Moving to or from Pennsylvania with TANF
Moving TO Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania TANF does not accept transferred cases from other states: every new Pennsylvania resident applies fresh through Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. There is no waiting period tied to how recently you arrived — eligibility is decided on Pennsylvania's own income and household rules from the day you become a resident.
Leaving Pennsylvania
Leaving Pennsylvania ends your Pennsylvania TANF case — no state will take it over. Close the case with Pennsylvania Department of Human Services effective your move month, then apply in your destination state immediately after arriving.
Official agency: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services ↗ (application page)
Pennsylvania TANF at a glance
| Program name | Pennsylvania TANF |
|---|---|
| Max monthly benefit (family of 3) | not published |
| Time limit | 60 months |
| Processing | Not published on the PA DHS TANF page; track applications at trackmybenefits.pa.gov |
Common questions
Who runs TANF in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. The official page and application link are cited below — always act through them.
Does Pennsylvania make new residents wait for TANF?
No state may impose a residency waiting period for TANF. You apply as soon as you live in Pennsylvania; eligibility is decided on Pennsylvania's own rules.
Where do I report that I'm leaving Pennsylvania?
Contact Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (official link below) to report the move and close your case effective your move month.
Every move involving Pennsylvania
From Pennsylvania to…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- 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
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
To Pennsylvania from…
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- 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
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Official sources
Every fact above was checked against these official pages. Last verified.
- PA DHS TANF — accessed 2026-08-08
- PA — Apply for TANF — accessed 2026-08-08