Temporary Assistance for Needy Families:
TANF is designed to provide Temporary Assistance for Needy Families to care for dependent children in their own homes or in the homes of relative care-givers. TANF provides Financial and Support Services such as CHILD CARE, TRANSPORTATION and Other Services.
Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) 2nd Issuance
All Nevada TANF households eligible in the month of May 2022, will receive a one-time automatic payment of $397 for each child determined eligible on the household's case in the month of May 2022. This benefit will be issued as a cash payment and is anticipated to be deposited onto the current Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card linked to the case in the month of August 2022. If you do not currently have an EBT card, please be sure to visit your local DWSS office and provide proof of ID to obtain a replacement card. The intent of this payment is to assist families with children with school and/or winter clothing needs to help alleviate some of the additional burdens resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund (PEAF) payment will not be counted in your Nevada SNAP or Nevada Medicaid case as income. PEAF benefits are funded through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021.
TANF - General Information
Regulations and Laws:
The TANF Program is administered based on various laws and regulations and governed by the Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Program changes and instructions are received several ways, including Information Memoranda, Action Transmittals and the Code of Federal Regulations updates.
The following is a partial list of regulatory sources:
- Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996
- Title IV-A of the Social Security Act
- Part 45 of the Code of Federal Regulations
- Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 422
- Court Ordered Actions
- The Deficit Reduction of 2005
TANF History:

The program is administered by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) through state and local
government agencies within certain broad federal requirements and guidelines. On August 22, 1996, President
Clinton signed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA). This law
eliminated the open-ended federal entitlement program of AFDC and created a block grant for states to provide
time-limited cash assistance for needy families. The new program is called
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
The
goals of TANF are to provide assistance to low-income families with
children so they can be cared for in their own home, reduce dependency
by promoting job preparation, reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies and
encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families. States
had until July 1, 1997 to submit a TANF state plan and initiate block
grant funding; however, states were permitted to implement the state
plan grant immediately after allowing a 45-day public comment period.
States which opted for early implementation had to abide by the
mandatory requirements of the Act. These include a 60-month lifetime
time limit on receipt of benefits, increased work participation
requirements, mandatory sanctions for failure to participate in work
requirements and failure to cooperate with the Child Support Enforcement
Program, and living arrangement and school attendance requirements for
minor parents. Nevada implemented TANF beginning January 1, 1997.
On February 1, 1997, state welfare reform measures passed during the 1995 legislative session were implemented.
These included exempting the total value of one vehicle, increasing the resource limit to $2,000 and allowing
100% and 50% earned income disregards.
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TANF Eligibility:
See the TANF Fact & FAQ section for Eligibility Information.
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