State of Tennessee

10/18/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 10/18/2024 08:11

Tennessee Department of Human Services to Provide One-time Emergency Cash Assistance to Qualifying Families Impacted by Hurricane Helene

NASHVILLE- The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) announced today that qualifying families who live or work in Carter, Cocke, Greene, Hamblen, Hawkins, Johnson, Unicoi, and Washington counties affected by Hurricane Helene can receive one-time emergency cash assistance. The program will provide a one-time cash payment of $500 for households of up to 2 people, $750 for households of 3 to 4 people, and $1,000 for households of 5 or more.

SNAP households (with children) and Families First (TANF) households in the impacted counties will automatically receive Emergency Cash Assistance.

TDHS Customers Who Automatically Qualify Include:

  • Families First (TANF) recipients in the designated counties with active cases as of September 27, 2024, that remained active as of October 1, 2024.
  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients in the designated counties with active cases as of September 27, 2024, that remained active as of October 1, 2024, and still have at least one child under age 18 in the home and meet the emergency cash assistance income guidelines.

Families First (TANF) and SNAP customers who automatically qualify will receive the one-time emergency benefit directly to their existing EBT cards during the week of October 21, 2024.

People in the impacted counties who are not existing SNAP or Families First (TANF) participants, may also qualify for Emergency Cash Assistance, but must apply to determine eligibility.

Eligibility Requirements for Emergency Cash Assistance:

In addition to living or working in one of the designated counties, applicants must also meet the below qualifications to receive Emergency Cash Assistance:

  • Families must have a child under the age of 18 or be a pregnant woman (regardless of trimester).
  • Families must meet Families First citizenship requirements.
  • Families and household members must have a valid Social Security Number.
  • The family's resources must not exceed $2,000.
  • Families must be unable to live in their home (or apartment) on the date the application is filed, or the home requires significant repairs due to the damage from the disaster, or the applicant must not be able to work due to destruction of the workplace.
  • The family's gross household income must not exceed 85% of the State's Median Income. See chart below:

Emergency Cash Assistance Income Standards

Household Size

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Gross Monthly Income

$2,696

$3,526

$4,356

$5,185

$6,015

$6,845

$7,001

$7,156

Families living in the affected counties who are not active Families First (TANF) or SNAP recipients as of October 1, 2024, may apply for the one-time cash assistance payment on the Disaster SNAP (D-SNAP)/Emergency Cash Assistance application page at https://onedhs.tn.gov/csp. Applications will be accepted from 8:00 a.m. CDT on Monday, October 21, 2024 through Friday, October 25, 2024, at 4:30 p.m. CDT.

For more information, please visit: https://www.tn.gov/humanservices/for-families/tdhs-disaster-emergency-assistance.html.

ABOUT THE TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES (TDHS)

The Tennessee Department of Human Services (TDHS) consists of multiple divisions with a unified mission to strengthen Tennessee by strengthening Tennesseans. Led by governor-appointed Commissioner Clarence H. Carter, TDHS serves nearly two million Tennesseans to ensure that all state residents have an opportunity to reach their full potential as contributing members of their community. Among the many services and programs provided by TDHS, some of the leading programs include the Child Support Program, Child and Adult Day Services and Licensing, Families First (the state's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Rehabilitation Services for people with disabilities, and Adult Protective Services, along with many others. TDHS is an organization committed to connecting people to resources that help individuals, families and communities thrive towards long-term economic freedom and prosperity. For more information, please visit: Tennessee Department of Human Services.

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