STATEHawaiiTANF

Hawaii TANF

Hawaii TANF is a time-limited welfare program that provides cash assistance and supportive services to needy families with children. It is designed to help low-income Hawaiian families while they work towards becoming self-sufficient.

As a condition of eligibility, all work-eligible participants are required to participate in Hawaii’s First-To-Work Program (FTW) beginning with an initial 21-day up-front assisted job search program.

FAQ

Who is eligible for TANF in Hawaii?

To be considered for TANF in Hawaii, you must meet the following eligibility requirements:

  1. Be a U.S. citizen or a lawful permanent resident.
  2. Be a resident of the state of Hawaii.
  3. Be unemployed or under employed for very low wages.
  4. Be pregnant or have a child under age 19.
  5. Have countable income within certain limits as shown below. 1

What is the income limit for TANF in Hawaii?

In Hawaii, a family is considered “needy” when their countable income is less than $2,941 a month for a family of three. Resources are excluded in determining eligibility.

The income limits for families of different sizes are listed in the table below.

Family Size
Income Limit
1
$1,737
2
$2,340
3
$2,941
4
$3,544
5
$4,147
6
$4,750
7
$5,353
8
$5,957

How much do I get for TANF in Hawaii?

Hawaii offers the poorest families of three a maximum of $610 per month. Families may receive no more than 60 months of cash assistance benefits in their lifetime.

Family Size
Payment
1
$350
2
$485
3
$610
4
$735
5
$860
6
$986
7
$1,111
8
$1,236

For households participating in the First-to-Work program, Hawaii also provides a housing supplement of up to $500 per month to households.

How do I apply for welfare in Hawaii?

You may apply for TANF benefits in person at a DHS Processing Center near you. For a list of centers, please visit the DHS website.

An interview with an eligibility worker will be arranged to determine your eligibility. In most cases, benefits will be paid from that filing date if you’re eligible.

For further assistance, please call
Public Assistance Information Line
(855) 643-1643

How do I apply for general assistance in Hawaii?

Adults without minor dependents ages 18—64 who are temporarily disabled and who do not qualify for public assistance may apply for Hawaii’s General Assistance.

Currently, the monthly benefit is about $469 a month for those with assets not exceeding $2,000 for a single person and $3,000 for a couple.

For more information about the GA Program, visit
www.humanservices.hawaii.gov

Footnotes

  1. To qualify for this financial assistance, a family must include children under the age of 18 and have gross income below 185% of the 2006 Federal Poverty level (FPL). For a family of three, this means the gross monthly income must be less than $2,941. ↩

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