What is Temporary Cash Assistance?

Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) provides financial assistance to families with children under the age of 18, or under age 19 if full-time secondary school students, to help them meet their basic needs. The program is designed to help families become self-supporting while allowing children to remain in their own homes.

TCA is part of the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program and is administered in Florida by the Department of Children and Families (DCF).

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for TCA in Florida, you must meet several requirements:

Family Composition

You must be a family with children under age 18 (or under 19 if full-time secondary school students) and be one of the following:

• A parent living with your child(ren)
• A caretaker relative (such as a grandparent, aunt, uncle) living with related child(ren)
• A pregnant woman in her 9th month of pregnancy (or 3rd trimester if medically verified as high risk)

Residency and Citizenship

• You must be a Florida resident
• You must be a U.S. citizen or have qualified immigration status
• Children must be U.S. citizens or have qualified immigration status

Income and Resources

Your family must have low income and limited assets:

• Gross income must be less than 185% of the federal poverty level
• Countable assets must be $2,000 or less
• One vehicle up to $8,500 in value is excluded from the asset limit

Work Requirements

Most TCA recipients must participate in work activities unless they qualify for an exemption. Work requirements include:

• Registering with the CareerSource center in your area
• Participating in work activities for a specified number of hours per week
• Accepting suitable employment if offered
• Not quitting a job without good cause

Exemptions from work requirements may be granted for:

• Single parents with a child under 3 months old
• Individuals with a temporary or permanent disability
• Caregivers for a disabled family member
• Individuals over age 62

Child Support Cooperation

You must cooperate with child support enforcement to establish paternity and obtain child support from absent parents, unless you have good cause for not cooperating (such as domestic violence concerns).

Time Limits

TCA is a time-limited program. In Florida:

• Families can receive TCA for a maximum of 48 months (4 years) in their lifetime
• The months do not have to be consecutive
• Months in which only the children (not the adults) receive benefits do not count toward the time limit
• Hardship extensions may be available in certain circumstances

Benefit Amounts

TCA payment amounts depend on your family size, income, and other factors. The maximum monthly payment amounts are:

Your actual payment may be less than the maximum amount if you have other income. Some income is disregarded (not counted) when calculating your benefit amount, including:

• The first $200 plus 50% of the remainder of earned income
• Child support payments up to $50 per month
• Certain educational income

Required Documentation

When applying for TCA, you may need to provide the following documents:

Identity and Citizenship

• Birth certificates for all family members
• Social Security cards or proof of application
• Driver's license or state ID
• Immigration documents (if applicable)

Residency

• Lease agreement or mortgage statement
• Utility bills
• Other proof of Florida residency

Income and Resources

• Pay stubs from the last 4 weeks
• Self-employment records
• Child support payment records
• Bank statements
• Vehicle registration
• Property deeds

Relationship and Household Composition

• Birth certificates showing relationship
• School records
• Medical records
• Court documents (custody, guardianship, etc.)

How to Apply

You can apply for TCA in Florida through several methods:

After You Apply

After submitting your application, the following steps will occur:

1. Interview: You will be required to complete an interview, which can be done by phone or in person.
2. Verification: DCF will verify the information provided in your application.
3. Decision: You will receive a notice of eligibility determination, typically within 30 days of your application date.
4. Work Registration: If approved, you will need to register with your local CareerSource center for work activities (unless exempt).
5. EBT Card: Your benefits will be issued on an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card, which works like a debit card.