Last updated: July 15, 2026
Bottom line
Tennessee’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program is called Families First. It can give temporary cash help to eligible families with children. The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) also connects some participants with work activities, job training, child care, transportation, and other support services.
Families First is not a grant, and approval is not automatic. TDHS checks who lives in the home, the children’s ages and relationships, income, resources, citizenship or eligible immigration status for applicants, Social Security numbers, and program duties. Start with the official Families First page, then apply through One DHS or a local office.
Cash aid is usually modest and temporary. Apply for food, health coverage, child care, housing, and utility help at the same time when needed. ASMOM’s national TANF guide explains how TANF works across the country.
If you need help today
A Families First decision can take time. Do not wait for TANF alone if your family has no food, faces a shutoff or housing crisis, or needs a safe place.
- Dial 2-1-1 or text your ZIP code to 898211. The Tennessee 211 service can search for food, shelter, rent, utility, diaper, and transportation help.
- Call the One DHS Contact Center at 833-772-TDHS (8347) if you missed an interview, cannot upload proof, or need a case update.
- Apply for SNAP if food money is low. The Tennessee SNAP guide explains the food-benefit path.
- If you have a safety concern involving the other parent, tell TDHS before giving child support information. Use the state’s child support safety page from a device you believe is safe.
For help with several urgent bills, use ASMOM’s Tennessee emergency guide as another starting point.
Where to start
You do not need to understand every rule before applying. Use these steps to protect your case and avoid common delays.
File the application
Apply online or turn in a signed paper application. Filing starts the review, even if TDHS still needs proof.
Complete the interview
Watch for calls and portal notices. If you miss the interview, contact TDHS quickly and ask to reschedule.
Send clear proof
Upload readable copies and save confirmations. Ask what other proof can be used when a document is hard to get.
Apply for backup help
Check SNAP, WIC, TennCare, child care, housing, and local programs while Families First is pending.
The Tennessee help page lists state guides for several common needs.
Quick reference
| Topic | Current rule | Practical step |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Families First is Tennessee’s TANF program. | Use official TDHS pages and One DHS. |
| Child requirement | A qualifying child is generally under 18, or 18 and expected to graduate before age 19. | Gather age, relationship, and school proof. |
| Asset limit | The public eligibility page lists a $2,000 resource limit. | Report requested accounts and property honestly. |
| Processing time | TDHS uses a 45-calendar-day application standard. | Track the filing date and missing proof. |
| Work activity | Non-exempt adults generally have a 30-hour weekly activity requirement. | Ask the case manager what counts. |
| Time limit | Cash assistance is generally limited to 60 lifetime months. | Ask TDHS how many months are recorded. |
| Certification | Approved participants are generally certified for one year. | Watch for renewal notices before it ends. |
What Families First is
Families First is a cash-assistance and employment program for families with children who meet Tennessee’s rules. The Families First application page says participants may also receive transportation, child care, educational support, job training, employment activities, and other services tied to the case.
The cash payment is issued through an EBT card. The amount is not the same for every family. TDHS uses the assistance-unit size, countable income, and state payment rules. A household can meet one rule and still be denied under another rule, so a quick online estimate cannot promise eligibility.
Families First is meant to be temporary. Tennessee limits most assistance units to 60 total months of TANF cash aid, including countable months received in other states. Some exceptions or extensions may exist, but TDHS must review them. Do not assume an extension will be approved.
Who may qualify
The official Families First eligibility page lists the main technical and financial rules.
Children and relationships
The home must include a child under age 18, or an 18-year-old expected to finish high school before turning 19. The child must live with a parent or a relative within the relationship level allowed by TDHS. Grandparents and other relatives should ask whether a child-only case or caretaker case fits their situation.
Residency and applicant status
The assistance unit must live in Tennessee. People applying for benefits must meet citizenship or qualified non-citizen rules and have a Social Security number or proof that they applied for one. When some household members are not applying, ask TDHS what information is required for them instead of leaving them off the household list.
Income and resources
Tennessee uses a gross-income test, a state need standard, and countable-income rules. The public Families First page does not give one simple current dollar chart that fits every household. Wages, self-employment, child support, unemployment, Social Security, and other income may affect the budget. Tennessee policy also applies a work-expense deduction to earned income.
The public asset limit is $2,000. Cash, some bank funds, investments, lump sums, and some property may count. Some assets are excluded or partly excluded. Give TDHS the requested facts and ask for the written budget if the decision does not make sense.
Cash amounts can be small
Families First may not cover rent, food, transportation, and other bills by itself. The payment also changes when income or household facts change. Build a wider help plan instead of counting on one cash amount.
How to apply in Tennessee
You can apply online, use a paper form, or contact a TDHS office. Online applications often move faster, but use the method you can finish and track.
- Create or sign in to the One DHS portal and choose Families First.
