Georgia, GA

Georgia Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) #

Georgia TANF is the monthly cash assistance program for poor families with children under age 18. The program goal is to provide necessary assistance to needy families with children on a temporary basis.

In Georgia, receipt of cash assistance is limited to 48 months in a lifetime. Recipients are also required to participate in a work program for at least 30 hours weekly.

How much do I get for TANF in Georgia?

Georgia pays a maximum of $280 a month to a family of three with a monthly income of $784 or less and countable assets of not more than $1,000.

How do I apply for TANF in Georgia?

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

Georgia Food Stamps #

Georgia Food Stamps (SNAP) provides monthly benefits to low-income families to help pay for the cost of food — up to $740 a month for a family of three.

Unless otherwise exempted, 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.

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, about $2,495 a month for a family of three, qualify for food stamps.

Gross income limit applies to most households, except those in which at least one person is 60 years of age or older, or receives disability income.

How do I apply for food stamps in Georgia?

You may apply for food stamps online with Georgia Gateway or call (877) 423-4746 to submit an application by phone. After your application is filed, an interview will be arranged by a staff person from DFCS to determine your family’s eligibility.

Georgia Emergency Food Assistance Program #

Georgia's Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) is one of the two programs administered by the state of Georgia to 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.

This program is available in all 159 counties in Georgia. To find a food bank in your area, click on the following link: Find Foodbanks in Georgia

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.

Georgia WIC serves women, infants, and children in Georgia whose income is at or below 185% of the federally poverty level; and who are at risk for nutritional deficiencies.

• Family Size Income Limit
• 1 $2,248
• 2 $3,040
• 3 $3,833
• 4 $4,625
• 5 $5,418
• 6 $6,210
• 7 $7,003
• 8 $7,795

How do I apply for WIC in GA?

WIC has local offices across the State of Georgia. Call 1-800-228-9173 to locate the WIC agency serving your area and set up your first appointment.

Georgia eWIC is now available for Georgia WIC recipients.

*The eWIC card will now be used in place of WIC vouchers to obtain WIC-approved foods from authorized eWIC retailers.

Georgia Pathways to Coverage #

Georgia Pathways to Coverage™ is slated to begin July 1, making Georgia the only state in the country to have work requirements tied to Medicaid 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.

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

Unlike any other Medicaid plan in the country, those who enroll in the Pathways program are required to complete 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?

A 5% disregard based on the federal poverty level (FPL) for the household size is applied and is reflected in the amounts shown above.

How do I apply for Georgia Medicaid?

To find out if you qualify for Medicaid or other medical assistance, call the DFCS Customer Contact Center at 1-877-423-4746 and speak with a representative at your local DFCS office.

You may also apply online at Georgia Gateway. If you think you are pregnant, contact the Division of Public Health at 404-657-2700 to find out where to apply in your county.

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 $62,650.

• Family Size Income Limit
• 1 $36,740
• 2 $49,690
• 3 $62,650
• 4 $75,600
• 5 $88,550
• 6 $101,510
• 7 $114,460
• 8 $127,410

A 5% disregard based on the federal poverty level (FPL) for the household size is applied and is reflected in the amounts shown above.

There is no cost to families for children under age 6. ¹

For children ages 6 or older, a co-payment is 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.

If you have any questions about PeachCare for Kids®, please call
1-877-GA-PEACH (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 or about $3,148 a month for a family of three, above which the family is ineligible.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Georgia?

Parents are now able to 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 your application and determine your eligibility.

If you need assistance in submitting an online application, please call
1-833-4GACAPS (442-2277)

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. The waitlist for Section 8 in the city of Atlanta last opened in March 2017.

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.

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.

There is no cost to apply. Preliminary applications are accepted through the DCA Applicant Portal only while the waiting list is open. Call (888) 858-6085 to find out about wait list openings.

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.

Georgia Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) #

Georgia LIHEAP is a federally-funded program designed to help low-income, elderly and disabled Georgians meet home heating and medically necessary cooling costs.

Depending on income and household size, those who qualify receive between $350 and $500 through direct payments to home energy suppliers.

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 must be made through a local Community Action Agency. Due to limited funding, LIHEAP applicants are served on a first-come, first-serve basis by each agency, for the counties that they serve.

To find a Community Action Agency in your area, please call
404-657-3427

Georgia Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) #

Georgia LIHWAP provides a much-needed one-time relief to low-income families in Georgia for water and wastewater bills to avoid shutoffs or disconnections.

Households with an arrearage/past due amount for their water bill can expect to receive either a $200 or $300 benefit, depending on their household income, toward their current water bill.

LIHWAP is not an entitlement program. To qualify for LIHWAP, customers must have a household water supplier that is a registered vendor for the LIHWAP program. Families receiving water services from a non-registered vendor will not receive LIHWAP.

How do I get help paying my water bill in Georgia?

If you are in danger of falling behind on your water bills and need help, please contact the Community Action Agency in the county you reside in.

Georgia Unemployment Insurance #

As of August 14th, Employ Georgia will no longer be available. WorkSource Georgia will replace Employ Georgia as the official online tool for enrolling in employment services, which is required for individuals requesting unemployment benefits.

Georgia Unemployment Insurance (UI) offers temporary financial assistance to eligible workers who became unemployed through no fault of their own.

Georgia currently provides 14 weeks of UI only. An increase to 26 weeks during the COVID-19 emergency has now expired.

To be eligible for unemployment benefits, you must register for employment services through WorkSource Georgia and actively seek suitable work each week that you file a weekly claim for benefits.

How much money do I get for unemployment in Georgia?

If you are eligible for unemployment in Georgia, you will receive a weekly benefit amount ranging from $55 to $365 per week, based on your previous earnings.

Where do I file for unemployment in GA?

Claims for weekly benefits may be filed online at MyUI Claimant Portal or in-person at any Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) Career Center. Georgia law requires all applicants to sign an Application Affidavit Status.

Georgia HOPE Grant #

Georgia’s HOPE Grant is available to all students from Georgia who are working towards a Certificate or Diploma at Georgia’s public postsecondary institutions.

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 or 95 quarter hours.

In order 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 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.

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