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