TANF

Mentor teams should NOT help refugee families to register for TANF. Any problems concerning TANF or questions should be directed to MARC@denrescue.org who will find answers and solutions through the case manager, TANF specialist, and other routes.

While LFS helps the refugees to register for TANF, LFS does not in anyway regulate or distribute this money. It all comes through the state and counties. Refugees receive this money on their Colorado Quest Cards.

Source: Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Refugee Resettlement (State)

Amount: (per month)

Word doc of chart without income limits: HERE

Chart source: HERE

Duration: Up to 5 years

Requirements: Family fulfills required volunteer/job readiness hours based on family size. For 12 months after finding employment, 2/3 of their income is disregarded.

Use: Housing and personal expenses

Bus Passes: Requested by LFS and money to purchase the passes is put on their TANF card (see Bus Passes page).

Work Activities: All families receiving funds from TANF must participate in work activities. Depending on family size and make-up, the hours required change. These hours have an "allowable split" that requires the majority of the hours to be completed in "core" activities and allows for some hours to be fulfilled in alternative activities.

State of Colorado work activity requirements: (or as a Word doc HERE)

  • One parent with child(ren) under 6 years old: 88 hrs/month = 22 hrs/week = 5 hrs/day (all core hours)
  • One parent with child(ren) over 6 years old: 129 hrs/month = 33 hrs/week = 7 hrs/day (Allowable split: 88 or more hours must be core)
  • Two parents with child care NOT needed: 151 hrs/month = 38 hrs/week = 8 hrs/day (Allowable split: 129 or more hours must be core)
    • Exception: If one parent has an approved medical exemption or is approved to stay home to care for children, then the case is considered a one parent household
  • Two parents with child care needed: 240 hrs/month (Allowable split: 219 or more hours must be core)
    • Note: Subsidized child care is provided by the county

Information on work activities: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDHS-ColoradoWorks/CCW/1251595980785

Pregnancy Allowance: Upon verification of the pregnancy, pregnant parents are eligible for the basic cash assistance grant plus a ten dollar ($10.00) pregnancy allowance. Payment of the pregnancy allowance continues through the month of release from the hospitalization for the delivery or termination of the pregnancy. In instances where there is another dependent child in the assistance unit, the basic cash assistance grant shall continue uninterrupted less the pregnancy allowance.

Links to more TANF information/resources:

General Colorado TANF info: http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/CDHS-ColoradoWorks/CCW/1251575231405

TANF info sheet: PDF

Official Volume III Income Maintenance Regulations (including Colorado Works -> TANF): http://www.sos.state.co.us/CCR/NumericalCCRDocList.do?deptID=9&deptName=500,1008,2500%20Human%20Services&agencyID=53&agencyName=2503%A0Income%20Maintenance%20(Volume%203

Arapahoe County TANF: http://www.co.arapahoe.co.us/Departments/HS/CommunitySupportServices/tanf.asp

Denver County TANF: http://www.denvergov.org/DenverHumanServices/AssistancePrograms/tabid/438379/FinancialAssistance/tabid/438399/Default.aspx

Jefferson County TANF: http://jeffco.us/commassist/commassist_T180_R20.htm

El Paso County TANF: http://dhs.elpasoco.com/Pages/ColoradoWorks.aspx