Cash Assistance Programs in Georgia

Cash Assistance Programs in Georgia

Finances can be hard to manage. With today’s living costs rising all over the world, it is no surprise that budgeting for a household is more challenging than ever.
Factors including inflation, increase in prices of utilities, food, and other commodities in the market, as well as changes in economic policies post-pandemic all contribute to the heavy burden on the average family and minimum wage earners.
Financial freedom may seem impossible, but government fiscal programs provide support and assistance to individuals who need it. This assistance comes in the form of monetary compensation given to beneficiaries who require extra income to pay bills and meet other needs every day.
The State of Georgia is one of those providing cash assistance initiatives to its constituents in need. In this article, we’ll guide you on the details of the different financial programs and how to apply to each of them.
Here are some of the financial assistance programs in Georgia:

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Georgia’s TANF is a monthly cash allowance program for low-income families and is offered in conjunction with the Department of Human Services, Georgia, and the Child Support Services Division. Because one of its main goals is for the beneficiary to become self-sufficient, it also has an employment services requirement for applicants to be eligible.

Who qualifies to apply?

You are eligible to apply for the TANF program in Georgia if:

1. You are a U.S. citizen, legal alien, or qualified alien
2. You are a resident of Georgia
3. You are underemployed and have a meager income (meeting financial criteria based on established limits) or unemployed

In addition to the above requirements, you also need to be either:

1. Pregnant
2. A parent at the age of 18 or younger
3. A head of the household at the age of 18

How can I apply?

You can print a downloadable form from the Division of Family and Children Services (DFCS) website, fill it out and send the application to your local DFCS office. You can also apply for the benefits online through https://gateway.ga.gov, or you may opt to apply via phone by calling the Customer Contact Center at (877) 423-4746.

How long does it take?

The application process starts when the DFCS office receives the address, date of filing, name, and signature from the household head. Then, a DFCS staff will contact you for an interview to determine if you are eligible. It takes 30 days to receive the TANF benefits upon receipt of the application for approval.

Do I need to pay the money back?

No. TANF recipients do not need to pay the money back unless resulting from an overpayment made by the DFCS. If you are still receiving benefits, a portion of the amount will be deducted to repay the overpayment. If you are no longer receiving TANF benefits, the recipient must inform the DFCS and develop a repayment agreement in installments.

Pandemic Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (P-TANF)

P-TANF is a financial assistance program funded by the US Government and taken into effect by every state including Georgia to help families who are heavily affected by COVID-19. This cash assistance program is a one-time payment amounting to $775 for each eligible individual.

Who qualifies to apply?

P-TANF beneficiaries are already predetermined, and the qualifications are already set based on the TANF eligibility. All individuals who have correctly received their TANF from the period of April 1, 2020, to September 30, 2021, are automatically included as beneficiaries. A family must be able to receive their TANF during the above-mentioned dates to qualify for the cash benefits.

How can I apply?

Constituents in the State of Georgia cannot apply for the P-TANF program, so they cannot complete forms for this financial assistance initiative.
A mailed notice will be sent to eligible families and distributed through the EPPICard Debit Mastercard, where the TANF benefits are credited.

Do I need to pay the money back?

No. Since it is also a form of TANF, P-TANF beneficiaries in Georgia need not pay the credited amount back. Individuals who received their P-TANF cash assistance can use the funds indefinitely.

Georgia Food Stamps Program or Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

The SNAP or Food Stamps program is another cash assistance program offered in Georgia. It is a monthly benefit for low-income families or individuals who need aid in purchasing food items to prepare their meals.
The amount that beneficiaries will receive depends on the annual household income and the number of individuals in each household. A household can consist of a single individual, a group of unrelated individuals, or a family. The maximum SNAP allotment to be given ranges from $204 to $1,224, with an additional $153 per family member exceeding 8 individuals in a household.
SNAP assists in providing funds for food and educating individuals on proper nutrition, helps with sourcing employment opportunities, and offers training and personal development for individuals who wish to join the SNAP Employment and Training (E & T) Program.

Who qualifies to apply?

You can apply for SNAP benefits if you are:

1. A U.S. citizen, legal alien, or qualified alien
2. A bona fide resident of Georgia
3. Living in a household that is at the minimum level compared to the National Poverty line or below the annual household income program criteria
4. Currently owning a bank account or combined bank accounts with a balance under $2,001.00.
5. Currently owning a bank account or combined bank accounts with a balance under $3,001.00 if living with a person or persons over 60 years old, or with a person with a disability.

How can I apply?

You may apply for the Food Stamps Georgia program by mail, face-to-face, or online.
If you wish to apply by mail, you need to print and complete it then mail the SNAP application forms to your local DFCS office. You can find the list of Georgia DFCS office locations here.
If you wish to apply in person, you can visit the DFCS office near you. A caseworker will assist you in completing and filing your SNAP application forms.
If you wish to apply online, simply go to https://gateway.ga.gov/access/ and select the Apply for benefits section. You can then follow the instructions given on how to complete your application.
For persons with disabilities, especially those with difficulty reading and writing, you may call the Customer Contact Center at (877) 423-4746 for assistance. The caseworker can help you submit your application via phone.

How long does it take?

Once the SNAP application is filed, a caseworker will interview you or another household member who knows your current situation. It can be in the form of a phone interview or an arranged home or office visit for persons with disability, senior citizens, and those with hearing difficulties.
After the interview has been made, the benefits must be processed within 30 days from the date of application.
For households that meet the required criteria and are proven to have minimum or no income at all, the benefits must be processed within 7 days. A notice will be mailed to the eligible beneficiaries stating the amount to be received and the period they will be receiving the indicated amount.

Do I need to pay the money back?

There is no need to pay back the monetary assistance received from the Food Stamps program if the correct amount was credited. If the proceeds given exceed the amount or length of time you are eligible to receive them, then it is the beneficiary’s responsibility to return or pay back the excess amount. The DFCS and the individual will come to a payment agreement on the agreed terms of paying back the difference.

Cash Assistance to eligible recipients of the above programs

In August 2022, Georgia Governor Brian P. Kemp announced a dedicated fund for recipients of SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid programs. The funds amounting to more than $1 billion are set to be disbursed by the Department of Human Services (DHS) to help provide additional assistance because of the dragging economic effects of inflation and the global pandemic.
Eligible individuals will receive a one-time payment of $350 as the program starts rolling out in September 2022.

Who qualifies to apply?

Individuals cannot apply to this statewide benefit program. You are already eligible if you are actively receiving Medicaid, PeachCare for Kids, SNAP, and TANF benefits on July 30th, 2022. For enrolled beneficiaries of these programs who made it to the cut-off date, simply check the status in their Gateway account under Check my benefits - Case Selection.

How long does it take?

Georgians with email addresses as their primary contact preference in their Gateway accounts will start receiving their benefits beginning Mid-September. For those who selected email addresses and U.S. mail, their benefits will be distributed at the end of September, while those with U.S. mail as their preference will receive their benefits at a later date.

Do I need to pay the money back?

The benefits will be in the form of a Mastercard prepaid virtual card. It cannot be converted to cash but works like a debit card. It can be loaded onto your existing digital wallets and used conveniently at a wide range of merchants and establishments. Since it comes in a form of virtual card payment, State of Georgia constituents do not need to pay the money back.