The Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA) program is an important resource for families with children under 18 (or under 19 if they are full-time high school students), as it provides financial assistance to help them maintain stability and move toward self-sufficiency.
This program is open to persons who meet strict technical, income, and asset requirements. Even pregnant women may be eligible for TCA in the third trimester if they are unable to work or in their ninth month of pregnancy.
Eligible for the TCA
Eligibility for TCA is subject to numerous essential regulations, including a lifetime cap: adults can receive monetary support for a maximum of 48 months. However, “child-only” instances, in which only the child receives benefits, are not subject to this time limit, recognizing the special requirements of children in those circumstances.
Meanwhile, some recipients are compelled to participate in work-related activities unless they are exempt, with Regional Workforce Boards providing tools to assist them in finding or retaining employment.
Income and asset constraints are important considerations in establishing TCA eligibility. A family’s total income must be less than 185 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, and the countable income cannot exceed the prescribed payment criteria for their family size.
TCA also requires applicants to meet specific citizenship and residency requirements. They must be US citizens or qualifying non-citizens who live in Florida.
A Social Security number is also required, or confirmation that they have applied for one. Furthermore, the program requires children to reside with their parents or a close relative, ensuring that aid is directed to those who actually need it inside their family context.
TCA Payment in October
TCA benefits are distributed monthly via the Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) system, which runs from the first to the 28th. Payments are scheduled based on the family’s Florida case number, as follows:
| Case Number Range | Date |
|---|---|
| 00-03 | 1st of the month |
| 04-06 | 2nd of the month |
| 07-10 | 3rd of the month |
| 11-13 | 4th of the month |
| 14-17 | 5th of the month |
| 18-20 | 6th of the month |
| 21-24 | 7th of the month |
| 25-27 | 8th of the month |
| 28-31 | 9th of the month |
| 32-34 | 10th of the month |
| 35-38 | 11th of the month |
| 39-41 | 12th of the month |
| 42-45 | 13th of the month |
| 46-48 | 14th of the month |
| 49-53 | 15th of the month |
| 54-57 | 16th of the month |
| 58-60 | 17th of the month |
| 61-64 | 18th of the month |
| 65-67 | 19th of the month |
| 68-71 | 20th of the month |
| 72-74 | 21st of the month |
| 75-78 | 22nd of the month |
| 79-81 | 23rd of the month |
| 82-85 | 24th of the month |
| 86-88 | 25th of the month |
| 89-92 | 26th of the month |
| 93-95 | 27th of the month |
| 96-99 | 28th of the month |