DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

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District of Columbia Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

District’s TANF provides temporary cash assistance to needy families with dependent children under 19 years of age whose income barely enough to make ends meet.

A central component of the TANF program is “its emphasis on work”. As a result, adult recipients must participate in work activities as a condition of receiving cash benefits, unless otherwise exempt.

There is no time limit to how long a family can receive TANF in the District of Columbia as long as they continue to meet income requirements and work participation rules. ¹

How much is TANF in DC?

The maximum monthly TANF benefit in DC varies by household size and income. For a family of three, the current maximum benefit is $803 per month.

Starting Oct. 1, 2025, families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) will see an increase in child support payments from $150 to $200 per month. ²

How do I apply for TANF in DC?

Applications for TANF are accepted online through District Direct , via mobile application , or through the mail to:

Department of Human Services
Economic Security Administration
Case Record Management Unit
P.O. Box 91560
Washington, DC 20090

District of Columbia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

District’s SNAP is a nutrition assistance program that helps low-income individuals and families buy the food they need for a healthier diet, with eligibility based on income and household size.

The program serves low-income families with children, seniors, people with disabilities, and working or unemployed people of all ages.

In the District, a family of three may qualify for SNAP if its gross monthly income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, which is about $4,442 per month.

How do I apply for SNAP in DC?

Applications for SNAP are accepted online through District Direct , via mobile application , or in person at your nearest Economic Security Administration (ESA) Service Center. ³

DHS/ESA Public Benefits Call Center
(202) 727-5355

District of Columbia Special Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

District’s WIC provides supplemental foods, nutrition education and referrals to health care, at no cost, to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women, infants, and children up to age 5.

Applicants must meet the following criteria to be eligible for WIC:

• Live in District of Columbia.
• Be a pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding woman, an infant or a child under 5 years old.
• Have a household income less than 185% of the federal poverty limit.
• Have a nutritional need or risk as determined by a health professional.

What is the income limit for WIC in District?

WIC is open to District families with a household income at or below 185% of the poverty level or those who are enrolled in SNAP, TANF or Medicaid programs.

How do I apply for WIC in DC?

To apply for the WIC Program in the District of Columbia, call (800) 345-1942 to schedule an appointment at a WIC site near you.

District of Columbia Medicaid

District’s Medicaid offers health care coverage for District residents who meet the program’s eligibility requirements for Medicaid. It covers families with children, pregnant women, and people who are aging, blind and disabled.

Medicaid covers many services including doctor visits, hospital care, prescription drugs, mental health services, transportation and many other services at little or no cost to an individual.

What is the income limit for Medicaid in District?

Under the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid will now cover children (19—20) and parents with incomes up to 221% of the federal poverty level, or about $4,908 a month for a family of three.

Children (0—18) and pregnant women are eligible at higher income levels.

Children who have long-term disabilities or complex medical needs and live at home with families with household incomes over 324% of the FPL may also be eligible for DC Medicaid under TEFRA/Katie Beckett  .

How do I apply for Medicaid in DC?

District of Columbia is operating its own Health Insurance Marketplace, known as DC Health Link , through which D.C. residents can enroll for Medicaid, SCHIP or other private health insurance.

If you need help applying for Medicaid or renewing your Medicaid coverage, or have questions about these benefits, call District Direct at (202) 727-5355.

Healthy DC Plan

DC Medicaid currently provides coverage to adults up to 215% of the federal poverty level, but this will change in January 2026. Beginning in 2026, Medicaid eligibility for this group will be reduced to 138% of the federal poverty level (FPL). ⁴

Adults who no longer qualify for Medicaid will generally be eligible for a new Basic Health Program called the Healthy DC Plan , which will cover individuals with household incomes between 139% and 200% of FPL.

The Healthy DC Plan covers essential health care services, at no cost, including:

• Primary care doctor visits
• Specialist doctor visits
• Urgent care visits
• Hospitalizations and emergency care
• Laboratory services
• Prescription drugs
• Mental health, behavioral health, and substance use disorder services
• Preventive care

Enrollment for the Healthy DC Plan begins November 1, 2025, for coverage effective January 1, 2026. Check your eligibility using the Plan Match Tool .

