GEORGIA

Georgia Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Georgia TANF provides monthly cash assistance to needy families with children on a temporary basis to help cover basic living expenses.

Cash assistance is generally limited to a lifetime maximum of 48 months, and recipients are required to participate in a work program for at least 30 hours per week.

How much do I get for TANF in Georgia?

Georgia’s TANF benefit level is among the lowest in the nation and has remained unchanged for nearly 30 years at $280 per month for a family of three.

How do I apply for TANF in Georgia?

You can apply for TANF online through Georgia Gateway  or in person at the local DFCS office  in the county where you live. After your application is filed, an interview will be arranged to determine your eligibility.

Georgia Department of Human Services
Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS)
(877) 423-4746

Georgia Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Georgia SNAP (SNAP), formerly known as food stamps, provides monthly food assistance benefits to low-income individuals and families to help pay for groceries.

Unless otherwise exempt, those receiving food stamps in 24 counties across the state must work at least 20 hours a week or be enrolled in state-approved job training.

If you are an able-bodied adult without dependents (ABAWD), you must meet strict work requirements to receive SNAP benefits for more than 3 months in a 3-year period.

What is the income limit for food stamps in Georgia?

Most families in Georgia with gross income up to 130% of the federal poverty level, or about $2,960 per month for a family of three, may qualify for food stamps.

How do I apply for food stamps in Georgia?

You may apply for food stamps online through Georgia Gateway . After your application is submitted, a DFCS staff member will schedule an interview to determine your eligibility.

Georgia Department of Human Services
Division of Family & Children Services (DFCS)
(877) 423-4746

Georgia Emergency Food Assistance Program

Georgia’s Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is one of two state-administered programs that help supplement the diets of low-income individuals in Georgia, including the elderly, by providing them with emergency food and nutrition assistance at no cost.

TEFAP is available in all 159 counties in Georgia. For information about availability in your area, contact the Georgia Department of Human Services, or reach out to your local food bank or distribution site.

Georgia Department of Human Services
Office of Nutrition & Food Programs
(404) 463-8042

Georgia Special Program for Women, Infants & Children (WIC)

WIC helps low-income families with checks or vouchers to buy healthy supplemental foods from WIC-authorized vendors, nutrition education, and help finding healthcare and other community services.

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

1. Live in Georgia.
2. Be a pregnant, postpartum or breastfeeding woman, an infant or a child under 5 years old.
3. Have a household income less than 185% of the federal poverty limit.
4. Have a nutritional need or risk.

What is the income limit for WIC in Georgia?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC serves women, infants, and children in Georgia whose income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level.¹ That’s about $4,212 per month for a family of three.

How long does WIC last in Georgia?

In Georgia, WIC benefits last for different lengths of time depending on who is receiving them:

• Pregnant women: through pregnancy and up to 6 weeks after birth
• Breastfeeding women: up to 12 months after childbirth
• Non-breastfeeding postpartum women: up to 6 months after childbirth
• Infants: from birth until their first birthday
• Children: from age 1 until their 5th birthday

WIC is not automatic. Participants must recertify periodically to continue receiving benefits.

How do I apply for WIC in GA?

WIC has local offices across the State of Georgia. Call (800) 228-9173 to locate the WIC agency serving your area and set up your first appointment.

Georgia Pathways to Coverage

Georgia Pathways to Coverage™ is a new health insurance program that helps eligible Georgians who can’t afford medical care pay for some or all of their medical bills, albeit with a work requirement. ²

Pathways offers Medicaid coverage to eligible Georgia residents who are between the ages of 19 and 64 with an income up to 100% of the poverty level.

Unlike any other Medicaid plan in the country, those who enroll in the Pathways program are required to complete at least 80 hours of a qualifying activity, such as work, job training, college or community service each month to gain and keep their coverage.

