Hawaii TANF (Cash Assistance)
Last updated August 2026
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, is Hawaii's monthly cash help for low-income families that include a minor child living with a caretaker relative. The program sets the payment amount. Apply online through the Public Assistance Information System at pais.dhs.hawaii.gov, or with the paper DHS 1240 form at a Benefit Processing Center. For help, call 1-855-643-1643.
Families with mixed or non-citizen status may not fit federal TANF. Hawaii runs a state-funded program, Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF), that gives the same benefits to families who would have qualified under the older rules.
The income lines use Hawaii's frozen 2006 poverty figures. A family's gross monthly income must be below 185 percent of the 2006 level, about $2,941 for a family of three, and adjusted net income must be below 100 percent of that level, about $1,590 for the same family. Assets are not counted at all, a rule in place since April 2013.
Watch the clock, because it is a hard cap. A family can get no more than 60 months of TANF or TAONF cash in a lifetime. Treat each month as scarce.
TANF is built around work. As a condition of getting help, most families take part in the First-To-Work program, which offers training, job search, placement, case management, and support such as child care and transportation help. Families also give Social Security numbers and cooperate with child support enforcement when a child has an absent parent.
The cash can go toward food, clothing, housing, utilities, and daily needs, loaded on the Hawaii EBT card or by direct deposit. Getting TANF also opens the door to SNAP and Med-QUEST, so apply for those at the same time, and dial 2-1-1 for local funds while your case is reviewed.
Phone 1-855-643-1643
Help available in English and Spanish.
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Families with a minor child living with a caretaker relative, whose gross monthly income is below 185 percent of the 2006 federal poverty level (about $2,941 for a family of three) and adjusted net income below 100 percent of the 2006 level (about $1,590 for a family of three). Assets are not counted
- Cash assistance is limited to 60 months in a lifetime. Most adults must take part in the First-To-Work program, and families must furnish Social Security numbers and cooperate with child support enforcement
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply online at pais.dhs.hawaii.gov, or file the paper DHS 1240 form at a Benefit Processing Center.
- 2
Show that a minor child lives with a caretaker relative in your home.
- 3
Bring proof of income; assets are not counted.
- 4
Plan to take part in the First-To-Work program as a condition of eligibility.
- 5
Apply for SNAP and Med-QUEST at the same time to save a step.
What to have ready
- ID and Social Security numbers for the family
- Proof of your gross and net monthly income
- Proof that a related minor child lives with you. Your processing center confirms the full list.
What the application looks like
Common questions
Who qualifies for Hawaii TANF?
Families with a minor child living with a caretaker relative, whose gross income is below 185 percent of the 2006 poverty level, about $2,941 for a family of three. Assets are not counted.
How long can I get it?
No more than 60 months in a lifetime for TANF or TAONF cash together. Most adults must also take part in the First-To-Work program.
What if my family has non-citizen members?
You may qualify for the state-funded TAONF program, which gives the same benefits to families who would have qualified under the older rules.
How do I apply?
Online at pais.dhs.hawaii.gov, or with the paper DHS 1240 form at a Benefit Processing Center. For help, call 1-855-643-1643.
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