Tennessee's Families First program serves as a lifeline for families across the state who are dealing with financial challenges. Designed with the unique needs of Tennesseans in mind, Families First offers temporary financial assistance to households with dependent children, aiming to cover essential needs while paving the way toward self-reliance through employment opportunities. The program's core mission extends beyond providing immediate aid—it works to give families the necessary skills and resources for a sustainable and independent future.

At the heart of Families First is a strong focus on work, education, and personal accountability, motivating participants to take part in job training, educational pursuits, and work activities. This strategy underscores Tennessee's dedication to helping families move from dependency on aid to achieving independence, highlighting Families First as a fundamental force in creating self-supporting communities throughout the state.

Eligibility Requirements

In order to apply for Tennessee's Families First program, you'll need to meet certain eligibility requirements. This includes:

Family Needs and Composition: The program is open to families facing financial hardship due to certain circumstances, such as a parent's absence, death, incapacity, or unemployment. Families with children under 18 (or under 19 if the child is still in high school) are eligible to apply.

Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP): Applicants must agree to a PRP, which includes ensuring children's immunizations and health checks are up-to-date, maintaining regular school attendance for children, cooperating with child support services, and participating in work or training activities for at least 30 hours per week if not exempt.

Documentation Required: When applying, you'll need to provide several documents, including Social Security cards for all household members, identification, proof of citizenship or legal residency, proof of your relationship to the children in your care, and documentation of your income, assets, and residency. Additionally, school attendance records and health records for children will be needed.

Work Requirement: Unless exempt, participants are required to do work activities. This might involve collaborating with an Employment and Case Management Services provider to develop a family empowerment plan focused on achieving employment goals and self-sufficiency.

Special Cases: "Child only cases" allow for a relative who is not the parent to apply for benefits for the child without including themselves in the case, meaning their income won't affect the child's eligibility.

The Families First program is designed to support families in their time of need while encouraging steps towards self-sufficiency. It's important to note that Families First benefits are time-limited to 60 months over a participant's lifetime, with certain exceptions for relatives caring for related children.

Using the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) Card

In Tennessee, Families First benefits are paid using an Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) card, which works similar to a regular debit card. Each month, the cash benefits you're eligible for are loaded onto this card. You can use your EBT card to buy things your family needs, like food and clothes, at stores that accept it, just like you would with a bank card. You can also use it to withdraw cash from ATMs.

This EBT card makes it easy and safe for families to access and use their benefits without having to carry cash around, giving families a convenient way to manage their assistance funds.

Families First Application Instructions

Applying for Tennessee's Families First program is your first step towards getting benefits and working towards self-sufficiency. There are a couple of ways to apply, making it flexible for your needs.

Online Application: For a quick and streamlined process, you can apply online through the One DHS Customer Portal. This online tool allows you to fill out your application, review your case, and upload any documents needed for verification. It's a convenient way to manage your application and can `lead` to faster processing times. You can also apply for other services, like SNAP and Child Care Payment Assistance, through the same portal.

Printed Application: If you prefer or need a paper application, you can download one from the Tennessee Department of Human Services website or pick one up from your local TDHS office. The application is available in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Arabic, and Somali, along with instructions to help you fill it out correctly.

Once you've completed your printed application, there are two ways to submit it: hand it in to your local county DHS office, or mail it to:

Family Assistance Division Department of Human Services

P.O. Box 620001

Memphis, TN 38181

Remember, using the online portal or dropping off your application at a DHS office can speed up the processing time compared to mailing it. Whichever method you choose, it's important to only send copies of your personal documents and keep the originals, as mailed documents may not be returned.

Tennessee's Families First program provides financial aid and support for families in need, focusing on work, education, and personal growth to foster independence. With temporary cash benefits and a Personal Responsibility Plan, it guides participants towards stable jobs and self-reliance, offering both immediate support and long-term empowerment.