Pathways covers many of the same medical services as traditional Medicaid, including:

• Doctor visits.
• Hospital stays.
• Emergency services.
• Prescriptions.
• Laboratory and x-rays.
• Family planning services.
• Mental health services.
• Preventive and wellness services.
• Chronic disease management services.

What are the income limits for Medicaid in Georgia?

Because Georgia has not fully expanded Medicaid, eligibility is limited to adults ages 19–64 earning less than 100% of the poverty level. Children ages 6–18 are covered up to 138% FPL.

The income limit for children ages 1–5 in Georgia is 154% of the poverty level. Children from families above that level will automatically be screened for PeachCare for Kids®, which covers children up to 252% FPL.

How do I apply for Georgia Medicaid?

You can apply for Medicaid on Georgia Gateway . To apply by phone, call the Georgia Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) and speak with a representative.

Georgia Division of Family & Children Services
Customer Contact Center
(877) 423-4746

Presumptive Eligibility (PE) Medicaid

Pregnant women may complete a short application and have their local county health department make a determination the same day for Presumptive Eligibility (PE) Medicaid.

This will usually allow the applicant to receive Medicaid right away. If you are pregnant and without healthcare, find the nearest location  where you can complete the enrollment process.

Georgia PeachCare for Kids®

PeachCare for Kids®  provides comprehensive health care to uninsured children through the age of 18 whose family’s income is too high to qualify for Medicaid but is less than 252% of the federal poverty level.

Services covered include but not limited to,

• Sick visits
• Preventative services
• Specialist care
• Dental care
• Vision care-screenings and glasses
• Hospitalization
• Emergency room services
• Prescription medications
• Mental healthcare

What is the income limit for PeachCare in Georgia?

PeachCare for Kids® serves working families whose income is at or below 252% of the federal poverty level. For a family of three, that’s about $5,737 per month.

There is no cost to families for children under age 6, children in foster care, or American Indian/Alaska Native children, according to the Georgia Department of Community Health.³ For children ages 6 or older, a co-payment may be required for some medical services.

Starting at age 6, premiums are $11 to $36 per child and a maximum of $72 for two or more children living in the same household.

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
PeachCare for Kids®
(877) 427-3224

Georgia Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS)

Subsidized child care in Georgia is provided through the Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS) program to help low income families with the cost of child care while they work, go to school or training, or participate in other work-related activities.

The CAPS program is administered in all 159 Georgia counties through the county Department of Family and Children Services.

Families that qualify for the CAPS program can choose their own child care provider. The CAPS program will reimburse child care providers up to a certain amount.

What is the income limit for child care assistance in Georgia?

A family is considered “income eligible ” when their gross monthly income is less than 50% of the State Median Income (SMI) at the time of initial application, which is about $3,876 per month for a family of three.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Georgia?

Parents can check their potential eligibility and apply for child care online through Georgia Gateway . Once the application is received, a CAPS staff member will contact you to review the information and determine eligibility.

Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning
Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS)
(877) 255-4254

Georgia Pre-K

Georgia’s Pre-K is a free, state-funded program for four-year-olds, regardless of parental income. It provides a 6.5-hour instructional day, 5 days a week, 180 days a year at no cost to eligible families.

Georgia’s Pre-K programs are offered at local public schools or through private providers of child care learning centers on a first come, first serve basis. Each Pre-K provider sets its own application processes, registration deadlines, and selection criteria.

What are the requirements for Pre-K in Georgia?

To be eligible for the state’s Pre-K program, your child must be a resident of Georgia and at least 4 years of age on Sept. 1 of the school year. Acceptable proof of age and residency must be on file the day the child begins the Pre-K program.

How much does it cost to register for Pre-K?

Pre-K providers cannot charge a registration fee for the 6.5 hour instructional day. Fees can only be imposed for before and after school care.

To find a Pre-K program provider in your area, use the Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning’s search tool  or call (404) 656-5957.

Georgia Housing Choice Voucher Program

DCA’s Housing Choice Voucher Program wait lists are currently closed . It is not set to re-open to new applicants at this time.

