How to Apply on COMPASS for Child-Only TANF in Pennsylvania

COMPASS is Pennsylvania's online benefits portal, and it's the fastest way to file for Child-Only TANF, SNAP, and Medical Assistance in one shot. But the interface wasn't built with kinship caregivers in mind — there's no obvious "child-only" button, and the form asks income questions that don't apply to your TANF eligibility. Here's how to get through it.

COMPASS Online vs. Paper PA 600

You have two options:

COMPASS (compass.state.pa.us): Create an account, complete the application online, and upload supporting documents. You get a confirmation number immediately and can check your application status online. Processing still takes up to 30 days.

Paper Form PA 600: Pick one up at your County Assistance Office, or call and ask them to mail it. Submit in person, by mail, or by fax. The same 30-day processing deadline applies. Paper is better if you're not comfortable online or if the child just arrived and you want to talk to a caseworker in person.

Both paths cover the same ground. The PA 600 is officially titled "Pennsylvania Application for Benefits" and is used for TANF cash assistance, SNAP, and Medical Assistance.

What to Have Ready Before You Start

Gather these before opening COMPASS or walking into the CAO:

For the child:

• Birth certificate (or hospital birth record, passport, baptismal certificate, or school records as alternatives)
• Social Security number (if available)
• Any income documentation in the child's name (Social Security survivor benefits, child support — most children have none)

For you:

• Photo ID (PA driver's license, state ID, passport, military ID)
• Proof of your relationship to the child — birth certificates that link you through the family tree (yours, the parent's, the child's), or a written statement under 55 Pa. Code § 127.21 if paper records are hard to get
• Proof of Pennsylvania residence (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement, or employer letter)
• Your income information — not because it counts for Child-Only TANF (it doesn't), but because the same application is used for SNAP and other programs that do count household income

Walking Through COMPASS

When you create your COMPASS account and start a new application:

1. Select the programs you're applying for. Check Cash Assistance (TANF), SNAP, and Medical Assistance. Filing for all three at once costs nothing extra and saves you from repeating the process later.
2. List household members. Add yourself and each child. When it asks about your relationship to each child, select the accurate relationship (grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc.).
3. Answer income questions honestly. COMPASS asks about all household income. Enter your pension, Social Security, wages — everything. The system needs this for SNAP eligibility. For the Child-Only TANF portion, the caseworker manually applies the non-needy caretaker relative exclusion (55 Pa. Code § 141.41) during review. Your income showing on the application does not disqualify the child from TANF.
4. Upload documents. COMPASS lets you scan or photograph documents and attach them. Upload everything you can — missing documents are the top reason applications stall past the 30-day window.
5. Submit and save your confirmation number. Print or screenshot the confirmation page.

After You Submit

The County Assistance Office has 30 days to process a TANF application. During that time, a caseworker may contact you for an interview (phone or in-person) or to request additional documentation. Keep your phone on and check your mail — a missed contact attempt can delay your case.

Expedited SNAP: If your household has very low income and almost no liquid assets, SNAP must be processed within 5 calendar days. TANF does not have an expedited track, but filing SNAP on the same application means at least one benefit can arrive quickly.

Aid Paid Pending: If you receive a denial notice and file an appeal within 10 to 13 calendar days (before the effective date of the adverse action), your benefits may continue at the previous level while the appeal is decided.

Common Application Mistakes

• Not specifying "non-needy caretaker relative." If the COMPASS form doesn't make this clear, note it in the comments or tell the caseworker during your interview. You want the child-only budget group, not a household TANF case that counts your income.
• Assuming the process is too slow to bother. Thirty days feels long when you're covering a child's expenses out of pocket. But TANF, once approved, pays monthly going forward — and SNAP can arrive within days under expedited rules.
• Skipping the relationship proof. If you don't have birth certificates showing the family chain, a written statement of kinship is legally sufficient under 55 Pa. Code § 127.21 unless someone contradicts it. Don't let missing paperwork stop you from filing.

For the full application checklist, grant tables by county, and a worked example of the TANF calculation, the Pennsylvania Kinship Financial Help Guide walks through every step.

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