How to Apply for TANF in Montana
Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
In Montana, you apply for TANF through Department of Public Health and Human Services, online or by phone. Montana's TANF policy manual requires the state to approve or deny an application within 30 days, though a supervisor can approve an extension beyond 30 days if the delay is caused by a third party outside the applicant's control.
Montana's TANF cash assistance is a strict 60-month lifetime benefit, and the state routes nearly everyone through a single online portal, apply.mt.gov, that also handles SNAP. A notable local option: Montana still lets applicants request a PDF application by email from HHS support staff, and posts a dedicated Spanish-language version of the paper application (Form HCS-250) alongside it.
What You'll Need
- Social Security number
- Proof of Montana residency
- Proof of citizenship/alien status
- Income documentation for all household income sources
- Information on countable resources (limit is $3,000)
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Apply online at apply.mt.gov
Submit your TANF application through the state portal, which also handles SNAP applications.
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Or call the Public Assistance Helpline
Call 1-888-706-1535 for help applying or to ask questions about your application.
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Or visit your local Office of Public Assistance
Find your nearest OPA office through the DPHHS Office Locator to apply in person.
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Or request a paper application
Email hhssspapplicationcustomersupport@mt.gov for a PDF application, or download the Spanish-language application (Form HCS-250) directly from the DPHHS TANF page.
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Meet nonfinancial and financial eligibility criteria
You must provide a Social Security number, meet Montana residency and citizenship requirements, cooperate with Child Support Enforcement, and keep countable resources under $3,000.
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Sign the Employability Service Plan
Approved recipients must negotiate, sign, and comply with all requirements of an Employability Service Plan (E/SP) as a condition of ongoing eligibility.
Submit Your Application
Need help before your application is processed?
Montana's TANF policy manual requires the state to approve or deny an application within 30 days, though a supervisor can approve an extension beyond 30 days if the delay is caused by a third party outside the applicant's control. If your family needs money sooner, most states offer a faster, one-time emergency payment.
See emergency & one-time assistance →Compare Other States
TANF rules, income limits, and benefit amounts are set state by state. These share Montana's census region — useful if you're moving, or comparing how another state runs the same program.
Helpful Guides
TANF Eligibility & Frequently Asked Questions
Income limits, time limits, and work requirements, answered in plain language.
Learn more →How Much Does TANF Pay? Benefit Amounts Explained
How your payment is calculated, a real worked example, and how the amount scales by family size.
Learn more →TANF Income Limits by State
See each state's own income limit and maximum monthly benefit, side by side.
Learn more →How to Use Your TANF EBT Card
How to withdraw cash, avoid ATM fees, and what to do if your card is lost or stolen.
Learn more →TANF Work Requirements Explained
Hours, activities, exemptions, and how strictly states actually enforce this.
Learn more →What Is TANF?
What the program covers, who runs it, and how it varies by state.
Learn more →TANF Kinship Care & Relative Caregiver Benefits
Child-only TANF grants for grandparents and relatives raising a child — and how they differ from a regular case.
Learn more →TANF vs. SNAP: Is TANF the Same as Food Stamps?
How the two programs differ, and whether you can get both.
Learn more →