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TANF State Plan FFY 2026 Effective October 1, 2025 Page 6 of 24 2. TANF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES Idaho’s TANF funds provide cash assistance to needy families in Idaho TANF funds also support an array of other programs and services to eligible families and individuals who meet the eligibility criteria established by the four TANF purposes and rules of the Department of Health and Welfare in accordance with this State plan. A. Temporary Cash Assistance for Families in Idaho (TANF) Idaho provides TANF cash payments to needy families with children, including two-parent households. Idaho families with a dependent child, or pregnant women in the third trimester of pregnancy, meet the definition of “needy” if their countable household earned income (after the 40% earned income disregard) and unearned income is below 32% of the 200% federal poverty level for the budget unit size. A family is considered “needy” when their countable monthly income (earned and unearned) is less than $309, the maximum grant amount. The family resource limit for TANF is $5,000. TANF applicants must comply with all program requirements to receive benefits. Each individual applying for cash assistance must state in writing whether the individual or any member of their household has been convicted of a felony involving a controlled substance. However, Idaho has exercised the opt-out provision in section 115 of PRWORA, P.L. 104-193. Accordingly, the Department may provide Food Stamps and services funded under Title IV-A (including cash assistance, TANF supportive services and at-risk services) to a person who has been convicted of a felony involving a controlled substance, if they comply with the terms of a withheld judgment, probation or parole. B. Benefit Delivery Delivery of cash benefits is made through electronic benefit transfers (EBT), either directly to a recipient’s bank account or to an account maintained by the State on behalf of the recipient through an electronic benefits transfer (EBT) vendor. The EBT system is an online system accessed with plastic magnetic strip cards and personal identification numbers (PINs). Benefits are accessible through point of sale (POS) devices at participating retailers or at automated teller machines (ATMs). The EBT system is operable anywhere in the United States where the retailer or ATM displays the Quest logo. The Quest logo signifies that the retailer or ATM owner follows the national operating rules for EBT adopted by the National Automated Clearing House Association (NACHA). During the 2012 Legislative Session, the Idaho State Legislature passed a law addressing the Prohibited Uses of Public Assistance Benefit Cards; more specifically, this law addressed the use of TANF benefits provided to a recipient on an Idaho Quest EBT card account (Section 56-227F, Idaho Code, Effective 07/01/2012). The enacted Statute outlines that: • TANF recipients cannot use their EBT card for restricted activities such as gambling; purchase of cigarettes, tobacco, or alcohol; adult entertainment; tattoos; or activities in any restricted location as outlined in the legislation; and • Certain types of businesses are restricted from accepting TANF EBT benefits, specifically: businesses that sell alcoholic beverages by the drink; state liquor stores; gambling establishments; businesses offering tattoo or body modification services; adult entertainment venues; and any establishment where persons under age 18 are not permitted.