Obama Phone

Helping Americans with free Lifeline cell phones

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Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TTANF) Eligibility for Obama Phone

If you qualify for the Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, you may also be eligible for an Obama Phone. Let’s briefly review how the program works, who qualifies for it, and how to enroll.

Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also called TTANF, is a federally-funded assistance program that is almost identical to the standard Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The main difference is that it is available only to individuals who are members of a federally-recognized tribe, are American Indians or are Alaska Natives. TTANF is also administered locally by the tribe itself rather than by a state or county agency. Although each tribe has the ability and leeway to customize their TTANF program to fit their area needs, programs must be designed to meet the four federally defined purposes listed below:

  • Assist low-income families so that children can be cared for in their own homes
  • Reduce the dependency of low-income parents on subsidized assistance by promoting job preparation, work and marriage
  • Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies
  • Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families

Qualifying for Tribally-Administered Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or any other government program described on this site, also qualifies you for the Lifeline Assistance Obama Phone program.

Tribal TANF Program Benefits

Participants in the TTANF program can receive a variety of assistance ranging from cash to reimbursement for expenses related to job training and education. Below is a list of some of the benefits that may be available to participants.

  • Cash assistance
  • Education development assistance
  • Career development assistance
  • Child care stipend
  • Transportation assistance
  • K-12 Clothing allowance
  • Monthly cash assistance
  • Stipend for child care costs
  • Emergency assistance
  • Transportation and/or reimbursement
  • Referrals to other agencies and organizations
  • Career development
  • Payment of employment or educational expenses

Do you qualify for TTANF?

Although program criteria vary slightly among tribes, the following criteria are typically required in order for you to participate in the TTANF program.

  • One member of your household must be a member of a federally recognized tribe. Proof of tribe lineage is required at the time of application.
  • There must be a low-income, minor dependent in your home or you must be the in the third trimester of pregnancy
  • You must reside within the tribe or area where they are applying for assistance
  • You must specific meet income guidelines

How to enroll in the TTANF Program

If you want to apply for the TTANF program, you must be able to provide the following documentation to support the information provided on the application:

  • Valid identification for all household members
  • Birth certificates for all household members
  • Social Security cards or numbers for all household members
  • Proof of tribal enrollment or lineal descendancy from at least one household member
  • Proof of income including Social Security Income statements and Veterans Benefit Income statements
  • Immunization records for children
  • School enrollment and attendance verification for all children
  • Bank statements and other forms of income verification
  • Proof of residency

Important Pages

  • A guide to Obama Phone providers in your state
  • Obama Phone News & Updates
  • What is the Obama Phone?
  • Who qualifies for an Obama Phone?
    • Tribal Head Start
    • Veterans Pension and Survivors Pension Eligibility for an Obama Phone
  • How to Get an Obama Phone?
  • Obamaphone Providers
  • Who Started the Obama Phone?
  • Lifeline Facts
  • Obama Phone FAQs
  • Discussion Forum / Q&A

Subsidized Internet Too

The FCC has also encouraged major internet providers to provide high-speed broadband to the very same people that qualify for the Obama Phone. Only $9.95 a month. There are cheap internet plans for both cable and DSL. To learn more please go to CheapInternet.com.

Recent News

  • Dropping like a rock: ObamaPhone enrollment falls by two million in three years
  • $7 Billion Bonanza: The new FCC Broadband Connectivity Fund
  • Sprint charges government for inactive Lifeline customers, FCC fines them $200 million for fraud
  • More than 1,000,000 have already signed up for government’s new $50 per month internet discount
  • Universal broadband for everyone who needs it! Free government cell phones for everyone who needs them! Mark Lowenstein for FCC Commissioner!
  • Could your ObamaPhone arrive with malware installed?
  • Assist Wireless exposes tens of thousands of customer IDs in five states
  • Is it the BidenPhone? Free unlimited talk, unlimited text AND unlimited data for a limited time
  • USAC’s port freeze rule eliminated, ObamaPhone customers can now switch companies at any time
  • Obama is gone, and now his enemies want to kill the Obama Phone program

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