TANF: Cash Assistance with the Family Violence Option
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides monthly cash payments to low-income families with children. For domestic violence survivors, 42 states plus Washington D.C. have adopted the Family Violence Option (FVO), which allows states to waive standard program rules that could endanger a survivor or make it harder to escape abuse.
Under the FVO, states can waive:
- Work participation requirements
- Time limits on receiving benefits
- Child support cooperation requirements (which could require contact with the abuser)
- Residency and address requirements
These waivers can last as long as needed but must be reviewed every six months. The remaining states without the FVO generally have their own similar policies or referral processes.
TANF income limits vary by state. There is no single federal income threshold. Each state sets its own "standard of need." Generally, a family of three must earn well below the poverty line to qualify, and most states set limits between 30% and 60% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
TANF Application Steps
- Contact your state TANF office or local Department of Social Services. Many states allow online applications.
- Tell the caseworker if you are fleeing domestic violence. You can request that your address and case information be kept confidential.
- Ask about Family Violence Option waivers if your state has adopted them.
- Provide documentation of income, household size, and children. You should not need to prove the abuse to access initial benefits.
- A decision is typically made within 30 days. Emergency or expedited cases may be faster.
Use the Benefits Navigator screener to check whether you may qualify for TANF and other programs based on your income and household.
SNAP: Food Benefits for Survivors
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) provides monthly benefits to purchase groceries. Domestic violence survivors qualify under the same income rules as other applicants, but there are important special rules worth knowing.
Separate household rules: If you are still living with your abuser but want to separate your SNAP case, you may be able to establish yourself as a separate household even if you share a kitchen. This lets you apply based solely on your own income rather than the abuser's.
Address confidentiality: If you are in an address confidentiality program or shelter, you can use an alternative address (such as a P.O. box or shelter address) on your SNAP application without disclosing your location.
Expedited SNAP: If your household has very little cash and urgent food needs, you may qualify for expedited SNAP benefits within 7 days of applying.
SNAP Income Limits (2026)
| Household Size | Gross Monthly Income Limit (130% FPL) | Net Monthly Income Limit (100% FPL) |
|---|
| 1 | $1,580 | $1,215 |
| 2 | $2,137 | $1,644 |
| 3 | $2,694 | $2,072 |
| 4 | $3,250 | $2,500 |
| 5 | $3,807 | $2,928 |
| Each additional | +$557 | +$428 |
These figures are for the 48 contiguous states and D.C. Alaska and Hawaii have higher limits.
SNAP Application Steps
- Apply online at your state SNAP portal, by phone, or in person at your local SNAP office.
- Use a safe address. Shelters and advocacy organizations can often provide a mailing address.
- Request to be treated as a separate household if you are still in the same residence as the abuser.
- Attend your eligibility interview. Phone interviews are available in most states if in-person is unsafe.
- Benefits typically arrive on an EBT card within 30 days, or within 7 days for expedited cases.
Medicaid: Health Coverage for Survivors
Medicaid provides free or low-cost health insurance to people with low incomes. For domestic violence survivors, it covers physical injuries, mental health treatment, counseling, and substance use treatment related to trauma.
Most states have expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, setting eligibility at up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level for adults without children:
| Household Size | 138% FPL Monthly Income (2026) |
|---|
| 1 | approximately $1,732 |
| 2 | approximately $2,340 |
| 3 | approximately $2,949 |
| 4 | approximately $3,557 |
Ten states have not expanded Medicaid: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. In those states, adults without children typically do not qualify unless they have a disability or are pregnant.
Survivors in any state can apply for Medicaid using an address confidentiality program address or a shelter address. You do not need to disclose your living situation to the abuser.
VAWA Housing Protections
The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) creates strong housing protections for survivors in federally subsidized housing. These apply to:
- Public housing
- Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers
- HUD-assisted multifamily housing
- HOME and CDBG-funded rentals
- Section 202, 811, and other assisted programs
Under VAWA, a housing provider covered by the law cannot:
- Deny housing to someone because they are a survivor of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking
- Evict a survivor because of violence committed against them
- Terminate a housing assistance voucher because of an incident of abuse
Survivors can also request an emergency transfer to a different unit if their safety is at risk. The emergency transfer must be made available as quickly as possible.
To exercise VAWA protections, you may be asked to certify your status as a survivor using HUD Form 5382 (a self-certification form) or provide a statement from a third party such as an advocate or health care provider. You are not required to show a police report or court order.
OVW Transitional Housing
The Office on Violence Against Women (OVW) funds Transitional Housing Assistance Grants, which support programs that provide 6 to 24 months of transitional housing for survivors who are homeless or need to leave an unsafe home. These programs also offer voluntary support services including:
- Counseling and advocacy
- Childcare assistance
- Transportation
- Job training and life skills
Transitional housing programs are run locally. To find one near you, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. The hotline can connect you with local programs.
Victim Compensation Programs
Every state has a Crime Victims Compensation (CVC) program, funded partly through the federal Victims of Crime Act (VOCA). These programs pay for expenses directly caused by domestic violence and other crimes, including:
- Medical and dental care
- Mental health treatment and counseling
- Relocation costs (moving expenses, security deposits)
- Lost wages if injuries prevented work
- Funeral or burial expenses
The maximum compensation averages around $25,000, though many states offer more. California's Victim Compensation Board, for example, paid out over $7 million to domestic violence victims in fiscal year 2024 to 2025 alone.
