WFNJ/TANF Explained: NJ Cash Assistance for Families
WFNJ/TANF Explained: Cash Assistance for New Jersey Families
Families who are struggling to pay for basic expenses may be able to receive temporary cash assistance through Work First New Jersey/Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, usually called WFNJ/TANF.
TANF is the part of Work First New Jersey designed for eligible families with dependent children. It provides monthly cash assistance while also connecting families with services such as child care, transportation, job preparation, education, and employment support.
WFNJ also has a separate General Assistance (GA) program for eligible adults and couples without dependent children.
WFNJ/TANF at a Glance
| Program Feature | WFNJ/TANF |
|---|---|
| Who it generally serves | Eligible low-income families with dependent children |
| Main benefit | Monthly cash assistance |
| Resource limit | Generally $2,000 |
| Standard work requirement | 35 hours per week for participants who are not deferred |
| Benefit time limit | Generally 60 months during an adult recipient's lifetime |
| Benefit delivery | Families First EBT card |
| Other possible help | Child care, transportation, job training, work expenses, housing assistance, and other support services |
| Where to apply | MyNJHelps or a County Social Service Agency |
Who May Qualify for WFNJ/TANF?
WFNJ/TANF is generally intended for families with dependent children who have limited income and resources.
The county considers several factors when deciding eligibility, including:
- Household size
- Income from work
- Child support
- Unemployment or Social Security income
- Bank accounts and other resources
- Citizenship or qualifying immigration status
- Social Security numbers
- Household relationships
- Child-support requirements
Resources with cash value, such as bank accounts, bonds, or property that is not your primary residence, generally cannot total more than $2,000.
There is not one simple income number that determines eligibility. New Jersey applies detailed rules to determine which income counts and how earnings affect the cash grant.
If you are unsure whether you qualify, you can still apply and allow your County Social Service Agency to make the official determination.
How Much Cash Assistance Can a Family Receive?
The amount depends on the number of people included in the TANF assistance unit and the household's countable income.
New Jersey's current maximum benefit payment levels include:
| People in Assistance Unit | Maximum Monthly TANF Payment |
|---|---|
| 1 | $214 |
| 2 | $425 |
| 3 | $559 |
| 4 | $644 |
| 5 | $728 |
| 6 | $814 |
These are maximum amounts, not guaranteed payments. Income and other circumstances can reduce the actual benefit a household receives.
For families larger than six, New Jersey's benefit schedule provides additional amounts based on household size.
How Are TANF Benefits Paid?
Approved cash assistance is generally issued through a Families First EBT card.
This is the same type of electronic benefit card used for NJ SNAP, although SNAP food benefits and WFNJ cash benefits are separate balances.
Keep the card and PIN secure and report a lost or stolen card promptly.
Are There Work Requirements?
WFNJ is designed as a temporary program that helps recipients move toward employment and financial independence.
TANF recipients who are subject to the work requirement generally must participate in a job, approved work activity, or combination of activities for 35 hours per week.
A case manager works with the participant to develop an Individual Responsibility Plan, or IRP. The plan identifies employment goals, required activities, and support services that may help the person participate.
Approved activities may include:
- Paid employment
- Job search and job-readiness activities
- Work-experience programs
- Adult basic education
- High school equivalency preparation
- Vocational or job-skills training
- Certain college education
- Mental health or substance-use treatment when appropriate
Can Someone Be Excused From the Work Requirement?
Yes. New Jersey calls this a deferral.
A person may be temporarily excused from work activities in certain circumstances, including:
- Being age 62 or older
- Reaching the seventh month of pregnancy
- Having certain pregnancy complications
- Caring for a child younger than 12 weeks
- Having a physical or mental condition that prevents work
- Providing full-time care for a family member with a disability
- Being determined chronically unemployable
- Experiencing family violence
Documentation may be required.
If you believe you cannot meet the work requirement, explain your situation to your County Social Service Agency rather than simply missing assigned activities.
What Support Services Can TANF Provide?
TANF is more than a monthly cash payment.
Depending on your circumstances and approved activities, WFNJ may help with:
Child Care
TANF participants may receive child-care assistance so they can work, look for employment, or participate in an approved activity.
