists.

Common Reasons TANF Applications Are Denied or Benefits Are Cut Off

Understanding why a decision was made helps you plan your appeal.

Typical reasons include:

1. Financial Eligibility Issues

• Income too high (job, child support, unemployment benefits, etc.)
• Assets over the limit (savings, vehicles, property, sometimes retirement accounts)
• Household size or members counted incorrectly

2. Missing Information or Paperwork

• No proof of income (pay stubs, award letters)
• No proof of identity or immigration status
• No proof that a child lives with you
• Forms not returned by the deadline (recertification, verification requests)

3. Work or Participation Requirements

Many TANF programs require work activities, such as:

• Job search
• Job training or education
• Workfare or community service

Benefits may be sanctioned (lowered or stopped) if the agency believes you:

• Did not attend required activities
• Missed appointments or orientations
• Did not cooperate with creating or following a work plan

4. Child Support Cooperation Rules

Some states require TANF recipients to cooperate with child support enforcement, which may include:

• Naming the other parent
• Helping the state collect child support

If the agency decides you did not cooperate and had no good cause (such as safety concerns or domestic violence, where protections may apply), your benefits may be reduced or stopped.

5. Time Limits

TANF has strict time limits:

• Federal rules limit most families to 60 months (5 years) of TANF in their lifetime, with some exceptions.
• Some states have shorter time limits.

If the agency believes you have reached or exceeded the limit, your case may be denied or closed.

6. Residency or Household Changes

• You moved to another state
• A child left your household
• You were no longer living in the state where you applied

Even if one of these reasons sounds right, the agency can still make mistakes. That’s why appeals exist.

First Step: Read the Notice Carefully

When you are denied, sanctioned, or cut off, the TANF agency typically sends a written notice. This letter is crucial.

Look for:

• Reason for the decision (why you were denied or cut off)
• Effective date (when the change starts)
• Appeal or fair hearing deadline (often 10–30 days from the date on the notice, depending on state rules)
• Instructions on how to request a hearing (phone number, form, address, or online portal)

If you did not receive a written notice or it’s not clear:

• Call your local TANF office and ask for:
  • A copy of the denial/closure/sanction notice
  • An explanation of your appeal rights and deadlines
• Ask if they can mail, email, or let you pick up another copy.

Missing the appeal deadline can limit your options, so act quickly.

Do You Have the Right to Appeal?

In most states, TANF applicants and recipients can ask for a fair hearing when they disagree with:

• A denial of benefits
• Lowered or stopped payments
• A sanction (for work rules, child support cooperation, or other issues)
• A delay they believe is unreasonable
• A decision about overpayments (the agency says you were paid too much)

Appeals are usually handled by a state hearings office or similar agency, which is supposed to be independent of your local TANF office.

If you’re not sure whether you can appeal, call:

• Your local TANF office
• The state benefits hotline
• A legal aid or legal services office in your area

Deadlines: How Long Do You Have to Appeal?

Appeal deadlines vary by state, but many require you to request a hearing within about 10 to 30 days from the date on the notice, not the date you open it.

A simplified view:

Check your notice, or call your local office to ask:

• “What is my last day to request a fair hearing for this decision?”
• “If I appeal, can my benefits continue while I wait for the hearing?”

Write down the name of the person you spoke with and the date and time of the call.

How To Request a TANF Appeal or Fair Hearing

Each state has its own process, but common ways to request a hearing include:

1. Completing a Hearing Request Form

Many notices have a tear-off section or a separate form on the back. You may be asked to:

• Check a box saying you want a hearing
• Explain briefly why you disagree
• Sign and date the form

You can usually mail, fax, or hand-deliver this to:

• Your local TANF office, or
• The state hearings office, as listed on the notice

2. Writing a Simple Letter

If you don’t have a form, you can often write a short letter that includes:

• Your full name
• Your case number (from the notice)
• Your address and phone number
• A statement like:
  • “I am requesting a fair hearing to appeal the decision to [deny/stop/reduce] my TANF benefits.”
• The date and your signature

Keep a copy of the letter for your records.

