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COVID -19 state financial relief application available online for those who lost employment

Posted at 1:14 PM, Mar 26, 2020
and last updated 2020-03-26 23:38:22-04

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Essential financial resources are now available to families that have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The application for the relief resources was scheduled to launch at noon Thursday. Families can apply online for up to two months of emergency cash assistance if they were employed as of March 11, and they've lost employment or at least half of their earned income as a result of the pandemic.

"A lot of our families in Tennessee are facing unprecedented times, they’re are facing reduction of work, they’re facing reduction of hours, they are unable to work because of situations outside of their control," said TDHS Commissioner Danielle Barnes.

The emergency cash assistance is funded by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program. It provides $500 for a household of one to two people, $750 for three to four people and $1,000 for a household with five or more people.

"This emergency cash assistance can help those families be able to provide to be able to thrive during this time when it is so unprecedented, so unexpected," said Barnes.

This assistance is available in addition to any unemployment benefits individuals or families may be getting.

The Department of Human Services is asking applicants to complete the application process online here. For more information on the Department of Human Services' emergency cash assistance, head here.

Barnes says once you apply it will take the state about 2-3 days to assess the application. Afterward, they'll mail a debit card directly to your home, that can take another 5-7 days.