TANF Cash Assistance
Last updated August 2026
TANF is Georgia's monthly cash help for families with children, and honesty helps: the grants are small. A family of three gets at most $280 a month, a family of four $330. Apply at Georgia Gateway, by phone at (877) 423-4746, or by mailing Form 297 to your county DFCS.
The gates are tight. Gross income must be under $784 a month for a family of three. Countable assets must be under $1,000. And Georgia's lifetime limit is 48 months, shorter than the federal 60, counting TANF months from other states since 1997. A hardship waiver exists; ask if you are near the limit.
An application counts as filed once DFCS has the head of household's name, address, date, and a signature. File first, perfect it later.
The work requirement is real: 30 hours a week of work activities for every work-eligible adult, and refusing without good cause denies or ends the whole family's case. A single parent with an infant can be exempt up to 3 months per child. Pregnant women can qualify for TANF too.
If the numbers rule you out, the same Gateway application reaches SNAP at far higher incomes ($2,888 a month for a family of three) and checks the kids for Medicaid and PeachCare. Appeals: request a fair hearing within 30 days of the notice, and within 14 days to keep cash flowing during the appeal.
Phone 1-877-423-4746
Updated August 2026 Program details can change — confirm with the program directly.
Who qualifies
- Families with children under 18 (or 18 and in school full time) and pregnant women; a family of three must have gross income below $784 a month and countable assets under $1,000
- Most adult caregivers must participate in work activities at least 30 hours a week and cooperate with child support enforcement
You may qualify. The program makes the final decision.
How to apply
- 1
Apply at gateway.ga.gov (weekdays 5 a.m. to midnight), call (877) 423-4746, or mail Form 297 to your county DFCS.
- 2
File even with a bare application: name, address, date, and signature start the clock.
- 3
Bring proof: ID, income under the ceiling for your family size, and assets under $1,000.
- 4
Plan for the 30-hour weekly work activity requirement, and tell the worker about an infant at home or a disability; exemptions exist.
- 5
Ask where you stand on Georgia's 48-month lifetime clock, which counts other states' TANF since 1997.
- 6
Near the limit with a hardship? Ask about the lifetime-limit waiver.
- 7
Denied or cut? Request a fair hearing within 30 days; within 14 days keeps benefits during the appeal.
What the application looks like
Common questions
How much is TANF in Georgia?
Up to $155 a month for one person, $235 for two, $280 for three, $330 for four, $378 for five. The table has been stable for years; the March 2026 policy manual confirms it.
What are the income and asset limits?
Gross income under $435 a month for one person, $659 for two, $784 for three, $925 for four, plus countable assets under $1,000.
How long can I get TANF in Georgia?
48 months in a lifetime, stricter than the federal 60, and months received in other states since January 1997 count. Hardship waivers exist for qualifying families.
What is the work requirement?
At least 30 hours a week of work activities and training for every work-eligible parent, pregnant woman, and grantee relative. Refusing without good cause ends the whole case. A single parent with an infant can be exempt up to 3 months per child.
Can pregnant women get TANF?
Yes, pregnant women are an eligible group alongside families with children under 18.
How do I appeal?
DFCS must receive your fair hearing request, spoken or written, within 30 days of the decision notice. Request within 14 days and cash continues during the appeal, decided by an administrative law judge.
Not sure this is the right program for your situation?
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