Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) The   TANF   Program provides benefits for families with needy children under age 18. The TANF Program is designed to help needy families achieve self-sufficiency through employment and training activities provided by the TANF Work Program (TWP). TANF supportive services such as assistance with child care and transportation expenses are available to help the adults in the family prepare for employment and to promote self-sufficiency. TANF,   commonly known as welfare, is the monthly cash assistance program for poor families with children under age 18. TANF benefits are made for children and their needy caretaker relatives who do not have enough income or resources to meet their everyday needs by state program standards. The goal of TANF is to end the dependence on public assistance by preparing you for a job by helping you with job readiness training, job skills training, vocational training, other educational training programs and assisting you in finding and keeping a job.  1. Cooperation with Child Support is a requirement of receiving TANF benefits. 2. Cooperation with the TANF Work Program (TWP) is a requirement of receiving TANF unless the adult in the family meets an exemption. 3. Compliance with up-front job search activities is a requirement for TANF application approval. 4. TANF benefits and TANF Work Program Supportive Service payments are issued to a Mississippi Debit MasterCard® Card.  Paper checks are not issued