TANF Assistance for Single Mothers in Delaware

Where to start

The

Delaware assistance guide

shows other help your household may need. TANF is not the same as a private grant.

Quick reference

Who may qualify for Delaware TANF?

DSS checks whether your home includes an eligible child and whether your family meets income, resource, residence, and other rules. Parents and some relatives caring for a minor child may apply. Delaware also lists people in the

ninth month of pregnancy

and some

18-year-old students

who will finish high school before age 19 among its TANF eligibility groups. Ask the worker how these rules fit your case.

Adult applicants must meet the citizenship or eligible immigration rules that apply to the person seeking benefits. If a child may qualify but an adult does not, ask DSS to check the child’s case. Do not guess about immigration effects; get help from an approved legal adviser when needed.

Grandparents and other caregivers

Delaware says a

non-parent relative caregiver can choose help for related children

. In that type of case, the caregiver’s income does not count, although the child’s income may count. Ask DSS whether you should apply for a child-only case and how the time limit and work rules affect it.

A separate

Kinship Care Program

may help a qualifying relative buy clothes, basic home goods, school supplies, or other immediate needs during the first 180 days after a child moves in. It has its own income, relationship, and funding rules. It is not the same as monthly TANF.

A child-support order, shared custody plan, school enrollment, or another benefit does not by itself prove TANF eligibility. Explain the whole living arrangement to DSS and ask how your budget group is counted.

Income, resources, and 2026–2027 TANF payments

Delaware checks

gross monthly income

and

net income

(the amount left after allowed deductions). New applicants and families already receiving TANF face

different net income tests

. The state also sets a payment cap for each budget group. Meeting one figure alone does not mean DSS must approve you.

These are Delaware’s official figures for

October 1, 2026–September 30, 2027

. They are not yearly income limits. A “budget group” is the group of people DSS counts for the TANF budget; it may not be everyone in your home. Use the

TANF financial rules

for the calculation, or ask DSS to work it out with you.

Example:

If DSS counts three people in your TANF budget group, the state lists a $405 monthly payment cap, not a promise of $405. Earnings, child support, or other income can lower the payment. A working family may qualify after the state applies its allowed deductions.

Delaware’s TANF page lists a

$90 work-expense deduction

, up to

$200 for child care costs

, and exclusion of the

first $50 in child support

for its net-income calculation. The full income rules also cover other disregards and when they apply. Ask the worker to show how DSS calculated yours.

The state lists a

$10,000 limit on countable resources

. Resources can include cash and funds you can access, though some items are excluded. Do not assume that your car, home, or a joint account automatically counts at full value; tell DSS what you own and ask which rule applies.

How to apply for Delaware TANF

Use the official

DSS forms page

if you want a paper application. You may also use ASSIST or visit a State Service Center. The

DSS contact page

lists offices and ways to get help. Call

302-255-9040

for general questions or

1-866-843-7212

for Customer Relations and language help.

1. 
   Apply soon.
   
   Save a copy or screen image showing when you applied. Do not wait for every paper before starting.
2. 
   Ask for all needed aid.
   
   ASSIST can also take requests for food, Medicaid, and child care, but each program makes its own decision.
3. 
   Complete your interview.
   
   DSS may ask about your children, earnings, available money, housing, child care, or relatives in the home.
4. 
   Send the requested proof.
   
   Check the way DSS accepts files, mail, or in-person documents. Keep a receipt.
5. 
   Check the notice.
   
   Review the decision, monthly amount, approval period, assigned tasks, and any appeal deadline.

If the portal fails, call DSS and ask for a paper form or office help. If you need Spanish or another language, an interpreter, or a disability-related accommodation, tell DSS when you contact them.

Documents and information to gather

Do not delay the application because one paper is missing. Apply, explain what you cannot get, and ask what other proof DSS will accept. The ASMOM
documents checklist
can help you organize paper and secure digital copies.

Keep copies

of each form, phone note, and upload receipt. Do not send originals unless the office asks. If a document is lost or unsafe to get, tell DSS and ask what other proof it can accept.

Work rules, the 36-month limit, and sanctions

Delaware TANF has a work focus. The state’s main TANF page says most clients take part in approved work or work-related activity for

at least 30 hours each week

. Your exact duties depend on your case plan and whether a rule, exemption, or other approved arrangement applies.

Delaware lists job search, employment, and approved job preparation. School or training does not automatically count. The state’s TANF page also says school attendance can be required along with

at least 20 hours of work a week

in some cases. Ask what your own case plan allows.

A

Contract of Mutual Responsibility

or other plan may cover appointments, work, child support, school attendance, childhood immunizations, and parenting tasks. Ask DSS to explain each step before signing and give you a copy. Read every letter after you sign.

Delaware has a

36-month state TANF time limit

for many families. Ask how many months DSS has counted, whether any earlier months are included, and whether your family fits an exception or a child-only arrangement. Do not assume an exception is automatic. The

state TANF rules

give more detail.

Child support cooperation and family safety

Delaware TANF can require you to cooperate with the

Division of Child Support Services

. This can mean giving details about the other parent or helping with support steps. TANF and the child support case are different programs. The child support paid may affect the TANF budget under special rules.

If giving information may put you or your child at risk

from abuse, stalking, threats, or retaliation, tell DSS you want a

good-cause review

before sharing unsafe details. Ask what proof can be provided safely. The

Delaware safety guide

lists ways to talk with an advocate. Use a device the other person cannot see if possible.

You can ask a legal aid worker to explain your options. This guide is not legal advice.

Other help to request with TANF

TANF cash may cover only part of your family’s needs. You can apply for several programs at once, but each program has its own rules. These paths can help while you wait for TANF or if you are denied:

• 
  Food:
  
  Delaware
  
  SNAP
  
  helps qualifying families buy groceries. Apply in ASSIST and use the
  
  Delaware SNAP guide
  
  for extra food options. SNAP has its own income and immigration rules.
• 
  Health coverage:
  
  Apply for Medicaid or children’s coverage through ASSIST if needed. Ask what coverage your child may qualify for, even if your TANF claim is denied.
• 
  Child care:
  
  Delaware’s
  
  Purchase of Care program
  
  may help pay for a qualifying child under 13, or an older child who meets special-needs rules. New applications use an income test and a work or other need test. Choose a provider that accepts the program. The state says families active in TANF may have their Purchase of Care copay waived; ask the worker to check your case. The
  
  Delaware child care guide
  
  has more steps.
• 
  Housing:
  
  Ask 211 or DSS about urgent shelter intake, and use the
  
  Delaware housing guide
  
  for longer-term paths. Rent help and shelter space have separate limits.
• 
  Heating and cooling bills:
  
  The state
  
  LIHEAP page
  
  explains energy help. The
  
  Delaware utility guide
  
  can help you look for bill assistance.
• 
  Legal help:
  
  
  Community Legal Aid Society
  
  may help with public benefits, disability, housing, or family safety, depending on the case. Start with the
  
  Delaware legal guide
  
  to plan the call.
• 
  Tax credits:
  
  If you work or worked during the tax year, check whether you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit or child-related credits. These are tax benefits, not monthly TANF. The
  
  Delaware tax credit guide
  
  explains where to start. Ask a qualified tax helper about how credits affect your case.