Transferring TANF from Louisiana to Georgia
The case closes, the clock doesn't. Leaving Louisiana ends your cash assistance there; applying with Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services starts Georgia's process fresh, under Georgia's amounts and work rules. Meanwhile every month of TANF you have ever used still counts toward the federal 60-month lifetime limit.
Georgia also sets a 48-month state time limit, shorter than the federal 60-month cap.
Official Georgia TANF agency: Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services ↗ (application page)
Your step-by-step checklist
Before you move
- 1
Tell Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services you are leaving the state
Ask for your cash-assistance case to be closed as of your move. TANF cannot pay you in two states at once.
Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services ↗
Moving week
- 2
Know that your lifetime clock travels with you
Months of TANF you have already used count toward the federal 60-month lifetime limit in every state — moving does not reset it, and some states set shorter limits.
After you arrive
- 3
Apply with Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services after you arrive
Benefit amounts and rules differ sharply between states — expect a different monthly amount and new work requirements.
Online application ↗
Louisiana vs Georgia: the numbers that decide it
| Louisiana (old state) | Georgia (new state) | |
|---|---|---|
| Program name | Family Independence Temporary Assistance Program (FITAP) | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) |
| Agency | Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services | Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services |
| Max monthly benefit (family of 3) | $484 | not published |
| Time limit | 60 months | 48 months |
Verified 2026-08-08 (Louisiana) and 2026-08-08 (Georgia) against the official sources cited below.
Moving with more than one benefit?
The checklist generator merges Medicaid, SNAP, WIC, unemployment, and TANF into one ordered to-do list for this exact move.
Build the full Louisiana → Georgia checklistCommon questions
Does my TANF time limit reset when I move to Georgia?
No. The federal 60-month lifetime limit counts TANF months from every state — moving never resets it. Georgia may also apply its own state limit on top of the federal one.
Will I get the same monthly amount in Georgia?
Probably not. TANF amounts are set state by state and differ widely. Check Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services's published payment standards for your family size before you budget around the move.
Can I apply for TANF in Georgia before I move?
No — you must be a Georgia resident to apply. Apply as soon as you arrive, and if the move itself created a crisis, ask Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services about emergency or diversion assistance, which some states pay faster than ongoing TANF.
Where do I actually apply in Georgia?
Through Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Family & Children Services (online application linked above). Official TANF pages for both states are cited at the bottom of this page.
Related guides
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- DCFS FITAP page — accessed 2026-08-08
- DCFS news - TANF cash benefit increase Jan 2022 ($240 to $484 for household of 3) — accessed 2026-08-08
- DCFS news - FITAP transition to Louisiana Department of Health Oct 2025 — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia DFCS — TANF — accessed 2026-08-08
- Georgia DFCS — TANF Eligibility Requirements — accessed 2026-08-08