How to Apply for Child-Only TANF in Washington

You've confirmed the child qualifies for a non-needy relative TANF grant. Now comes the actual application — and the difference between a smooth 30-day approval and a stalled case usually comes down to submitting the right documents upfront.

Where to Apply

Washington offers three routes, and they all feed into the same DSHS system:

Online through Washington Connection (washingtonconnection.org) — available 24 hours, lets you upload documents directly, and gives you a confirmation number immediately. This is the fastest route for most caregivers.

By phone — call DSHS Customer Service at 1-877-501-2233 during business hours. A representative walks you through the application over the phone.

In person at your local DSHS Community Services Office (CSO). Walk-ins are accepted. Find your nearest CSO through the DSHS office locator. Bring all your documents — the caseworker can scan them on the spot.

Washington Connection covers TANF cash and Basic Food (SNAP). Apply for Apple Health for Kids separately through Washington Healthplanfinder.

What You're Selecting on the Application

When Washington Connection asks what type of assistance you're requesting, select cash assistance for the child only. Do not include yourself as someone requesting cash aid — that would trigger full household income testing, WorkFirst work requirements, and the 60-month time limit. The point of the non-needy relative pathway is that you're applying strictly on behalf of the child.

Documents to Prepare Before You Start

Missing verification is the single most common reason DSHS processing drags past the 30-day window. Gather these before you sit down with the application:

For the child:

• Birth certificate (or hospital birth record, passport, or baptismal certificate)
• Social Security card (or an SSN receipt showing the application is pending)
• Any income documentation — Social Security survivor benefit award letter, child support records, trust payout statements

For your relationship and the living arrangement:

• Birth certificates or marriage certificates linking you to the child generationally (grandparent → parent → child)
• DSHS Relative Caregiver Declaration (Form 14-432), signed under penalty of perjury
• Proof the child lives with you — school registration, report card, medical chart notes, or a signed landlord statement

For your identity (as the applicant):

• Your photo ID
• If you have Letters of Guardianship under RCW 11.130, bring a certified copy — it strengthens your application but isn't required

What Happens After You Submit

DSHS has 30 calendar days to process a TANF application. During that window, a caseworker may contact you for an eligibility interview — usually by phone. They'll verify the child's identity, your relationship, the living arrangement, and the child's income.

If DSHS needs additional documents, they'll send a verification request letter with a deadline. Respond promptly. A missed verification deadline can result in a denial; contact DSHS about the next step if that happens.

Once approved, benefits are loaded onto a Quest EBT card. You'll receive the card by mail if you don't already have one.

If the Application Is Rejected

Don't accept a denial without understanding why. Common rejection reasons for non-needy relative TANF include:

• Missing relationship documentation (fixable by submitting birth/marriage certificates)
• The child's own income exceeds the payment standard (nothing you can do except reapply if the child's income changes)
• The application was mistakenly processed as a full-household TANF case instead of child-only

If you believe the denial was wrong, you have 90 calendar days from the notice mailing date to request a fair hearing. File within 10 calendar days of the notice mailing date to maintain benefits at the pre-denial level while the appeal is heard.

A Complete Application Walkthrough

The Washington Financial Help for Kinship Caregivers guide includes a pre-flight document checklist, an application tracker for recording submission dates and caseworker names, and step-by-step instructions for navigating Washington Connection as a non-needy relative caregiver.

See more Washington guides →