Families with a low income often find it difficult to meet expenses for housing, education, food, and other necessities. To make things easier for such families, the country’s federal and state agencies have introduced several financial assistance programs. One such program is the Temporary Cash Assistance Program, also called TCA. Low-income families can consider applying for this program to improve their quality of life, provided they meet the set eligibility criteria.

About Temporary Cash Assistance programs
Families that need emergency cash assistance now can apply for the Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) program. Each state may have its own version of this program, offering similar benefits but using a different name.

Program duration
Most TCA programs have a lifetime limit of 5 years or 60 months, so one cannot receive cash benefits for more than this period. It is possible to get on and off the TCA program as many times as needed, but the total duration of the benefits cannot exceed 60 months. One exception to this rule is when a person applies for a hardship exemption.

The amounts disbursed in the form of TCA benefits usually change every year. The benefit amounts also vary based on the circumstance of the household and the individual applicant and can be different in different states. Besides a cash allowance, many TCA programs provide job training to eligible participants to prepare them for financial independence.

Basic eligibility requirements
Families wanting to apply for cash assistance programs must meet specific eligibility requirements. For instance, the family’s total income should be below a certain threshold. In some cases, even minors may be able to apply if they reside with a single parent or another guardian who is also their caregiver. That said, the child may have to be a full-time high school student. A woman who is pregnant and has no other previous children can also apply for cash assistance.

A critical eligibility requirement is that the applicant must be a citizen of the country. Even legal immigrants may qualify, provided they meet all the conditions and rules of the program. Since every state may have its own additional eligibility criteria, one must visit the state’s official Department of Human Services (DHS) website for details.

Income eligibility requirements
TCA programs have strict income requirements. To qualify, an individual’s net income from any source should be lower than the limit specified by the program. The limit is calculated after specific deductions like payments for child care, 20% of earned income, and so on.

The net income is calculated based on the household’s total income in many states. A household may not be eligible for assistance if its total net income is more than the maximum possible amount payable for the specific family size. Besides, in most cases, the state’s Department of Human Services might offer the TCA benefits only if the household is eligible for receiving $10 or more.

The income requirements vary from state to state and can change annually. Since these amounts keep on changing, it is always advisable to contact the local DHS to get the most accurate information before applying for the TCA benefits.

Asset eligibility requirements
In most cases, states do not look at the resources or assets of the applicant while determining their eligibility for the TCA benefits. But there can be a cap on the total value of the assets or resources for sponsored immigrants. For most applicants who are sponsored immigrants, this cap can be around $2,000. The local DHS office can offer more information and guidelines regarding asset eligibility in the specific state.

Application process
Those wanting to apply for cash assistance programs can find information regarding the application process on the official website of the local DHS. Each state has a different application form that can be downloaded from the official website, printed, and then filled out for submission. One may also be able to apply for hardship assistance online directly through the website.

Before applying, one must check their eligibility status by using the eligibility benefits calculator available on the official website of each state’s DHS.

Appeals
TCA programs are, in general, quite complex. Applicants must follow many rules and meet stringent eligibility criteria to qualify for full benefits. Also, these rules tend to vary from one place to another. That’s why not all applicants become successful recipients. There are often instances of rejections, denial, and termination or reduction of benefits. In such situations, applicants can send an appeal through an attorney after seeking legal consultation.

Applicants can appeal against any action or decision the DHS has taken, whether denial, benefit reduction, or termination. Also, if the DHS has not provided a decision on an appeal within 30 days, the applicant may get a sanction, provided they have given a good cause or reason in their appeal.