TANF 60-month lifetime limit
Federal law caps federally funded TANF cash assistance at 60 months over an adult's lifetime, counted across every state — months used in one state still count after moving. Many states impose shorter limits, and some states' clocks differ, but the federal count never resets.
This is the hidden cost of assuming TANF "starts over" in a new state. The case starts over; the clock does not. Bring your old case records when applying after a move so the accounting is right.
Federal source: HHS OFA — TANF ↗
Related terms: EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer)