How to Apply for TANF in Vermont
Vermont's TANF cash program is called Reach Up, and it's framed less as a straightforward cash benefit and more as a goal-setting partnership: applicants get a case manager who works with them on education, employment, housing, and other goals alongside the monthly cash payment. Applications, along with 3SquaresVT (SNAP) and Fuel Assistance, go through the same myBenefits portal, and Vermont automatically opens a child support case if the other parent doesn't live with you (though you can request a waiver if pursuing child support would create a safety risk). When your Reach Up benefit closes, the state automatically enrolls eligible families in a follow-up program called Reach Ahead.
This site is an independent, non-government TANF directory and isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any state or federal government agency. Always verify details directly with the official agency before visiting or applying.
Quick Answer
In Vermont, you apply for TANF through Department for Children and Families, online or by phone. Vermont must act on a Reach Up application as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days from the date it was filed, per state Reach Up rules.
What You'll Need
- Household income and living expense information
- Information about assets and things you own or are paying for
- Household composition (who lives in your home)
- Information about your child(ren) and their other parent, if applicable
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1
Apply online, by mail, or in person
Apply online through the myBenefits portal at dcf.vermont.gov/esd/applicants/mybenefits, call 1-800-479-6151 to request a paper application by mail, or apply in person at your local district office.
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2
Participate in an interview
Complete a required interview by phone or in person as part of your application.
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3
Provide income and household information
Eligibility is based on your household income and living expenses, the value of what you own or are paying for, and who lives in your home.
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4
Address child support cooperation, if applicable
If your child's other parent doesn't live with you, a child support case may open automatically. If pursuing child support could put you or your child at risk, you can request a waiver by contacting the Benefits Service Center at 1-800-479-6151.
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5
Upload documents and start receiving support
Submit any requested documents securely through the Document Uploader. Approved families get case management toward their goals plus monthly cash payments for basics like food, clothing, housing, and utilities.
Submit Your Application
Need help before your application is processed?
Vermont must act on a Reach Up application as soon as possible, but no later than 30 days from the date it was filed, per state Reach Up rules. 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 Vermont'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 →