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.

Updated August 2026

1. 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.

2. 2

   Participate in an interview

   Complete a required interview by phone or in person as part of your application.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.

Verified against the official Vermont TANF agency site. View source