There is a five-year lifetime limit on receipt of federal TANF funds. This means that a family is not eligible for Work First if it contains an adult who has received Work First cash assistance for 60 cumulative months. The five-year lifetime time limit began January 1, 1997.

In addition to the five-year federal lifetime limit, families who are active (meaning they are supposed to be working) in North Carolina’s Work First Employment Services are limited to 24 cumulative months of cash assistance unless an extension is granted. Families may re-apply for Work First cash assistance after being off assistance for 36 months.

Families that have complied with the terms of their Mutual Responsibility Agreement and, through no fault of their own, are unable to find a job, may request an extension of benefits after the 24 months. County boards of social services, or their designees, shall review each request to determine whether an extension should be granted. Families must continue to comply with their Mutual Responsibility Agreement during any extension.