District of Columbia Healthy Families (SCHIP)

District’s Healthy Families is for families with children under age 19 and for pregnant women who live in the District of Columbia whose incomes are too high to qualify for Medicaid.

The program is free or very low-cost for uninsured families. Services covered by Healthy Families include, but are not limited to, doctors visits, vision and dental care, prescriptions, hospitalization, and more.

What is the maximum income to qualify for Healthy Families?

In District of Columbia, children up to age 19 with household income up to 324% of poverty or about $86,346 for a family of three are eligible for Healthy Families.

DC Healthcare Alliance

DC Healthcare Alliance Program  (“the Alliance”) is a locally-funded program designed to provide medical assistance to District residents who are not eligible for Medicaid — mostly undocumented immigrants.

You may be eligible for DC Healthcare Alliance if you:

• are twenty-one (21) and older;
• are a resident of the District of Columbia;
• have no other health insurance, including Medicare and Medicaid;
• have income at or below 215% of the federal poverty level. For a family of three, that’s about $4,775 per month.

There are no monthly premiums, copayments, or other charges for covered services for DC Health Care Alliance.

How do I apply for the DC Healthcare Alliance?

To apply for DC HealthCare Alliance, you must complete the DC Integrated Application for Medical Assistance and submit the combined application online at districtdirect.dc.gov  along with supporting documents.

Immigrant Children’s Program (ICP)

Immigrant Children’s Program (ICP) is another health coverage program that is offered to children from families who are not eligible for Medicaid due to citizenship or immigration status.

Eligibility include children who

• are under the age of 21
• are a District resident
• are not eligible for Medicaid and
• have family income at or below 324% of the FPL

Services covered  under the Immigrant Children Program are very similar to the services covered under Medicaid. There are no monthly premiums, copayments, or other charges for covered services for children enrolled in ICP.

District of Columbia Child Care Subsidy Program

District of Columbia operates a federally-funded subsidized child care program that helps income-eligible families with child care cost. It serves children from 6 weeks through 12 years. However, children with disabilities may qualify up to their 19th birthday.

The Child Care Subsidy Program will pay all or part of the family’s child care costs and depending on income, families may be required to pay a portion of the cost of child care on a sliding scale .

What is the income limit for child care assistance in District of Columbia?

A family is considered “income eligible ” when their gross monthly income is less than 300% of the federal poverty level at the time of initial application, which is about $6,663 per month for a family of three.

How do I apply for child care assistance in District of Columbia?

If you’re applying for the first time, you must visit to the Child Care Services Division  in person. As slots are limited, walk-in visits for new applicants are on a “first come, first serve” basis.

Child Care Services Division
4001 South Capitol Street SW
Washington, DC 20032
(202) 727-0284

D.C. Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCVP)

The waitlist is currently closed to new applicants. There is no scheduled time to re-open the waitlist.

In District of Columbia, DCHA administers Housing Choice Voucher Program to help low income residents find affordable housing by providing vouchers to help participants pay rent in privately owned properties across the city.

Participants pay a portion of the rent that is based on a percentage of the family’s income — usually not more than 30%, and DCHA pays the rest of the rent directly to the landlord.

How do I get a DC housing voucher?

Interested applicants may apply from DCHA website at www.dchousing.org  or call Client Placement Division at (202) 435-3245.

Be prepared for a long wait, as thousands of applicants are already on the waiting list. Priority is given to the homeless families, but even they might wait two to three years.

District of Columbia LIHEAP

District’s LIHEAP, which stands for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, offers assistance for income-eligible households with the costs for heating during the winter months and cooling during the summer months.

Eligible households may receive energy bill assistance between $250 and $1,800 as a one-time regular energy assistance benefit, which are paid directly to the utility companies.

District residents who qualify may also apply for the Utility Discount Program  in order to receive a reduced rate on their utility costs.

