Description

Provides temporary financial assistance to income-eligible families caring for related children under 18 (or if 18, will graduate from high school before age 19) who need support due to death, disability, absence of parent(s), and unemployment. Offers limited aid to unrelated children. In addition, the TANF program was designed to dramatically reform the nation's welfare system by helping recipients become self-sufficient and turning welfare into a program of temporary assistance. A monthly cash payment is distributed to eligible families to meet their basic needs. The program is based upon the principles of personal responsibility, time-limited assistance, and work in exchange for benefits. TANF is the cash assistance component of the Virginia Independence Program (VIP) that helps families work toward their goal of total independence. TANF-UP provides assistance to families in which both parents are unemployed and in financial need. Both parents are evaluated for participation in the VIEW employment program. A component of TANF that has assisted families is the Diversionary Assistance Program. It is intended to prevent potential TANF recipients from becoming ongoing TANF recipients. If immediate intervention with short-term aid will resolve a crisis situation and prevent the need for ongoing TANF, this component is available to some applicants.

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