TANF
TANF Program

How to Apply for TANF in Louisiana

Louisiana's TANF program, the Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP), was transferred from the old Department of Social Services to the Louisiana Department of Health (LDH), which now runs it through the CAFÉ Self-Service Portal — the same online system used for SNAP. Louisiana caps FITAP at 60 months of lifetime benefits for households with a parent or caretaker relative, and work-eligible applicants must also participate in the state's STEP (Strategies to Empower People) work program. Uploading your verification documents directly in CAFÉ when you apply is explicitly called out as the fastest way to avoid processing delays.

Updated August 2026

What You'll Need

✓ Proof of identity ✓ Social Security numbers for household members ✓ Proof of income (earned and unearned) ✓ Proof of relationship to the child (blood, marriage, or adoption) ✓ Proof of Louisiana residency
  1. 1

    Confirm you meet eligibility rules

    You must live in Louisiana, be a U.S. citizen, non-citizen national, or qualified alien, and be financially needy based on LDH's income standards for your household size. Children must be under 18 (or 18 and a full-time secondary or vocational student).

  2. 2

    Gather your documents

    Collect proof of identity, income, relationship to the child, and Social Security numbers for each household member before you start — you can upload scanned PDFs or GIF/JPG/PNG photos directly in CAFÉ.

  3. 3

    Apply through the CAFÉ Self-Service Portal

    A qualified relative applying on behalf of the child applies online through the Louisiana CAFÉ Self-Service Portal, or in person at a local LDH community partner site.

  4. 4

    Complete an eligibility interview

    LDH must conduct an interview and verify documentation before determining if the child is eligible for FITAP.

  5. 5

    Meet ongoing program requirements

    Work-eligible adults must participate in the STEP work program, adults 18 and over must cooperate with drug screening, and anyone pregnant or with a child under age 1 must attend parenting skills training.

  6. 6

    Get help if you have questions

    Call the LAHelp-U Customer Service Center at 888-LAHelp-U (888-524-3578), 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email LAHelpU@la.gov.

Submit Your Application

Apply Online ☎ 888-524-3578

Verified against the official Louisiana TANF agency site. View source

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