Over 100 New Mexico Households to benefit from a $200 monthly bonus incentive
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Human Services Department (HSD) today announced they are reinstating the Cash Assistance Transition Bonus Program (TBP) for New Mexicans participating in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program effective July 1, 2023.
TBP provides an incentive bonus to working families who lose eligibility for TANF because their earnings are too high. Qualifying families will receive $200 per month for up to 18 months to supplement their income and steps-up their benefits to eliminate the cliff effect.
As earnings increase and lower-income families cross different federal poverty levels, family members begin to lose benefits, resulting in a cliff effect that makes it difficult for New Mexico families to get ahead by earning more. To support TANF families transitioning out of the program, HSD received $1.8 million from the New Mexico Legislature in 2022 to reinstate the Transition Bonus Program, which was discontinued in 2011.
“The goal of this program is to convert the cliff into a ramp that allows more time to support a family transitioning out of TANF,” said Karmela Martinez, HSD’s Income Support Director. “The TBP incentive has been shown to improve the quality of life of parents and children by increasing family income, resources and support.”
To qualify, TANF participants must:
- Maintain at least 30 hours per-week in paid employment
- Have received at least 3 months of TANF benefits in their lifetime
- Received one month of TANF in the past three months
- Have not received 18 months of TBP or received 60 months of TANF assistance
- Have income under 150% of the Federal Poverty Level
This program also provides ongoing supportive services such as SNAP food supports, Medicaid, childcare, employment counseling, and work-related expenses to eligible participants.
For more information about how to apply, please visit the HSD website, contact your NM Works (NMW) provider, visit your local HSD office or call HSD Customer Service at 1-800-283-4465.
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We talk, interpret and smile in all languages. We provide written information to our customers in both English and Spanish and interpretation services are available in 58 languages through our provider, CTS Language Link. For our hearing, and speech impaired customers, we utilize Relay New Mexico, a free 24-hour service that ensures equal communication access via the telephone to individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or speech disabled.
The Human Services Department provides services and benefits to 1,085,290 New Mexicans through several programs including: the Medicaid Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Child Support Program, and several Behavioral Health Services.