TENNESSEE

This is an unofficial benefits estimator and not an application. No personal data is collected or stored. Actual amounts may vary based on individual circumstances, location, eligibility criteria, and recent data updates at the time of application.

Tennessee Families First

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

These benefits will be limited to 60 months of eligibility in a lifetime, with some exceptions for the elderly, disabled persons, and children under age 18.

As a condition of eligibility, participants are required to create a Personal Responsibility Plan and, if not exempt, to participate in work and/or training 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 at your local DHS county office  or call the Family Assistance Service Center at (866) 311-4287.

Tennessee Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Tennessee SNAP provides nutritional assistance benefits to eligible Tennesseans. The aim is to serve as a safety net for low-income families struggling with hunger.

In Tennessee, most families with gross income up to 130% of the federal poverty level, about $2,887 a month for a family of three, 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 .

If you are eligible, an EBT account is set up for you, and every month your benefits will be deposited right into your account.

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?

WIC serves women, infants, and children in Tennessee whose income is at or below 185% of the federal poverty level. That’s about $4,109 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 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 TennCare

TennCare is the State of 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.

Eligible participants will receive free medical services such as doctors’ services, dental care, eyeglasses, home care, hospital care, and many other health-related services.

Tennessee is one of the three non-expansion states that covers parents with incomes at or near poverty. The others are Georgia and Wisconsin. Both offers coverage to parents and adults with incomes up to the poverty threshold.

What is the income limit for TennCare in Tennessee?

In Tennessee, only parents with incomes up to 105% of the poverty threshold, about $2,332 per month for a family of three, may qualify for TennCare.

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 CoverKids

CoverKids is Tennessee Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that is funded by both the state and the federal government. It covers uninsured children age 18 and younger and the unborn children of women who are not eligible for Medicaid.

In order to qualify, families must earn less than 255% of the federal poverty level or about $5,663 a month for a family of three and meet other eligibility criteria.

In addition to children’s coverage, pregnant women whose income is too high for TennCare may also receive maternity coverage through CoverKids.

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

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.

Co-pays are waived for families earning at or below 85% of the federal poverty level. For example, a family of three earning $3,331 per month qualifies for assistance with no co-pay.

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 $6,113 a 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.

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.

Income eligible households are those at or below 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). Use the chart of household income limits below to see if you are eligible.

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, along with all necessary verification, must be submitted through the designated LIHEAP agency  in your area.

Tennessee Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)

NOTICE: Funding is no longer available for LIHWAP. Households may not receive LIHWAP benefits at this time.

Tennessee LIHWAP is designed to assist eligible low income households in meeting their immediate water and wastewater needs, in the form of a one-time payment.

In order to qualify for LIHWAP, households must have an income equal to or less than 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). Priority will be given to households that have been disconnected or are at risk of being disconnected.

If you qualify for the program, you will receive a credit of up to $250 as long as you owe at least $10 on your water bill. If your bill exceeds this amount, you may be credited for larger amount.

How do I get help with my water bill in Tennessee?

If you are in danger of falling behind on your water bills and need help, you may submit your application, along with all necessary verifications, through the designated LIHWAP agency  that serves your area.

Tennessee Unemployment Insurance

Tennesseans who have lost their job or had their work time altered by Hurricane Helene are eligible to receive Disaster Unemployment Assistance. To apply, click here  or call (877) 813-0950 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. on weekdays.

Tennessee Unemployment Insurance provides temporary jobless benefits to eligible workers who lost their job through no fault of their own.

In order to be eligible for unemployment benefits, you must have earned a minimum amount of wages in a recent ‘base period ’ and must have:

1. earned at least $780 in each of two quarters during the base period, including your highest-paid quarter, AND
2. earned at least $900 in the second highest quarter OR wages equal to at least 6 times your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA), AND
3. total base-period wages of at least 40 times your Weekly Benefit Amount (WBA).

If your calculated WBA is $200, your total base-period wages must be at least $8,000 (40 × $200), and your second-highest quarter wages must be $900 or more, or at least $1,200 (6 × $200).

How much unemployment benefits can I get in Tennessee?

Depending on how much you have earned in your base period, you may receive up to $325 per week for a maximum of 12 weeks of unemployment benefits per year.

How do I file my weekly unemployment claim in Tennessee?

You can apply for UI benefits either online through the official Jobs4TN.gov  portal or by phone by calling one of the following phone numbers listed below:

If you are filing your weekly claim, you must answer a few certification questions online about the past week’s job search and earnings.

Tennessee Student Assistance Award (TSAA)

Tennessee Student Assistance Award is a state-funded grant program that provides non-repayable financial aid to 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 $3,500 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.

To receive priority consideration, you are strongly encouraged to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) as soon as possible after October 1 each year.

Tennessee Promise Scholarship

High school seniors in Tennessee may apply for the Tennessee Promise Scholarship , which will provide two years of free tuition attendance at any of Tennessee’s 13 community colleges and 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, with the exception of federal loans and work-study, has been applied.

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, attend a mandatory meeting, and complete 16 hours of community service each year to be eligible for the award.

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 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 deadline date.