Mayor Bowser Announces One-Time Back-to-School Payment for DC Families Receiving TANF

Washington, DC – At this time, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Division of Human Companies (DHS) introduced that District households who’re enrolled within the Non permanent Help for Needy Households (TANF) program shall be receiving a one-time, back-to-school cost of roughly $1,000. The Mayor made the announcement at a TANF Employment Program hiring occasion on the Frederick Douglass Neighborhood Middle in Ward 8.  

“We all know that back-to-school time will be an costly time of 12 months for households – new uniforms, haircuts, provides; there are quite a lot of bills all of sudden,” stated Mayor Bowser. “So, we’re disbursing these funds now to offer households an additional money bump throughout a busy time of 12 months in order that our college students and households can have a powerful begin to an vital faculty 12 months.”

The Pandemic Emergency Help Fund (PEAF) is a federal fund established by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 for households impacted by COVID-19. The District was awarded practically $15 million in federal funds by way of PEAF.  DHS will challenge the one-time profit onto every family’s digital profit switch (EBT) card this month. Roughly 15,000 District households receiving TANF help. 

“We all know that that the tempo of financial restoration is just not the identical for all households,” stated Laura Inexperienced Zeilinger, Director of DHS. “We’re thrilled to have the ability to present one-time funds to households receiving TANF as they put together for again to high school. We’re grateful for the essential assist of our federal companions on the Administration of Youngsters and Households (ACF).” 

Offering this cost to households demonstrates the values of the District’s TANF program, particularly that money within the house is a protecting issue for kids. In Fiscal Yr 2018, DHS shifted the main target of the TANF program from one which was solely targeted on work and compliance to at least one that facilities across the Two-Era Method (2Gen) – specializing in supporting the wants of your entire household, together with dad and mom and kids. By TANF, eligible District residents can obtain money help and supportive companies that assist households improve their earnings and obtain their profession and academic objectives.

The TANF program permits residents to achieve entry to supportive companies together with however not restricted to: 

• TANF Employment and Academic Program – supplies teaching in direction of schooling, employment, and job placement objectives but additionally coaches dad and mom on objectives they’ve for his or her kids and households. 
• Baby Care Subsidy – permits dad and mom to enroll their kids in high quality youngster care, together with earlier than and aftercare. 
• Behavioral, Psychological Well being, and Substance Abuse Assist – connects households to the DC Division of Behavioral Well being to acquire counseling to manage and handle behavioral, psychological, emotional, or substance abuse points for folks or their kids. 
• Tuition Help Program Initiative for TANF – monetary help to enroll in post-secondary academic packages or skilled certificates and/or licensing packages. 

These funds are along with the $41 million in meals help being disbursed by way of the Summer time Pandemic EBT (P-EBT) program that Mayor Bowser introduced in July. That funding is getting used to supply greater than 80,000 District kids and teenagers entry to wholesome meals in the course of the summer season and this upcoming faculty 12 months and eligible households will obtain their advantages by late summer season/early fall. 

Residents making use of or recertifying for TANF should full an evaluation to be related to those companies. There are two methods to finish an evaluation for TANF: (1) submit a self-assessment utilizing the brand new Buyer Evaluation Portal that’s out there 24 hours a day, 7 days every week and will be accessed on the following hyperlink: cap.dhs.dc.gov, (2) schedule an appointment with the Workplace of Work Alternative by calling (202) 698-1860. To be taught extra about TANF, go to dhs.dc.gov/service/tanf-district-families. 

For questions in regards to the one-time again to high school funds, please contact the ESA Public Advantages Name Middle at (202) 727-5355, Monday – Friday, 7:30 am – 4:45 pm.   

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