3. Requesting By Phone or Online

Some states allow you to request a hearing:

• By calling the state benefits hotline or a hearing office phone number
• Through the official online benefits portal

If you appeal by phone or online:

• Write down the confirmation number (if any)
• Ask the staff member for:
  • Their name
  • The date and time
  • A written confirmation of your hearing request, if available

Should You Ask to Keep Benefits While Appealing?

In many states, if you file your appeal before the change takes effect, you may be able to keep your current TANF benefits until the hearing decision is made. This is sometimes called “aid continuing” or “continuation of benefits.”

Important points:

• This option often has a shorter deadline than the main appeal deadline.
• If you lose your hearing, the agency may ask you to pay back some or all of the TANF you received during the appeal period as an overpayment.

When you request the hearing, ask:

• “Can my benefits continue while I wait for the hearing?”
• “If I lose, will the TANF I received during the appeal be considered an overpayment?”

Deciding whether to continue benefits during an appeal can be complicated. If possible, talk to a legal aid attorney about your specific situation.

Gathering Documents and Evidence for Your TANF Appeal

To prepare for a TANF appeal, it helps to collect and organize documents that support your side of the story.

Common types of evidence:

• Your TANF notices (denial, closure, sanction)
• Proof of income:
  • Pay stubs
  • Employer letter
  • Unemployment or benefit award letters
• Proof of expenses (if relevant in your state):
  • Rent receipts or lease
  • Utility bills
  • Child care receipts
• Proof of household members and relationships:
  • Birth certificates for children
  • School or daycare letters
  • Custody or guardianship papers, if any
• Proof of residence:
  • Lease, utility bill, or official mail
• Medical or disability documentation:
  • If you missed work activities or appointments due to health reasons, you may want notes or letters from a healthcare provider
• Work activity records:
  • Attendance records or sign-in sheets
  • Letters from job training programs
  • Emails or notes showing you tried to comply
• Any communication with the TANF office:
  • Letters, emails, or text messages
  • Notes from phone calls (who you spoke with and what was said)

Keep everything in a folder or envelope and bring it to the hearing. Make copies if you can.

What Happens at a TANF Fair Hearing?

A TANF appeal or fair hearing is typically:

• Less formal than a court trial
• Run by a hearing officer or administrative law judge
• Held in person, by phone, or sometimes by video

What usually happens:

1. Introduction
   • The hearing officer explains the process and confirms the issue being decided.
2. Agency’s Side
   • A worker or representative from the TANF agency explains why they denied or cut off your benefits.
   • They may present documents or computer records.
3. Your Side
   • You can tell your story, present your documents, and explain why you believe the decision is wrong.
   • You may have a representative, such as a legal aid attorney or an advocate, if available in your area.
4. Questions
   • The hearing officer may ask you and the agency questions.
   • You may be allowed to ask the agency worker questions.
5. Closing
   • You may be allowed to make a short closing statement about what you want the hearing officer to decide.

After the hearing, the officer usually issues a written decision. It may:

• Agree with the agency (uphold the decision)
• Partly change the decision
• Reverse the decision and order the agency to:
  • Approve benefits
  • Restore benefits
  • Remove or change a sanction
  • Recalculate your benefit amount

If you disagree with the hearing decision, some states offer:

• A second administrative review, and/or
• The option to take the case to court

These later steps usually require strict deadlines and may be more complex, so legal advice can be especially important.

How To Strengthen Your TANF Appeal

You can’t control everything, but you can improve your chances by being organized and clear. Some practical tips:

1. Be On Time and Keep Records

• Request the hearing before the deadline.
• Open and read all mail from the agency.
• Keep a log of:
  • Dates of phone calls
  • Names of people you speak with
  • What was discussed

2. Be Specific About the Problem

Examples of what you might explain:

• “The agency counted income I no longer receive.”
• “My child does live with me—here is proof from the school.”
• “I attended all required work activities; here are my attendance sheets.”
• “I never received the appointment notice you say I missed.”

The more clearly you explain what went wrong, the easier it is for the hearing officer to understand.

