How to Apply for TANF in District of Columbia

DC's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program uses a single online system, District Direct, to handle applications for TANF, SNAP, and Medicaid together as one 'Integrated Application for Public Assistance Benefits.' The District is in the middle of a major policy shift: starting October 1, 2027, DC will end TANF benefits for households that have received assistance for more than 60 months and raise the failure-to-work sanction from 6% to 25%, so DHS has stood up a TANF Hardship Policy Working Group for affected families.

Updated August 2026

1. 1

   Apply online through District Direct

   Check eligibility and submit your application at districtdirect.dc.gov, or use the District Direct mobile app, without visiting a service center in person.

2. 2

   Or submit a paper application

   Download the Integrated Application for Public Assistance Benefits (available in English, Spanish, and Amharic) and submit it in person at a nearby service center, by fax to (202) 671-4400, or by mail to DHS Economic Security Administration, Case Record Management Unit, P.O. Box 91560, Washington, DC 20090.

3. 3

   Complete orientation and assessment

   TANF applicants must complete orientation and assessment through the Office of Work Opportunity (OWO) as part of determining eligibility.

4. 4

   Develop an Individual Responsibility Plan (IRP)

   Unless exempt (for example, pregnant, caring for a child under one, or experiencing domestic violence), you'll work with a service provider to create and comply with an IRP as a condition of ongoing TANF eligibility.

5. 5

   Watch for your eligibility decision

   DHS reviews your income against household-size limits and resource limits ($3,000 in countable resources, or $4,500 if the household includes someone 60 or older) to determine eligibility.

Verified against the official District of Columbia TANF agency site. View source