All parents receiving TANF must sign and follow a Responsibility and Services Plan (RSP). The plan will be regularly updated. DHS will monitor your family’s progress to make sure you are following the rules. 

Your RSP will make goals in the following areas:

• Child immunization
• School attendance
• Family health and well being
• Employment

Supportive services

Supportive services will be provided to help you meet your RSP goals. Supportive services include:

• Child care
• Transportation
• Books
• School fees
• Supplies
• Initial employment expenses
• Job retention expenses
• $20 per month for members who are in a work program

TANF work and training requirements

To get TANF benefits, you must work or take part in work training for at least 30 hours per week.

Work requirement for one parent 

If you are a single parent who is able to work and your child is under age 6, you must:

• Work at least 20 hours per week; or

• Participate in a work activity for at least 20 hours per week.

If you are a single parent who is able to work and your child is age 6 or older, you must:

• Work at least 30 hours per week; or
• Participate in a work activity for at least 30 hours per week.

A young parent under age 20 who has not finished high school must participate in Teen Parent Services.

Work requirement if there are 2 parents in the home 

If there are 2 parents in the home, one or both parents may have to:

• Work at least 35 hours per week; or
• Participate in a work activity for 35 hours per week.

If one parent is exempt from the work requirement, then the case is considered a one parent case.

Exemptions from TANF work and training requirements 

An exempt person does not have to add work and training activities in their RSP. Exempt means the requirements don’t apply to you. 

If you are exempt and you agree to participate in a work activity as part of your RSP, you can’t get in trouble. 

You are exempt if any of the following apply to you:

• You take care of a child who lives in your home who is under the age of one;
• You are a minor parent under the age of 20 who has not finished high school. Unless your child is under 12 weeks old, you must attend school full-time;
• You are a minor child who is not a parent; or
• You are age 60 or older.

Barriers to work and training

Some people don’t have to do work and training activities if they have a barrier. You have a barrier if you:

• Have a medical condition that prevents you from doing work or training activities
• Have to go to medical appointments often because of a medical condition
• Have a child who lives with you who has a home and community-based care waiver
• Provide full-time medical care to your spouse, your child, or another adult, or
• Are a victim of domestic violence that prevents you from doing work or training activities
• TANF child support and school attendance rules
• The following rules apply to you if you receive TANF benefits.