Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC) is a state and federally funded program which provides cash assistance to families with children and pregnant women in the last 120 days of pregnancy, with little or no assets or income.

Participants receive child care and transportation support associated with job assistance and can access referrals to substance abuse, mental health services, and domestic violence specialists.

In order to qualify for TAFDC, you must be a resident of Massachusetts, either pregnant or responsible for a child under 19 years of age, have low or very low income, and be either under-employed (working for very low wages), unemployed or about to become unemployed.

As part of TAFDC, you may be required to perform a work-related activity in order to receive benefits. The Department of Transitional Assistance provides job assistance to TAFDC participants including job training, job search, and placements into jobs. Other key services include Access to Basic Education, English for Employment, Graduate Equivalency Diploma (GED) assistance, work readiness and skills training. It is especially important for clients to gain employment during their time on TAFDC as recipients are limited to 24 months of assistance in any continuous 60-month period. DTA offers many job assistance programs to provide clients with access to employment and training opportunities.

To be eligible for TAFDC, you must:

  • Meet certain requirements including:
    • Having at least one dependent child under 18 or 19 (including teen parents) OR
    • Being a pregnant women with no children (the child is expected to be born within 120 days of the application)
  • Meet income and asset limits
  • Be a U.S. citizen or a legal immigrant
  • Live in Massachusetts
Apply for TAFDC

To apply for TAFDC, call the North Shore Department of Transitional Assistance office at (978) 825-7300.

For more information, contact the Application Information Unit at 1-800-249-2007 or visit http://www.mass.gov/eohhs/consumer/basic-needs/financial/applying-for-public-assistance.html.