TANF
TANF Program

How to Apply for TANF in North Dakota

North Dakota still calls its cash aid program TANF and runs applications through the state's Self-Service Portal (SSP), which requires a North Dakota login account linked to your case. The state publishes a detailed TANF Application Checklist covering exactly which proof documents to gather before you start, which is worth downloading first since North Dakota asks for more categories of verification — citizenship, residence, age, identity, Social Security number, and relationship to the child — than many states require up front. TANF benefits are paid on an Electronic Payment Card (EPC), and the lifetime limit is 60 months with some exceptions.

Updated August 2026

What You'll Need

✓ Proof of citizenship or alien status (birth certificate, passport, or USCIS forms) ✓ Proof of North Dakota residence ✓ Proof of identity and age ✓ Social Security numbers for household members ✓ Proof of income for the last month and current month ✓ Proof of assets such as bank accounts, retirement plans, or vehicles
  1. 1

    Gather your documents using the TANF Application Checklist

    Download North Dakota's TANF Application Checklist and collect proof of citizenship, residence, age, identity, Social Security numbers, relationship to the child, income, and assets before you start.

  2. 2

    Apply online through the Self-Service Portal

    Go to the SSP at dhsbenefits.dhs.nd.gov, create a North Dakota login (or use an existing one), and link your case to apply for TANF.

  3. 3

    Or apply locally or by mail

    Print an application (form SFN 00405) and return it to the Customer Support Center or your local Human Service Zone office in person, or request a paper application be mailed to you.

  4. 4

    Contact the Customer Support Center with questions

    Reach the Customer Support Center at 1-866-614-6005 or 701-328-1000 (TTY: 711) to report changes, ask questions, or send documents by email, fax, or mail.

  5. 5

    Participate in the JOBS Program if required

    Adults receiving TANF may be required to participate in the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) Program as a condition of continued benefits.

Submit Your Application

Apply Online ☎ 1-866-614-6005

Verified against the official North Dakota TANF agency site. View source

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