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  4. Financial benefits and support
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TANF/FITAP (welfare)

TANF stands for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.

It's also called welfare. It's designed to help needy families become self-sufficient.<

 

The 4 purposes of TANF are to:

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Provide money to families to care for children in their own home

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Promote job preparation, work and marriage

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Help women avoid unwanted pregnancies

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Encourage and support two-parent families

 

 

In Louisiana, the TANF program is called Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP). It is run by the state's Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS).

 

There are 3 ways to apply for TANF: 

  1. Apply online. First you need to create an account at the Customer Portal: LA CAFE.

  2. Call 888-LAHELP-U (888-524-3578).

  3. Or click on link at the bottom of the page to download and print the application form. (It will open in a new tab or appear in the bottom corner of your screen.) Mail it to your local Department of Children & Family Services (DCFS) office.

 

You can also use your LA CAFE account to apply for these other benefits - all in one place!

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  • Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP)

  • Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

  • Kinship Care Subsidy Program (KCSP)

  • Child Support Enforcement Services 

 

Sources: LA DCFS, US DHHS

 

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