What Your State Calls TANF and How to Find It
TANF has a different name in every state, and you need the right one to find your local office
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is the federal program, but your state runs it under its own name. In California it's CalWORKs. In New York it's Family Assistance. In Texas it's TANF itself, but the office that handles it might be called something else entirely. Searching for "TANF near me" often returns nothing because the program you need goes by a state-specific name that local search engines recognize.
The fastest way to find your state's version is to call 211 (a free helpline) and say you're looking for cash assistance for families. They will tell you the exact name your state uses and connect you to the right office. If you prefer to search online, your state's human services or social services department website lists the program by its local name, along with the county or regional offices that handle it.
Key Takeaways
- Every state names TANF differently—California calls it CalWORKs, New York calls it Family Assistance, and searching for the federal name often returns no results.
- Calling 211 is the fastest way to learn your state's program name and get connected to your local office without navigating a website.
- Your state's human services department website lists the program under its local name, usually with a direct link to county or regional offices.
- Some states split TANF into separate programs for different family situations, so the name you need depends on whether you have children, are pregnant, or are caring for a relative.
State program names and where to find them
Below are the names most states use for their TANF programs. Your state may also have separate programs for specific situations—for example, a program for pregnant women or kinship caregivers—so check your state's full list to see if more than one applies to you.
| State | TANF Program Name | Where to Look |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Family Assistance | Alabama Department of Human Resources |
| Alaska | Temporary Assistance Program (TAP) | Alaska Department of Health and Social Services |
| Arizona | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Arizona Department of Economic Security |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Works | Arkansas Department of Human Services |
| California | CalWORKs | California Department of Social Services |
| Colorado | Colorado Works (CWORK) | Colorado Department of Human Services |
| Connecticut | Jobs First | Connecticut Department of Social Services |
| Delaware | Temporary Assistance Program (TAP) | Delaware Department of Health and Social Services |
| Florida | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Florida Department of Children and Families |
| Georgia | Temporary Assistance Program (TAP) | Georgia Department of Human Services |
| Hawaii | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Hawaii Department of Human Services |
| Idaho | Family Assistance Program (FAP) | Idaho Department of Health and Welfare |
| Illinois | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Illinois Department of Human Services |
| Indiana | Temporary Assistance Program (TAP) | Indiana Family and Social Services Administration |
| Iowa | Family Investment Program (FIP) | Iowa Department of Human Services |
| Kansas | Temporary Assistance for Families in Kansas (TAFK) | Kansas Department for Children and Families |
| Kentucky | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Kentucky Department for Community Based Services |
| Louisiana | Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) | Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services |
| Maine | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Maine Department of Health and Human Services |
| Maryland | Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) | Maryland Department of Human Services |
| Massachusetts | Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) | Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance |
| Michigan | Family Independence Program (FIP) | Michigan Department of Health and Human Services |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) | Minnesota Department of Human Services |
| Mississippi | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Mississippi Department of Human Services |
| Missouri | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Missouri Department of Social Services |
| Montana | Family Assistance Program (FAP) | Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services |
| Nebraska | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services |
| Nevada | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Nevada Department of Health and Human Services |
| New Hampshire | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services |
| New Jersey | Work First New Jersey | New Jersey Department of Human Services |
| New Mexico | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | New Mexico Human Services Department |
| New York | Family Assistance Program (FAP) | New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance |
| North Carolina | Work First Program | North Carolina Department of Social Services |
| North Dakota | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | North Dakota Department of Human Services |
| Ohio | Ohio Works First (OWF) | Ohio Department of Job and Family Services |
| Oklahoma | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Oklahoma Department of Human Services |
| Oregon | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Oregon Department of Human Services |
| Pennsylvania | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Pennsylvania Department of Human Services |
| Rhode Island | Family Independence Program (FIP) | Rhode Island Department of Human Services |
| South Carolina | Family Independence Program (FIP) | South Carolina Department of Social Services |
| South Dakota | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | South Dakota Department of Social Services |
| Tennessee | Families First Program | Tennessee Department of Human Services |
| Texas | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Texas Health and Human Services Commission |
| Utah | Family Employment Program (FEP) | Utah Department of Human Services |
| Vermont | Reach Up Program | Vermont Department for Children and Families |
| Virginia | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Virginia Department of Social Services |
| Washington | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Washington Department of Social and Health Services |
| West Virginia | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Works (W-2) | Wisconsin Department of Children and Families |
| Wyoming | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) | Wyoming Department of Family Services |
How to find your local office once you know the program name
Once you have your state's program name, the next step is finding the county or regional office that serves your area. Most state human services websites have a county-by-county directory, or you can search "[program name] [your county] office" to find the phone number and address.
Many offices now let you start the process online through your state's benefits portal, though you will still need to speak with someone by phone or in person to complete it. Your state's website will show you what documents to bring and whether you can start online or need to visit in person.
What to do if you cannot find your state's program
If you search your state's human services website and cannot locate the program by name, call 211 and tell them you are looking for cash assistance for families. They have access to current program names and can tell you immediately whether your state runs TANF, what it is called, and which office serves your address.
You can also contact your state's human services department directly—the main phone number is usually on their website—and ask for the TANF program office. State staff can direct you to the right place even if you do not know the local program name.
Programs for specific situations within TANF
Some states run separate programs or tracks within TANF for people in different circumstances. For example, a few states have a separate program for pregnant women, or for kinship caregivers (relatives raising children who are not their own). These programs may have their own names and may be listed separately on your state's website.
When you call your local office or visit the state website, ask whether there are other programs you might be may be able to access for besides the main TANF program. This is especially important if you do not have custody of the children you are caring for, or if you are pregnant and do not yet have a child in your household.
What information you will need when you contact your local office
Before you call or visit, have ready the names and birthdates of everyone in your household, your Social Security number, and proof of your address (a utility bill or lease). You will also need to know your income from the past month and any child support you receive or pay.
The office will ask about your situation—whether you are working, whether you have childcare costs, whether anyone in your household has a disability, and what your monthly expenses are. Having this information ready will make the conversation faster and help the staff person understand what you need.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my state call TANF something completely different?
States design their own TANF programs within federal guidelines, so they choose their own names. Some states kept names from older welfare programs that existed before TANF, while others created new names to reflect their program's focus on work or family support. The federal government funds all of them the same way, but the names are state-specific.
Can I search for TANF online if I do not know my state's program name?
Searching "TANF" often returns federal information rather than your state's program. Instead, search "[your state] cash assistance for families" or "[your state] temporary assistance program." You can also go directly to your state's human services or social services department website and look for a programs or services section.
What if I live in a territory instead of a state?
U.S. territories including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and American Samoa all run TANF programs, though they may have different names and rules. Call