3. Bring or Submit Documents on Time

Some states require you to submit copies of your documents before the hearing date. Others let you present them at the hearing.

• Ask the hearing office:
  • “Do I need to send documents in advance? If so, where and by when?”
• Label your papers clearly and, if possible, keep a duplicate set for your own reference.

4. Consider Getting Free Legal Help

Legal aid organizations in many areas offer free help with public benefits cases, including TANF. They may:

• Explain your rights and options
• Help you prepare for the hearing
• Sometimes represent you at the hearing

To find legal help:

• Call 211, if available in your area, and ask for legal aid or public benefits legal help
• Contact your local legal services or legal aid office
• Ask your TANF worker if they know of advocacy organizations that assist with appeals

If You Lose Your Appeal

If the hearing decision goes against you, you usually still have some options. Common next steps:

1. Read the Decision Carefully

   • Look for:
     • The reasoning used
     • Any deadlines for further action
     • Information on whether you can ask for a reconsideration or judicial review

2. Ask About Other Programs

   • Even if you don’t qualify for TANF, you may still qualify for:
     • SNAP (food stamps)
     • Medicaid or CHIP
     • Child care assistance
     • Housing programs (public housing, vouchers, emergency rental help)
     • Energy assistance (LIHEAP or state programs)

   Contact your local benefits office or state benefits hotline to ask about other options.

3. Talk to Legal Aid

   • Legal aid may help you decide whether:
     • To seek a second-level review or appeal
     • To file in court (if allowed in your state)

4. Reapply If Your Situation Changes

   • If your income decreases, household size changes, or other circumstances shift, you may be able to reapply for TANF later through your local TANF office or the official benefits portal.

Alternatives and Emergency Help While You Appeal

Because appeals can take time, it can be important to look for short-term support while you wait.

Possible resources (availability varies by state and county):

• SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) – food benefits
• Medicaid / CHIP – health coverage for adults and children
• WIC – food support for pregnant people, infants, and young children
• Local food banks or pantries
• Emergency rental or utility assistance from:
  • Local housing authorities
  • Community action agencies
  • Charities and nonprofits
• Domestic violence shelters and support organizations, if safety is a concern
• 211 – in many places, you can dial 211 to be connected to local social service resources

These programs usually have their own eligibility rules and application processes through official agencies or recognized nonprofits.

Protecting Yourself From Scams and Unofficial “Helpers”

When you’re dealing with TANF, it’s important to make sure you’re using official channels:

How to check you’re in the right place:

• You are contacting:
  • A state or county department of human services, social services, or economic security
  • A recognized legal aid organization or community nonprofit
  • An official benefits portal run by your state government
• The website uses a government-style domain such as:
  • “.gov” in many states
  • Some states use specific state domains (like state abbreviations), which you can confirm through your state government’s main website or phone directory.
• You can confirm phone numbers and addresses through:
  • State government websites
  • Local government offices
  • 211 (where available)

Warning signs of scams:

• Someone asks for payment or “processing fees” to handle your TANF appeal.
• They guarantee they can “get you approved” or “erase sanctions instantly.”
• They ask for your full Social Security number, bank login, or debit card PIN over email, text, or social media.
• They say they are from TANF but refuse to give a callback number or official office location.

If something feels off, you can:

• Hang up and call your local TANF office or state benefits hotline directly using a number you find on an official government website or printed notice.
• Ask the person for:
  • Their full name
  • Their official title
  • The office they work for

Key Takeaways and Next Steps

• You typically have the right to appeal a TANF denial, cut-off, or sanction through a fair hearing.
• Deadlines matter. Check your notice for:
  • The last day to request a hearing
  • Whether you can keep benefits during the appeal
• To request a hearing, use the methods listed on your notice or contact:
  • Your local TANF office
  • The state hearings office
  • The official benefits portal or hotline
• Gather documents that support your case and bring them to the hearing.
• If possible, seek help from legal aid or community advocates familiar with TANF appeals.
• While waiting for a decision, explore other assistance programs through official agencies and trusted local resources.

By understanding the usual steps and your rights in the process, you can be better prepared to move forward through your state’s official TANF appeal system.