Common Pitfalls

Whether you apply for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) online through ACCESS Nevada, by contacting your local Division of Social Services (DSS) office, or by downloading and submitting an application, the process can feel long and complicated. It's important to fill out the application correctly and completely. Read everything carefully and supply all the information that is needed, so you get all the help that you can.

If you are an adult (18 or older) and get Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in Nevada, you and a caseworker create a Personal Responsibility Plan (PRP) listing everything you need to get a job and become more financially stable. If you do not do the work activities and other steps listed in your plan, your monthly TANF benefits may go down.

Your PRP can include things like the kind of job you want to find, education or training you plan to get, and services or items your family needs, like SNAP, Medicaid, child care, transportation, work-related clothing and items (for example, uniforms, tools, or work permits), counseling, health care, and more. If you or someone you care for has a disability, your PRP might include activities like applying for disability benefits or getting medical care.

Learn more about PRPs.

There are two time limits on how long an adult (18 or older) can get a Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) monthly cash benefit in Nevada.

• The federal limit of a total of 60 months (five years) in any state. Sometimes called the TANF "time clock," the 60 months is a lifetime limit. Any month that you get TANF counts toward this limit, even if you got some of those benefits in different states. If you stop getting benefits and then start getting them again, the count picks up where it left off. For example, if you get benefits for 12 months, go off TANF for a while, and then get back on later, you only have 48 months of cash benefits remaining.
• In addition to the federal rules, in Nevada TANF benefits are paid out in three phases. After you get TANF benefits in Nevada for a total of 24 months (the months do not have to be in a row) you cannot get any TANF benefits in Nevada for the next 12 months (one year), which is sometimes called a "sit-out" period. You can then reapply and, if eligible, get another 24 months of benefits in Nevada followed by another 12-month sit-out period. You can then reapply for another 12 months of benefits, for a total of 60 months.

A month might not count toward the time limits if you are experiencing an approved qualifying hardship. Note: There are no time limits on TANF benefits for children under 18.

Learn more about the TANF time limits.

It can be difficult to get accurate and complete information about public benefits programs. Family, friends, or some social workers and advocates may have limited knowledge of available options. They may also be unaware of how changes in income or employment can affect whether you qualify for specific programs. To be sure the information you get is accurate and complete, contact your Division of Social Services (DSS) office.