Cash assistance programs in Washington and who they help
If you live in Washington and there is not enough money coming in to cover rent, food, and the other basics, the state may be able to send you a monthly cash payment. There is more than one cash program, and each one is meant for a different situation - a parent raising kids, a grandparent caring for a grandchild, a senior, an adult too sick to work, a pregnant woman, or a refugee who just arrived.
This page covers each cash assistance program in Washington state, who it may help, and how to apply. Almost all of them are run by the Department of Social and Health Services, known as DSHS. One yearly payment at the bottom of the page comes from the state Department of Revenue instead.
One thing to know up front. The federal cash program called TANF goes by a different name in Washington - here it is called WorkFirst. If you moved from another state, or you are reading about TANF somewhere else, the name may be different but the help is similar.
Monthly cash for families with children - WorkFirst and TANF
WorkFirst is Washington's version of TANF, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. It may pay a monthly cash grant to families with little or no income. To qualify, your household generally needs to include a child under 18, a teenager who is still finishing high school, or someone who is pregnant.
The money comes with expectations. Most parents who receive the grant are asked to take part in the WorkFirst program itself, which means working with a case worker on a plan to find a job, get training, go back to school, or deal with whatever is standing in the way of work. If you follow the plan, the state may also pay for things you need to get or keep a job, such as gas, bus fare, car repairs, work clothes, tools, or license fees.
You will usually be asked to cooperate with the state on child support if the other parent is not in the home. If pursuing child support would put you or your children in danger, tell your case worker. You can ask for what the state calls good cause, and the requirement may be waived. When the state does collect support, part of each payment may be passed through to your family on top of the grant.
TANF is temporary. In most cases an adult can only receive it for a total of five years over their lifetime, though Washington may grant extensions in hardship situations such as a disability, homelessness, or family violence. Families receiving TANF or State Family Assistance with a very young child may also get a small added monthly payment to help with diapers and other baby needs.
Some tribes in Washington operate their own TANF programs. If you or your children are tribal members, ask whether a tribal TANF office serves your family. Full rules for the state program are on the DSHS Temporary Assistance for Needy Families page at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/temporary-assistance-needy-families.
Cash for grandparents and other relatives raising a child
Washington also pays what it calls Non-Needy TANF, sometimes described as a child-only grant. It is for grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, and other relatives who have taken in a child who is not their own. Legal guardians and adults acting in the place of a parent may qualify too.
Here is the part many caregivers miss. The caregiver's own income is not counted when the state decides whether the child qualifies. A grandparent with a pension or a steady paycheck may still receive a monthly grant for the grandchild in their care. Caregivers who only receive the grant on behalf of the child do not have to take part in the WorkFirst job requirements.
State Family Assistance when federal rules block TANF
State Family Assistance, or SFA, is a cash program paid for with Washington's own money. It exists for families who meet all the income rules but cannot get federal TANF only because of restrictions in federal welfare law - most often this affects certain legal immigrants.
You do not apply for SFA separately. If DSHS finds your family ineligible for TANF for that reason, they may check whether SFA can cover you instead. The monthly benefit works the same way.
One-time cash instead of a monthly grant - Diversion Cash Assistance
Some families hit one bad month but do not need help every month. Diversion Cash Assistance, or DCA, is a single payment for families who would qualify for TANF but expect to support themselves going forward. The money may go toward rent, transportation, medical bills, child care, or costs tied to keeping a job.
There are a few things to know before choosing it. DCA is available once in a twelve-month period, and if you end up needing TANF within a year, you may have to pay a portion of it back. On the other hand, it does not use up any of your lifetime TANF months, and there is no WorkFirst requirement attached.
The payment is capped, and the cap can change, so ask DSHS what the current amount is. Details are on the DSHS Diversion Cash Assistance page at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/diversion-cash-assistance-dca.
