Around 24,000 children will receive holiday presents this year, families in Tennessee will receive an additional $500 in benefits, and payment will be sent through EBT cards. It is a one-time payment that will be given to households with a case in the Families First program as of Dec. 1
One-Time Additional Benefit
The Tennessee Department of Human Services says this extra payment will be given to families who receive transportation, child care, education, and temporary cash assistance from the state.
According to Commissioner Clarence Carter, it is a way to help families under Families First to help them meet the demand of their children this holiday season. It will help alleviate their financial difficulties in caring for their children.
Financial standards should be met to become qualified for the one-time additional benefit. In addition, applicants must follow a “Personal Responsibility Plan,” which includes updated health monitoring and immunization for children, sending children to school, participating in child support services, and meeting 30 hours per week of work or training requirements, tn.gov posted.
Also, participants must develop a “Family Empower Plan” to cooperate with case management providers to tackle families’ strengths and needs.
Families First program aims to help emphasize job training, work, and personal responsibility to achieve self-sufficiency through employment, and it is helping thousands of households in Tennessee.
Inflation in Tennessee
The $500 extra benefits can help many families in Tennessee as the inflation rate increases dramatically. A report says that the average household pays $616 more than last year for necessities.
As of September 2022, Tennesse households pay extra for the same goods and services purchased in 2021. The national median is $728, and Tennessee has a lower average in comparison. Though the cost of goods stops increasing, inflation still affects many households in the country.
