Temporary Family Assistance

NOTICE:

Connecticut passed new legislation requiring DSS to spread out SNAP benefit issuance dates throughout the month rather than concentrating them in the first few days. Read up on the changes that start March 1.

DSS benefits have changed due to the federal budget reconciliation bill (H.R.1). Find out how it will impact you on our website, which answers questions about work requirements and exemptions for SNAP and HUSKY (Medicaid).

Overview

Temporary Family Assistance is the name for the cash assistance program for basic and special needs which are paid to recipients of Jobs First. This replaced what was known as the AFDC program.

Previous welfare programs provided little incentive to find employment as most earnings (after some small disregards) were deducted from the cash benefit. Recipients were not allowed to have or accumulate any savings to plan for future emergencies. Jobs First was designed to reward work by providing incentives to self-support. The program is intended to be transitional assistance and to supply individuals with the tools they need to become self-supporting within twenty-one months.