TANF - Temporary Assistance for Needy Families

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program is intended to provide a monthly maintenance to families who meet income and resource guidelines. Children must be 18 or younger and in school.

Lynchburg Department of Social Services is the first urban jurisdiction to implement Welfare Reform and the first to use a regional approach to pool resources and manpower. Welfare Reform, named the Virginia Initiative for Employment not Welfare (VIEW), is a multi-faceted approach to encourage welfare recipients to:

  • Assume responsibility for themselves and their children
  • Cooperate in establishing paternity and getting child support
  • Contribute to the community

During certain conditions Emergency Assistance may be provided to needy families with children who may not meet the eligibility factor of "deprivation of parental support." This assistance must cover needs which result from a natural disaster or fire which has destroyed items necessary for maintaining a household or the home itself; or a total loss of family earnings when such loss occurred within 30 days prior to the application and the loss was due to a severe weather condition or a reduction in the labor force caused by an energy shortage.

For more information, or to request an application for TANF contact us at (434) 455-5850 or email us.

APPLY ONLINE: www.commonhelp.virginia.gov
APPLY VIA PHONE: 855-635-4370