What is the income limit for LIHEAP in DC?

Income eligibility is defined as 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). For example, a family of three in D.C. earning up to $8,325 a month may qualify for LIHEAP.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in District of Columbia?

You may apply for LIHEAP in two ways:

1. Online: Go to ECOS  to submit your application online along with a copy of your most recent energy bill. Applications are available year-round.
2. By Phone: Call 311 and ask for an application to be mailed to you. In-person appointments are not being accepted at this time.

D.C. Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP)

The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) is no longer accepting new applications. Residents who have submitted an ERAP application can check the status of their application at https://erap.dhs.dc.gov 

District’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) helps low-income District residents facing housing emergencies. The program provides rental assistance, including security deposits and arrearages, in the form of a one-time payment.

ERAP serves low-income families with children, the elderly (age 60 or older) and people with disabilities who are at imminent risk of homelessness.

Generally, ERAP pays no more than 5 months of overdue rents, and usually no more than a total of $4,250. For security deposits and the first month’s rent, ERAP can pay up to a maximum of $900.

District of Columbia Paid Family Leave

District has one of the most generous paid leave programs in the nation — guaranteeing certain periods of paid family and medical leave to eligible employees.

The law promises to cover employees with

• 2 weeks to care for your pregnancy
• 12 weeks to bond with a new child
• 12 weeks to care for a family member with a serious health condition
• 12 weeks to care for your own serious health condition

Those who are receiving unemployment insurance or long-term disability payments are not eligible.

Eligible individuals who earn 150% of the D.C. minimum wage or less will receive 90% of their average weekly wage, up to a $1,190 weekly cap.

How do I apply for PFL in DC?

Go to dcpaidfamilyleave.dc.gov  or call the contact center at (202) 899-3700. After you apply, the Office of Paid Family Leave will contact you within ten (10) business days.

District of Columbia Unemployment Insurance

District’s Unemployment Insurance (UI) provides temporary unemployment benefits to eligible workers who are unemployed through no fault of their own, and who are ready, willing, and able to work.

In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, you must meet the following wage requirements:

1. Have wages in at least two quarters of the base period;
2. Have at least $1,300 in wages in one quarter of the base period or
3. Have earned at least $1,950 in wages for the entire base period and earned total base period earnings of at least 1.5 times the high quarter earnings.

How much unemployment will I get in DC?

The maximum weekly unemployment benefit amount in the District of Columbia is $444, and the maximum number of weeks you can receive benefits is 26.

How do I file for unemployment in DC online?

UI benefits can be filed online  or if you do not have access to the internet, you may call the UI call center at (202) 724-7000 to file your claim by phone.

As of September 5, 2021, under District law, there is a one-week waiting period before benefits are paid. No payment is made during the waiting period.

DC Tuition Assistance Grant (DCTAG)

DC Tuition Assistance Grant is a need-based grant that allows college-bound D.C. residents to attend any public institution in the country as if they are a resident of the school’s state.

DCTAG provides up to $10,000 per academic year toward the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition at public four-year colleges and universities anywhere the country.

How do I apply for DCTAG?

To be considered for DCTAG, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and the DC OneApp Online Application  no later than August 1 for priority consideration.

District of Columbia Earned Income Tax Credit

District of Columbia, along with thirty one (31) states, offers its working low-income residents a state EITC, which is modeled after the federal guidelines and eligibility rules.

District’s EITC is offered at 85% of the federal credit and is fully refundable.⁵ In the vast majority of cases, the credit is received as a lump sum as part of a tax refund early the following year.

How much is District Earned Income Credit?

A DC resident can receive a credit of up to $649 for tax year 2025 if they meet all federal and state eligibility requirements for a childless worker.

Can I get a refund if I owe no tax in DC?

If your DC EITC is $6,839 and you owe $3,000 in state income tax, the credit cancels your tax bill and you receive the remaining $3,839 as a refund as illustrated in the table below:

To claim, you must file a D-40, District Individual Income Tax Return, which can be filed online through MyTax.DC.gov  or via a paper return.