South Dakota Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a temporary public assistance program administered by the Department of Social Services and the Department of Labor.

The main focus of the TANF Work Program is to help families to help themselves move from welfare to work by promoting family responsibility and accountability as well as encouraging self-sufficiency through work.

TANF is a needs-based program for families with children under age 18 (or under age 19 if the child is in high school) who need financial support because of:

• a death of a parent,
• a parent is absent from the home or
• physical or mental incapacity or unemployment of a parent.

Families with serious financial needs may qualify for TANF monthly cash payments. Your TANF payment is based on who lives with your family, who is eligible in your household, and other income and resources available to your family. If your family's monthly TANF cash payment is less than $10, no payment will be issued.