Texas One-Time TANF for Relatives: How to Get the $1,000 Grant

What the OT-TANF Payment Is

One-Time TANF for Relatives (OT-TANF) is a single $1,000 cash payment from HHSC for eligible relatives after a child is certified for ongoing TANF. It can help cover immediate costs such as beds, car seats, clothing, and school supplies.

It is limited to one $1,000 payment per eligible relative. That relative cannot receive it again for other children who later move into the home, and another relative cannot claim it for a child who already received the payment.

Eligibility Requirements

OT-TANF has its own rules, separate from the monthly Child-Only TANF grant:

Age requirement: The caregiver must be age 25 or older. Earlier HHSC policy referenced age 45, but the current threshold under Texas Works Handbook Section A-2422 is 25.

Relationship: You must be a qualifying relative of the child — a grandparent, aunt, uncle, brother, or sister (including great- and great-great-grandparents, aunts, and uncles). Nieces, nephews, and cousins do not qualify for this payment.

Income limit: Your countable household income must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. The dollar limit depends on household size.

Resource limit: Countable household resources must be at or below $1,000. HHSC applies its resource-counting rules when deciding which assets count.

Personal Responsibility Agreement: You must sign a Personal Responsibility Agreement committing to keep the child's immunizations current and ensure school attendance.

Child eligibility: The child must meet the same basic requirements as Child-Only TANF — under 18, Texas resident, U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen, with a Social Security number or pending application for one.

How to Apply

You apply through the same channels as regular TANF — the Your Texas Benefits portal, a call to 2-1-1, or an in-person visit to your local HHSC office. The application is part of the H1010 form process.

When you apply, let the caseworker know explicitly that you are requesting the One-Time TANF for Relatives payment. It is a separate program code in the HHSC system, and caseworkers who primarily handle standard TANF may not automatically flag you for it.

The child must already be certified for ongoing TANF to qualify for OT-TANF. The $1,000 payment and monthly grant have separate eligibility rules.

What to Bring

• Proof of your age (driver's license, state ID, passport)
• Proof of your relationship to the child (birth certificates showing the family connection)
• Proof of household income (pay stubs, Social Security award letter, pension statement)
• Bank statements showing resources under $1,000
• The child's birth certificate and Social Security card
• Proof of Texas residency

How It Interacts with Other Benefits

The $1,000 OT-TANF payment is excluded as income for SNAP, TANF, and Medicaid, and HHSC excludes it from SNAP resources. Receiving it will not reduce your food benefits or change your SNAP eligibility.

Common Reasons for Denial

The most frequent denial reasons are straightforward:

• Resources over $1,000. If your countable resources exceed this threshold at the time of application, you are ineligible. HHSC applies its resource-counting rules to determine which assets count.
• Previously received OT-TANF. This is a once-per-lifetime benefit. HHSC maintains records and will deny a second application.
• Age under 25. Younger relatives — such as an older sibling who is 22 — do not qualify for OT-TANF, though they may still qualify for monthly Child-Only TANF.
• Missing Personal Responsibility Agreement. If you do not sign the PRA, the application stalls.

If denied, you have the right to request a Fair Hearing within 90 days. The denial notice will include instructions for filing the request.

Planning Your Application

OT-TANF is straightforward money, but the resource limit trips up caregivers who apply without thinking through their bank balances. Our Texas Kinship Financial Help Guide includes a resource calculation worksheet and a timeline showing how to stack OT-TANF with your Child-Only TANF application for maximum benefit in the first month.

See more Texas guides →