To qualify, you typically must:
- Report the crime to law enforcement (though many states have exceptions for domestic violence)
- Cooperate with the investigation, unless an exception applies
- Apply within a set timeframe (often 1 to 3 years after the crime)
- Have expenses not covered by insurance or other sources
Apply through your state's attorney general office, victim services division, or a local victim advocacy organization.
WIC: Food for Mothers and Young Children
The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides food benefits specifically for pregnant women, new mothers, and children under age 5. There are no special domestic violence provisions, but many survivors qualify based on income alone.
WIC income limit: up to 185% of the Federal Poverty Level.
| Household Size | Monthly Income Limit (185% FPL, 2026) |
|---|
| 1 | approximately $2,248 |
| 2 | approximately $3,041 |
| 3 | approximately $3,834 |
| 4 | approximately $4,626 |
WIC benefits can be used at most grocery stores and include specific foods like infant formula, dairy, whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and canned fish.
LIHEAP: Utility Assistance
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps with heating and cooling costs. If you are setting up a new household after leaving an abusive situation, LIHEAP can help cover utility bills and deposits. Eligibility is typically set at up to 150% FPL, though states set their own thresholds.
Contact your state energy assistance office or local Community Action Agency to apply. Many states have emergency LIHEAP funds for people facing utility shutoff.
Lifeline and Safe Connections
The Lifeline program provides discounted phone and internet service to low-income households. Since 2022, the Safe Connections Act created a specific survivor benefit: if you share a phone plan with your abuser, you can separate your phone line from that plan at no cost and maintain your own account. This makes it safer to communicate with advocates, attorneys, and family without the abuser seeing your call records.
The survivor benefit is available regardless of income. To apply, contact your phone carrier and explain that you are a domestic violence survivor requesting a line separation.
Address Confidentiality Programs
Most states operate Address Confidentiality Programs (ACPs) that give survivors a substitute address (usually a state agency P.O. box) to use on government records, including benefit applications, voter registration, DMV records, and court documents. The real address is sealed from public view.
To enroll, contact your state's secretary of state office or local domestic violence program. Once enrolled, you can use the substitute address on all public records, making it harder for an abuser to locate you through government databases.
Applying Safely: Protecting Your Information
When applying for benefits, take these steps to protect your location:
- Use an address confidentiality program substitute address if enrolled
- Use a shelter address, P.O. box, or trusted friend's address if not enrolled
- Request confidential case handling when you talk to caseworkers
- Apply online or by phone when in-person visits feel unsafe
- Use a safe device (not one shared with the abuser or connected to shared accounts)
- Ask advocates at a local DV organization to help you apply. They know the local systems and can speak on your behalf.
For immediate safety planning or local referrals, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 (available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week). You can also chat online at thehotline.org.
Run a full benefits check at Benefits Navigator. The tool checks SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, WIC, LIHEAP, and more based on your income and household without storing personally identifying information.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a police report to apply for government benefits?
No. You do not need a police report to apply for SNAP, Medicaid, TANF, WIC, or LIHEAP. For VAWA housing protections, you can self-certify your survivor status using HUD Form 5382 without a police report. Victim compensation programs often require a report but have exceptions for domestic violence survivors who fear retaliation.
Can I still get TANF if I live with my abuser?
In many cases, yes. Under the Family Violence Option, states can waive the requirement to cooperate with law enforcement or child support enforcement. You do not have to leave to begin receiving cash assistance, though a safety plan is typically part of the process.
What if my income is too high for SNAP but I left with little money?
If you recently left an abusive situation and your previous household income was high but you now have no access to those funds, you may still qualify. SNAP counts the income you currently have access to, not income controlled by an abuser. Explain your situation to the caseworker. Local domestic violence programs can also connect you with emergency funds from private sources.
Can my abuser find out I applied for benefits?
State agencies are required to maintain confidentiality. If you are enrolled in an Address Confidentiality Program, your case address is sealed. Most benefit programs allow phone or online applications, so you do not need to visit an office. Tell the caseworker directly that you are a domestic violence survivor and ask that your case be flagged for confidentiality.
Are immigrant survivors eligible for these benefits?
Some immigrant survivors have special access to benefits. Under VAWA, battered immigrants who have filed a VAWA self-petition or have a pending I-360 petition may qualify for certain federal programs without the usual sponsor income deeming rules. Undocumented survivors are generally not eligible for federal programs but may access state-funded programs depending on the state. A local domestic violence organization can help identify what is available given your immigration status.
What is the fastest way to get emergency cash as a survivor?
The fastest options are typically TANF (emergency processing available in most states), local domestic violence programs (which often have emergency funds directly available), victim compensation programs (some states have emergency awards), and 211 call centers (which can connect you to local emergency assistance). Call 211 or the National DV Hotline to be connected quickly.
How long does transitional housing last?
OVW-funded transitional housing programs can house survivors for 6 to 24 months. Some programs extend beyond that if no permanent housing is available. Programs also offer ongoing support services during that time to help you stabilize.
Does domestic violence affect my eligibility for disability benefits (SSI or SSDI)?
Not directly. SSI and SSDI are based on your income, assets, and disability status. However, if you have physical or mental health conditions resulting from domestic violence, those conditions can be the basis for a disability claim. An advocate can help you gather medical documentation.