Georgia’s Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV), formerly known as Section 8, is a tenant-based rental assistance program that helps low-income families find safe, affordable rentals.

DCA administers the program in 149 of Georgia’s 159 counties and maintains two waiting list. One for the northern region and one wait list for the southern region.

To be eligible for the Housing Choice Voucher Program, you must:

1. Be a citizen or eligible immigrant.
2. Be 18 years of age or older.
3. Be a resident of the state of Georgia.
4. Meet income limits specified by HUD. That is less than 50% of the median income  for the county in which you live.

How much does Section 8 pay in GA?

In Georgia, the rental subsidy is typically calculated as the difference between 30% of your adjusted gross income and the current applicable payment standard.

There is no cost to apply. Preliminary applications are accepted through the DCA Applicant Portal  only while the waiting list is open. Call (470) 802-4707 to find out about wait list openings.

Georgia Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Georgia LIHEAP is a federally-funded program designed to help low-income families and households with elderly or disabled members afford home heating and medically necessary cooling.

LIHEAP offers one or more of the following types of assistance:

• Energy bill payment assistance
• Energy crisis assistance
• Long-term, low-cost residential weatherization assistance

In Georgia, LIHEAP applications open in December for seniors (65+) and medically homebound individuals. Applications for all other eligible residents usually begin in early January and stay open until funds run out, often by July 31. Cooling assistance typically starts in April.

How much does LIHEAP pay in GA?

Depending on income and household size, those who qualify receive between $400 and $810 through direct payments to home energy suppliers.

What is the income limit for LIHEAP in Georgia?

To be eligible on the basis of income, a family’s annual income must be less than or equal to 60% of the median income for a Georgia family.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in Georgia?

Applications for LIHEAP can be made online through Georgia Gateway  or in person at a local Community Action Agency that serves your area.⁴

Due to limited funding, LIHEAP applicants are served on a first-come, first-serve basis by each agency for the counties that they serve.

Georgia Division of Family and Children Services
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
(877) 423-4746

What happened to LIHWAP in Georgia?

Federal funding for LIHWAP has ended, so Georgia is no longer accepting applications and households cannot currently receive benefits from the program. Customers who are behind on a water bill can contact their utility or dial 2-1-1 for information about other assistance.

Georgia Promise Scholarship

The application window for the 2025–26 academic year Georgia Promise Scholarship is currently closed. New application dates will be announced later on the official website.

Georgia Promise Scholarship is a state-funded program for eligible students who have previously attended public school in Georgia. It provides financial assistance for non-public education options, including private schools and home study programs.

Eligible families can receive up to $6,500 annually per student. Unlike traditional vouchers that only cover tuition, funds can be used for private school tuition, tutoring, curriculum for homeschooling, therapy (e.g., speech or occupational), and even up to $500 in transportation costs.

Families may apply through MyGeorgiaPromise.org  during application windows, which have specific deadlines. Priority is given to families with household incomes below 400% of the federal poverty level.

Georgia Promise Scholarship
(470) 470-7057

Georgia HOPE Grant

Georgia HOPE Grant is a lottery-funded program for Georgia residents who are working towards a Certificate or Diploma at an eligible public technical college or university.

The amount awarded to each student may vary depending on the institution and the no. of credit hours in which a student is enrolled — but is capped at 63 semester hours or 95 quarter hours.

To be considered for HOPE Grant, you can either complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) OR complete the GSFAPPS electronic application.

Georgia Student Finance Commission
GAfutures Support Center
(800) 505-4732

Georgia HOPE GED Grant

Another grant within HOPE called Georgia HOPE GED Grant is available to students who earned a General Education Development (GED) diploma. Students receiving GED Grant may also qualify for HOPE Grant.

Recipients receive a one-time award of $500 toward that can be used towards tuition, books, or other educational costs at an eligible public technical college or public or private college or university.

Georgia Student Finance Commission
GAfutures Support Center
(800) 505-4732