- Complete as much of the application as you can. Tennessee policy says proof is not required before filing a signed application.
- Save the confirmation or a full paper copy. Write down the date, time, and way you submitted it.
- Complete the eligibility interview. Explain changes in work, income, address, household members, disability, pregnancy, child care, transportation, or safety.
- Upload Families First documents through the Family Assistance File Upload area, not the separate child care dashboard.
- Complete the Personal Responsibility Plan and Individual Opportunity Plan when required.
- Read the written approval or denial notice and follow its deadlines.
The family assistance locator lists offices serving all 95 counties. The TDHS forms page provides paper applications in several languages.
TDHS lists 833-772-TDHS (8347) for Families First and SNAP questions. The current application page says paper applications may be mailed to Family Assistance, Tennessee Department of Human Services, 1843 Foreman Drive, Suite 102, Cookeville, TN 38501. Confirm the address before mailing and send copies, not original records.
Documents to gather
Apply first if you are still collecting papers. ASMOM’s documents checklist can help you organize copies and deadlines.
| Proof type | Examples | Helpful step |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Driver’s license, state ID, school photo ID, passport | Ask what else is accepted if ID is lost. |
| Children and relationship | Birth records, school records, custody or relative-care papers | Explain who lives with and cares for each child. |
| Tennessee address | Lease, utility bill, phone bill, shelter letter | Use a safe mailing address when needed. |
| Income | Pay stubs, employer statement, benefit letters, child support records | Report changes and irregular pay clearly. |
| Resources | Bank statements and property or vehicle details when requested | Ask which assets are excluded. |
| Program duties | School attendance, health-check, immunization, work, or training records | Ask what is needed for your plan. |
Upload clear, complete pages. Keep screenshots showing the file name and date. The Family Assistance questions page explains how to check whether proof was received and how to report changes.
Work and case rules
Personal Responsibility Plan
Adults and minor parents in the assistance unit generally must sign a Personal Responsibility Plan. The plan can cover school attendance, children’s health checks and immunizations, child support cooperation, work or training, and other case duties. Refusing to sign can lead to denial or closure.
Work or education activity
Non-exempt adults generally must complete 30 hours each week in approved work or education activities. Tennessee policy says at least 20 hours normally must be in core activities, with the other 10 hours in core or approved non-core activities. A TANF case manager develops an Individual Opportunity Plan and tracks participation.
Do not assume that any class, volunteer job, or job search will count. Ask the case manager before starting. If illness, disability, pregnancy, child care, transportation, domestic violence, or another serious barrier affects participation, report it quickly and ask about an exemption, good cause, modified hours, or supportive services. ASMOM’s Tennessee child care guide covers the separate child care path.
Reporting changes and renewal
Report changes requested by TDHS, including address, phone, household, income, resources, and work status. Approved participants are generally certified for 12 months, but benefits can change or stop during that period. Watch for the renewal notice and do not assume the case will renew automatically.
Child support and safety
Families First caretakers usually must cooperate with Tennessee’s child support program. Cooperation can include identifying or locating the other parent, establishing parentage, and pursuing support. The official child support program explains the services available.
Tennessee policy says court-ordered and voluntary child support for children receiving Families First is generally assigned to TDHS. If the other parent pays you directly, report the payment and ask how to send it to the State Disbursement Unit. Keeping direct payments without reporting them can cause a case problem.
Good cause may excuse some child support cooperation when cooperation could cause harm, but it does not remove every assignment rule. Tell TDHS about safety concerns before sharing information or contacting the other parent. Ask how to make a good-cause claim and what proof can be used. ASMOM’s Tennessee safety guide provides more safety-focused contacts, and the Tennessee child support guide covers the wider process.
Use a safe device
If someone may monitor your phone or computer, use a device you believe is safe before opening safety forms or changing shared account settings. This article does not provide a personal safety plan.
Using and protecting the EBT card
Families First cash is issued through a Tennessee EBT card. The Families First EBT page explains card security. The ebtEDGE portal or app can show the balance and transactions and may let you freeze the card or block out-of-state activity.
Call EBT Customer Service at 1-888-997-9444 when a card is lost, stolen, damaged, or not working. Confirm that the card system has the correct mailing address.
Tennessee bars knowing use of Families First cash at liquor stores, gambling or gaming locations, adult cabarets, and tobacco discount or retail stores. Use the EBT card only where state rules allow. Never give your PIN to a caller or text sender.
If cash benefits appear stolen, use the TDHS theft steps and report the card at once. Replacement rules can change, and TDHS does not promise that stolen cash or SNAP benefits will be restored.
If your case is denied, delayed, reduced, or closed
Read the whole notice. It should explain the action, the reason, the effective date, and appeal rights. Call TDHS if the problem is a missed interview, unclear request, unreadable upload, or missing proof. Ask whether the application can still be completed before starting over.
