TENNESSEE

Tennessee Families First

Families First is Tennessee’s welfare program that provides temporary cash assistance to eligible low-income families with children.

Cash assistance is generally limited to a lifetime maximum of 60 months, with certain exceptions for elderly or disabled adults and children under age 18.

As a condition of eligibility, participants must develop a Personal Responsibility Plan and participate in approved work or training activities for at least 30 hours per week.

How much does TANF pay in Tennessee?

Tennessee’s monthly cash payment for a family of three with very little income is $387, which is among the lowest TANF cash payments in the nation.

If you need short-term help rather than long-term ongoing cash assistance, you may request for one lump-sum payment through the Families First Diversion Payments.

How do I apply for Family First in TN?

You may apply for Families First benefits either in person at your local DHS county office  or online through the One DHS Consumer Portal 

Tennessee Department of Human Services
Family Assistance Customer Service
(866) 311-4287

Tennessee Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Tennessee SNAP is a nutrition assistance program that provides monthly benefits to help low-income families afford the food they need to maintain a nutritionally adequate diet.

In Tennessee, most families 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 SNAP.

How do I apply for food stamps in TN?

To apply for benefits, submit your application online through One DHS Customer Portal  or in person at the local DHS county office .

Tennessee Department of Human Services
Family Assistance Customer Service
(866) 311-4287

Tennessee Special Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Tennessee WIC provides supplemental nutritious foods, nutritious education, health care referrals, and breastfeeding support to women, infants, and children up to age 5 who are at nutrition risk.

Participants must be a resident of the state of Tennessee, meet WIC income guidelines  and be individually determined to be at nutritional or medical risk by a health professional.

What is the income limit for WIC in Tennessee?

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, WIC serves women, infants, and children in Tennessee 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.

If deemed eligible, WIC food benefits are issued into an electronic benefit account, known as TNWIC, which can be used at any one of the 800+ participating grocery stores in Tennessee.

How long does WIC last in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, 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 much does WIC pay in Tennessee?

Children ages 1—4 will now receive $26 per month, while pregnant and postpartum women receive $47 per month, and breastfeeding women receive $52 per month.

How do I apply for WIC in TN?

Find the nearest WIC clinic  and make an appointment for an interview. For appointments in Shelby County, call (901) 222-9980.

Tennessee Summer EBT

According to the Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS), Tennessee did not participate in the federal Summer EBT (SUN Bucks) program in 2025 or 2026. Instead, the state ran a Summer Nutrition Initiative that paid a one-time $120 benefit to eligible children in selected counties.²

In 2026, the payment began June 12 for children ages 5–18 in households with an active SNAP and/or Families First (TANF) case in Bledsoe, Cannon, Clay, DeKalb, Fentress, Hancock, Humphreys, Jackson, Lewis, Marshall, Moore, Sequatchie and Smith counties. No application was required. Tennessee’s largest counties, including Shelby and Davidson, were not included.

TDHS says Tennessee will join the federally funded Summer EBT program beginning in 2027.²

Tennessee Department of Human Services
One DHS Contact Center
(833) 772-8347

Tennessee TennCare

TennCare is Tennessee’s Medicaid program that helps low-income individuals and families with children pay for some or all of their medical bills, including pregnant women and single parents who meet the income eligibility requirements.

Tennessee has not adopted Medicaid expansion, leaving many low-income adults in a “coverage gap”. Eligibility for non-disabled adults is generally limited to parents with incomes up to 105% of the poverty level. Children ages 6-18 are covered up to 138% of the poverty level.

How do I get Medicaid in Tennessee?

Go to TennCare Connect  to apply online or call (855) 259-0701 to apply over the phone. Paper application is also available in both English and Spanish.

Tennessee Division of TennCare
TennCare Member Services
(800) 342-3145

Tennessee CoverKids

CoverKids is Tennessee Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that provides free, comprehensive health coverage for qualifying children aged 18 and younger.

Pregnant women whose income is too high for TennCare may also receive maternity coverage through CoverKids, covering prenatal care, hospital delivery, and 60 days of postpartum care.

CoverKids is designed to bridge the gap for families who make too much for Medicaid but too little to afford private insurance.

What is the income limit for CoverKids in Tennessee?

CoverKids is for children under 19 and pregant women regardless of age whose household income is at or below 255% of the federal poverty level.

Families who meet the income guidelines do not pay monthly premiums for CoverKids but may be required to pay small fees, called copayments, for certain services.

How do I apply for CoverKids in Tennessee?

