Wondering if you’re going to get your TANF money in November? You’re certainly not alone – millions of parents are waiting with bated breath to feature out what is going to happen with these crucial benefits as the shutdown continues.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) helps parents cover essentials like rent, utilities, diapers, and transportation so children can have stability at home. If the federal government doesn’t reopen soon, families who count on TANF could potentially face delays or gaps that make an already stressful situation even harder.
I’m so sorry you’re dealing with this uncertainty. You deserve clear information and practical next steps—so here’s what to watch, what states are doing, and what this shutdown does (and doesn’t) allow.
What States Are Doing In Response
Because TANF is administered by states, some may announce temporary measures to bridge families through this period. Use this space to add state-by-state actions, application or payment changes, and any emergency funds or local stopgaps. Be sure to highlight how families can check their case status and where they can ask questions.
These States Are Boosting TANF
Some states have committed to sending more than the normal amount of TANF in November, in order to compensate for the losses from SNAP and other benefits.
Alabama is sending an extra $300 to each child in the TANF program during the government shutdown. The hope is that these funds will help offset any additional costs that those households are facing.
Hawaii is now accepting applications for the Hawai’i Relief Program. This program will provide up to four months of TANF support for housing and utility payments for eligible families who have at least one dependent child in their household and have a financial need. This is separate from teh usual TANF program. You do not need to be on SNAP or TANF in order to qualify. They are also providing an additional $2 million to local food banks.
Ohio has just announced that they are going to effectively double the amount of SNAP that will be paid out to low income families who qualify. The benefits will be sent as normal on November 1, and then an additional payment will be issued each week as lon gas SNAP benefits are unavailable. Each weekly payout will be equal to about 25% of the usual monthly allotment.
Rhode Island will send extra emergency payments to TANF families. The goal is to provide extra support for the 20,000 families with children who have also lost SNAP benefits. The first state payment could be loaded onto EBT cards as early as November 1, and the second payment could appear on November 16 if the federal government continues to fail to fund SNAP.
These States Are Sending TANF
Some states are stepping up to make sure families don’t go without during this shutdown. While federal funding is stalled, these states have found ways to keep payments going — at least temporarily — using emergency funds or special stopgap measures. Here’s where TANF benefits are still being sent and what that means for families in those areas.
California has a banner at the top of their site that says, “Currently, the State is expected to be able to fund CalWORKs benefits for November 2025.” They are also reminding TANF recipients that they are eligible for a free Golden Bear Pass to access more than 200 California state parks and beaches.
Kansas has announced, “You can continue to use your Kansas Benefits Card (also called an EBT card) as usual for TANF or Child Care Assistance benefits. At this time Cash Assistance and Child Care Assistance is not being impacted by the federal government shutdown.”
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has announced that the state has not received TANF funding due to the shutdown, but they will use state funds to cover the program through the month of November.
Minnesota has said that “the cash portion of MFIP will be issued” in November.
Missouri published a note saying, “This will have no effect to TANF households at this time. These benefits will be normal with no lapse.”
New York has stated, “The federal government shutdown does not affect Summer EBT or Public Assistance (cash) benefits.”
Oklahoma has stated, “Based on the latest federal guidance, there is no indication that Medicaid or TANF benefit programs are currently affected. Those benefits should continue as normal until further notice.”
Oregon has published a helpful FAQ that includes the statement, “If you get cash benefits, they will be added to your EBT card as usual.”
South Carolina has announced that TANF payments will still be made in November.
Washington published a statement that “Cash benefits for November 2025 will still be distributed as usual.”
What if Your State Isn’t Listed?
If your state isn’t mentioned yet, don’t panic — that doesn’t necessarily mean benefits have stopped. It could simply mean your state hasn’t released an official statement or is still deciding how to handle TANF during the shutdown.
Keep an eye on your state’s human services or welfare department website and watch for updates from local news outlets. You can also contact your local TANF office directly to confirm whether payments will be delayed or processed on schedule. We’ll continue checking for new announcements and will update this list as soon as more information becomes available.
Relief Recap
Right now, millions of families who rely on TANF are caught in a difficult waiting period. Because TANF is a joint federal–state program, the shutdown has created confusion about what can and can’t continue — and it varies widely from one state to another. Some states have found ways to temporarily issue payments or support services, but most are limited by the lack of federal reimbursement and technical restrictions that prevent normal operations.
If you depend on TANF, it’s important to stay informed and prepare for possible delays or temporary gaps in benefits. Check your state’s official human services website or call your local TANF office to confirm the latest updates for your area. You can also reach out to community organizations, local churches, and food banks for short-term assistance while federal funding is paused.
We’ll continue monitoring developments closely and will update this post as new information becomes available. Until then, know that you are not alone — help is out there, and we’ll keep doing our best to connect you to it.
North Carolina is also sending out SNAP benefits.