New Jersey states that a participant should not be required to begin a work activity until appropriate child care is available.
Transportation
Assistance may be available for transportation connected to work, job search, approved activities, or taking a child to and from child care.
Work-Related Expenses
WFNJ may provide vouchers for certain expenses needed to obtain or keep employment, such as:
- Uniforms
- Tools
- Books
- Supplies
- Professional testing
- Licensing expenses
New Jersey currently allows up to $500 in work-expense vouchers during a person's time receiving cash assistance.
Emergency Housing Assistance
Some WFNJ recipients experiencing homelessness, eviction, foreclosure, or utility shutoff may also qualify for Emergency Assistance.
This can include help with shelter, temporary rental assistance, back rent, utilities, security deposits, or certain other housing costs.
How Does Child Support Work With TANF?
Families requesting TANF for a dependent child generally must cooperate with New Jersey's child-support program.
You may be asked to provide information about the child's other parent, including information such as:
- Name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Social Security number, if known
- Employer information
While receiving TANF, child support collected is generally assigned to the state. However, the family may receive up to:
- $100 per month of collected child support for one child
- $200 per month for two or more children
After the family stops receiving cash assistance, it generally receives the full amount of ongoing child support collected.
What If Contacting the Other Parent Would Be Unsafe?
Tell your eligibility or child-support worker.
New Jersey allows good-cause exceptions from child-support cooperation in certain circumstances, including family violence or risk of harm.
Do not put yourself or your children at risk because you believe TANF always requires contact with the other parent. Ask the county about the Family Violence Option and good-cause process.
How Long Can a Family Receive TANF?
WFNJ cash assistance is generally limited to 60 months during an adult recipient's lifetime.
The months do not have to be consecutive.
For example, if someone receives TANF for two years, gets a job, and leaves the program, the remaining time may still be available if the family needs help again later.
Certain people may qualify for exemptions or extensions beyond the normal limit. Examples can include people with permanent disabilities, some full-time caregivers, older adults, people determined chronically unemployable, and people affected by family violence.
Recipients approaching 48 months may receive additional assistance through the Supportive Assistance to Individuals and Families, or SAIF, program.
What Happens When You Get a Job?
Starting work does not always mean that TANF ends immediately.
Through Paycheck Plus, a participant working at least 20 hours per week may be able to keep some cash assistance while earnings increase.
New Jersey currently provides:
- The full cash benefit during the first month of employment
- A 75% earned-income disregard for the following six months
- A 50% earned-income disregard after that until income becomes too high for continued eligibility
Some TANF recipients who transition off cash assistance may also qualify for Supplemental Work Support, which can provide $200 per month for up to 24 months when program requirements are met.
Other transitional help may include child care and transportation assistance.
How Do You Apply?
You can apply for WFNJ/TANF through MyNJHelps or through your local County Social Service Agency.
The application process generally includes:
- Submitting an application
- Completing a phone or in-person interview
- Providing documents that verify your household, income, resources, identity, and other eligibility information
- Waiting for the county's eligibility decision
In most cases, the county has up to 30 days after the application is submitted to make a TANF or General Assistance decision.
For a complete walkthrough, see How to Apply for Work First New Jersey Cash Assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is TANF the same as Work First New Jersey?
TANF is one part of Work First New Jersey. WFNJ/TANF serves eligible families with dependent children. WFNJ/General Assistance serves eligible adults and couples without dependent children.
Can I receive SNAP and TANF together?
Yes. A household may qualify for both programs. SNAP provides food benefits, while TANF provides cash assistance.
Does getting a job immediately end TANF?
Not necessarily. New Jersey has earned-income rules designed to gradually reduce assistance as a participant begins working.
Do I have to cooperate with child support?
Generally, yes, when requesting TANF for a dependent child. However, good-cause exceptions may be available when cooperation could create safety concerns or in certain other circumstances.
What if I cannot work because of a medical condition?
Tell your County Social Service Agency. You may qualify for a temporary or longer-term deferral from work activities and may be asked to provide medical documentation.