You can apply for CoverKids through several methods:

• Online: Apply through TeenCare Connect  for faster processing.
• By Phone: Call TennCare Connect at (855) 259-0701.
• In-Person: Submit application at any local health department throughout Tennesse.³

Katie Beckett Waiver

Katie Beckett is a new program to help Tennesseans under the age of 18 with disabilities and/or complex medical needs who would not usually qualify for TennCare.

This program has two parts, A and B, and will provide services and/or help pay for medical care that private insurance does not cover.

Part A

Children in Part A receive full Medicaid Benefits and also can get up to $15,000 in nonmedical services called home and community-based services.

Part B

Children in Part B do not receive Medicaid. Families get up to $10,000 a year in services to care for their children.

How do I apply for Katie Beckett in Tennessee?

To apply, go to TeenCare Connect  and create an account if you don’t already have. Be sure to click “YES” when it asks if you want to apply for Katie Beckett.

Tennessee Child Care Certificate Program

Due to limited funding, a waitlist for new applicants began on August 26, 2025. Families already enrolled may continue through their eligibility period and may renew if they remain eligible.

Parents participating in the Families First program who need help paying for child care may receive financial assistance with the cost of child care.

Parents may be required to contribute towards their child care expenses. This contribution is as a weekly co-pay that each parent or guardian pays directly to their child care provider.

Beginning October 1, 2025, every family approved for child care payment assistance is assessed a co-pay of 5% of income.⁴ Co-pays remain waived for families approved through Families First, the Early Head Start partnership, Mental Health and Substance Abuse services, and DCS.

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

A family is considered “income eligible” when the total gross monthly income is less than 85% of the State Median Income (SMI) at the time of initial application or $6,267 per month for a family of three.

How do I apply for child care assistance in Tennessee?

To apply for the service, contact your local DHS office  to get an appointment for an eligibility interview or apply online through the One DHS Customer Portal .

Once approved for child care payment assistance, the family may choose the type of care their best meets their needs. Child care providers can be located at Find Child Care .

Tennessee Department of Human Services
One DHS Contact Center
(833) 772-8347

Tennessee Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

Tennessee LIHEAP assist eligible low-income households in meeting the costs of home heating during winter and cooling during summer. LIHEAP prioritizes families with the lowest income that pay a high proportion of their income for home energy.

Applications are accepted year-round based on availability of funds. Eligible households may receive a one-time credit of up to $750, as long as funding is available.

How do I apply for LIHEAP in Tennessee?

Tennessee LIHEAP is administered through a network of 19 local agencies that reach all 95 counties. Application must be submitted online through the SmartSimple  portal, along with all necessary forms.

Due to federal funding processes, local agencies may place eligible applicants on a waiting list until funds are made available to the state.

Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA)
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
(800) 228-8432

Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)

Tennessee Student Assistance Award is a state-funded grant for needy undergraduate students who are enrolled at a public or an eligible non-public postsecondary institution in Tennessee.

Eligibility is based on Student Aid Index (SAI) of 5,000 or less. Grant amounts vary from $2,000 to $4,000 and are awarded to the neediest applicants on a first come, first served basis.

You are encouraged to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1 but no later than April 1.

Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC)
(615) 741-1346

Tennessee Promise

High school seniors in Tennessee may apply for the Tennessee Promise , which provides two years of tuition-free attendance at any of Tennessee’s 13 community colleges or 27 colleges of applied technology.

The amount of scholarship will depend on the number of credit hours in which a student is enrolled and whether the student has other federal and/or state aid eligibility.

Tennessee Promise is a last-dollar scholarship, meaning it will cover the cost of tuition and mandatory fees once all other aid has been applied.

To maintain eligibility, students must complete 8 hours of community service per semester and attend a mandatory meeting with a volunteer mentor.

How do I apply for TN Promise Scholarship?

As part of the application process, you must complete the Tennessee Promise Scholarship application in the TSAC Student Portal  by November 1 and the FAFSA by April 1.

Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC)
(800) 342-1663

Tennessee Reconnect

Tennessee Reconnect provides the same last-dollar benefits as Tennessee Promise, but for adults over age 24 to attend a community college tuition-free.

Students must be admitted to an eligible institution and be enrolled at least part time (minimum 6 credit hours) and must complete the FAFSA as an independent student.

Adults who meet all the requirements will receive a last-dollar scholarship, which is equal to the difference between tuition and fees and any gift aid (grants and scholarships) that the student receives.

To be considered for eligibility, students must complete the FAFSA and TN Reconnect Scholarship  applications by the April 1 deadline.

Tennessee Higher Education Commission
Tennessee Student Assistance Corporation (TSAC)
(800) 342-1663