Information on TANF Iowa Program.  Iowa TANF is also called Iowa Family Investment Program (FIP)

TANF Iowa is a support service for Iowa families.  The purpose of TANF (Temporarily Assistance to Needy Families) Iowa is to provide financial and medical assistance to needy dependent children and the parents or relatives with whom they are living.  Eligible TANF households receive monthly cash and Medicaid benefits. TANF uses state funds to provide cash assistance to families.

Under TANF, eligible adults are limited to receiving benefits for a total of 60 months in their lifetime, including months of TANF-funded assistance granted in other states. Once this limit is reached, that adult and all members of his or her FA household are ineligible to receive any more TANF benefits. The 60 months need not be consecutive, but rather each individual month in which TANF-funded benefits are received is included in the lifetime count

Do You Qualify for TANF Iowa?

To qualify for Iowa TANF:

• you must be a resident of Iowa,
• either pregnant OR responsible for a child under 19 years of age,
• a US national, citizen, legal alien, or permanent resident,
• have low or very low income,
• and be either under-employed (working for very low wages), unemployed or about to become unemployed.

TANF Iowa Application Process:

• To apply online, go to:
  https://secureapp.dhs.state.ia.us/oasis/

  To apply in person, bring a printed and completed application to your local administering agency. To find your local agency go to:
  http://dhs.iowa.gov/dhs_office_locator

  Print an application here:
  http://dhs.iowa.gov/sites/default/files/470-0462_4.pdf

  Program Contact Information

  The county Department of Human Services (DHS) office serving your county is also listed in the state or county government section of your local phone book, under “Department of Human Services” or just “Human Services”.

  You may also contact the Department’s Field Office Support Unit by calling:515-281-6899

  Or:1-800-972-2017