Cash for adults who are 65 or older, blind, or unable to work
The Aged, Blind or Disabled program, called ABD, pays a monthly cash grant to adults with very little income who are 65 or older, are blind, or have a health condition expected to keep them from working for at least a year. The grant is modest, but it comes with other help attached.
People approved for ABD receive a referral to the Housing and Essential Needs program at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/housing-and-essential-needs-referral-program,, which may help with rent and basic items such as hygiene and cleaning supplies. A case worker also helps ABD recipients apply for federal SSI, which pays more. You cannot receive ABD if you or your spouse already get SSI.
If a health condition keeps you from working for at least 90 days but you do not qualify for ABD cash, you may still be able to get a Housing and Essential Needs referral on its own. Program rules are on the DSHS Aged, Blind or Disabled Cash Program page at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/aged-blind-or-disabled-cash-program, and there are more resources on the NHPB guide to disability benefits and financial help for the disabled in WA.
Cash during pregnancy - Pregnant Women Assistance
Pregnant Women Assistance, or PWA, is a state-funded monthly cash grant for pregnant women who cannot get TANF or SFA but meet the same income rules. It is time limited, and it also comes with a referral to the Housing and Essential Needs program.
If you are pregnant and have little or no income, apply and let DSHS sort out which program fits. Depending on your situation, a pregnant woman may qualify for TANF, SFA, or PWA. Details are on the DSHS Pregnant Women Assistance page at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/pregnant-women-assistance-pwa-program.
Cash for refugees and other new arrivals
Refugee Cash Assistance, or RCA, helps refugees, asylees, victims of trafficking, and certain other humanitarian immigrants during their first months in the country. It is meant for adults and couples without minor children - families with children usually go through TANF instead.
The payments last a limited number of months after arrival, and recipients are generally expected to take part in work and job training activities. The time limit has changed over the years, so confirm the current rule with DSHS. Eligibility details are on the DSHS Refugee Cash Assistance page at https://www.dshs.wa.gov/esa/community-services-offices/refugee-cash-assistance.
A yearly cash payment for workers - the Working Families Tax Credit
Separate from the monthly DSHS grants, Washington sends a yearly cash refund to workers with lower incomes. It is called the Working Families Tax Credit, and it is run by the state Department of Revenue. You have to apply for it - it does not arrive on its own, and many people who qualify never claim it.
To get it, you file your federal tax return, then submit a short application to the state. Workers who file taxes with an ITIN instead of a Social Security number can apply, which means many immigrant families qualify. The payment depends on your income and how many children you have, and the rules shift a bit each year, so check the current details on the state's Working Families Tax Credit eligibility page at https://workingfamiliescredit.wa.gov/eligibility. If you missed it in a recent year, you may still be able to apply for that year too.
Emergency cash from DSHS
DSHS also runs emergency programs that sit apart from the monthly grants. People already receiving TANF, SFA, or RCA who face a sudden housing or utility crisis may qualify for a one-time emergency payment on top of their grant. And when the governor declares a disaster, such as a major wildfire, the state may open a short-term disaster cash program for people affected, including some who do not qualify for other programs.
These crisis programs have their own rules and paperwork. Read more on the NHPB page about emergency assistance programs in Washington.
Applying for cash assistance in Washington
Every DSHS cash program on this page uses the same application. You can apply online at Washington Connection at https://www.washingtonconnection.org/home, in person at a local Community Services Office (website: https://www.dshs.wa.gov/office-locations, or by phone at 877-501-2233. Applications can also be mailed or faxed. After you apply, DSHS will do a short interview with you, usually by phone.
One application can cover several benefits at once - cash, food help through Basic Food, and health coverage. So ask for everything you may need at the same time. If you are not sure whether you qualify, apply anyway and let DSHS decide. Applying is free, and no legitimate organization will ever charge you to fill out these forms.
Once approved, payments usually arrive each month on an EBT card, or by direct deposit into your own bank account. The state also runs a site called MyWABenefits where you can track the status of your application after you submit it.
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