The Families First appeals page allows appeals online, by phone, in writing, or by eForm. File as soon as possible and follow the exact deadline on the notice.
If an existing Families First case is being reduced or closed, state rules may allow benefits to continue during the appeal when the appeal is received within 10 days of the advance notice. Ask the Appeals Clerk whether this applies. Continued benefits may have to be repaid if the final decision goes against you.
The state legal aid list gives regional civil legal-service contacts. Legal aid has income, case, and funding limits. ASMOM’s benefits problem guide can help you organize notices, calls, and proof, while the Tennessee legal guide gives more local starting points.
Other help to check
Families First is only one part of a household plan. These programs have separate rules and may be used together when you qualify.
| Need | Official starting point | Reality check |
|---|---|---|
| Food | Apply through Tennessee SNAP and call 211. | SNAP and Families First use separate budgets and rules. |
| Child care | Check child care assistance through TDHS. | Work, school, activity, and copay rules may apply. |
| Pregnancy or young children | Contact Tennessee WIC or a local clinic. | WIC provides foods and services, not general cash. |
| Health coverage | Use TennCare Connect for TennCare or CoverKids. | Health coverage has separate eligibility rules. |
| Utility bills | Check Tennessee LIHEAP and the local agency. | Funds and application dates vary by agency. |
| Jobs and training | Use Jobs4TN and ask the TANF case manager. | Confirm which activity counts before enrolling. |
ASMOM also has guides for Tennessee WIC help, Tennessee health coverage, Tennessee housing help, and Tennessee utility help.
For local groups that may help with several bills, use the community action guide. Availability and funding differ by county.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Waiting for every document before filing.
- Missing the interview and not calling to reschedule.
- Uploading blurry or incomplete pages.
- Changing address or phone without telling TDHS.
- Starting a class or activity without asking whether it counts.
- Keeping direct child support without reporting it.
- Ignoring a safety, disability, child care, or transportation barrier until a sanction notice arrives.
- Throwing away a notice that contains an appeal deadline.
Phone scripts
Calling after you apply
“Hi, my name is ____. I applied for Families First on ____. Can you tell me whether my application was received, when my interview is, and what proof is still needed?”
Asking about a work barrier
“I cannot complete my current activity because of ____. Can you tell me whether an exemption, good cause, modified activity, child care, or transportation support may apply?”
Raising a safety concern
“I have a safety concern about cooperating with child support. I need to discuss good cause before I give more information. What is the safest way to do that?”
Calling about an appeal
“I received a notice dated ____ that denies, reduces, or closes Families First. What is my appeal deadline, and can my benefits continue while the appeal is pending?”
Resumen en español
Families First es el programa TANF de Tennessee. Puede dar ayuda temporal en efectivo y algunos apoyos para trabajo, capacitación, cuidado infantil y transporte a familias que cumplen los requisitos. Puede solicitar por One DHS, con una solicitud de papel, o por medio de una oficina local de TDHS.
Guarde copias de todos los documentos, complete la entrevista y lea cada aviso. Si tiene un problema de seguridad relacionado con el otro padre, dígale a TDHS que necesita hablar sobre “good cause” antes de dar más información. Si su caso es negado o cerrado, presente una apelación antes de la fecha indicada en el aviso.
FAQ
Is Families First Tennessee’s TANF program?
Yes. Families First is Tennessee’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. It can provide temporary cash and work-related support to eligible families with children.
How long does a Families First application take?
TDHS uses a 45-calendar-day processing standard. Missing interviews or proof can delay the decision, so track notices and respond quickly.
What is the Families First asset limit?
Tennessee’s public eligibility page lists a $2,000 resource limit. Some resources are excluded or partly excluded, so ask TDHS how it counted each asset.
Do I have to complete 30 work hours?
Most non-exempt adults must complete 30 hours per week in approved work or education activities. Ask about exemptions, good cause, modified duties, and support services.
Do I have to cooperate with child support?
Usually yes. Good cause may excuse some cooperation when it could cause harm. Tell TDHS about safety concerns before giving information or contacting the other parent.
How do I appeal a Families First decision?
You may appeal online, by phone, in writing, or by eForm. Follow the deadline on your notice and ask whether benefits can continue during the appeal.
About this guide
This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources mentioned in the article.
A Single Mother is independent and is not a government agency, benefits office, lender, law firm, medical provider, or tax advisor.
Program rules, funding, local availability, and eligibility can change. Always confirm details with the official program before you apply or make decisions.
Verification: Last verified July 15, 2026, next review October 15, 2026.
Corrections: If you see something wrong or outdated, email suggestions@asinglemother.org.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. It is not legal, financial, medical, tax, immigration, disability, safety, or government-agency advice.