Hawaii TANF Cash Assistance: 2026 Benefits and Moving In or Out
Moving TO Hawaii
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) / Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF) (Hawaii's TANF program) does not accept transferred cases from other states: every new Hawaii resident applies fresh through Hawaii Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD). There is no waiting period tied to how recently you arrived — eligibility is decided on Hawaii's own income and household rules from the day you become a resident.
Leaving Hawaii
Leaving Hawaii ends your Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) / Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF) (Hawaii's TANF program) case — no state will take it over. Close the case with Hawaii Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) effective your move month, then apply in your destination state immediately after arriving.
Official agency: Hawaii Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) ↗ (application page)
Hawaii TANF at a glance
| Program name | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) / Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF) |
|---|---|
| Max monthly benefit (family of 3) | not published |
| Time limit | — |
| Processing | Not published by the agency |
How to apply for TANF in Hawaii
Apply with Hawaii Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) online at pais.dhs.hawaii.gov, which runs the program as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) / Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF). Go to the official application page ↗
Processing time: Not published by the agency.
Common questions
Do TANF months from another state count in Hawaii?
Generally yes. The federal 60-month lifetime limit counts every month of federally funded TANF an adult received in any state, and Hawaii will ask about past receipt when you apply.
How do I apply for TANF in Hawaii?
Apply with Hawaii Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) online at pais.dhs.hawaii.gov, which runs the program as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) / Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF). Processing time: not published by the agency.
Who runs TANF in Hawaii?
Hawaii Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD), which runs the program as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) / Temporary Assistance for Other Needy Families (TAONF). The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.
Does Hawaii make new residents wait for TANF?
No state may impose a residency waiting period for TANF. You apply as soon as you live in Hawaii; eligibility is decided on Hawaii's own rules.
Where do I report that I'm leaving Hawaii?
Contact Hawaii Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment and Support Services Division (BESSD) (official link below) to report the move and close your case effective your move month.
Every move involving Hawaii
From Hawaii to…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
To Hawaii from…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Other benefits in Hawaii
- Medicaid in Hawaii
- SNAP in Hawaii
- WIC in Hawaii
- Unemployment in Hawaii
- TANF in every state
- State benefits statistics
Terms on this page: TANF 60-month lifetime limit · Federal poverty level (FPL) · EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer)
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified .
- Hawaii DHS BESSD — TANF/TAONF — accessed 2026-08-08
- Hawaii DHS — TANF Brochure DHS-1464 (Rev. 04/2022) — accessed 2026-08-08