Financial Assistance
Bureau of Financial, Health and Work Supports

Family Investment Program (FIP)
The Family Investment Program (FIP) is Iowa's Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program. FIP provides cash assistance to needy families as they become self-supporting so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives.  More information is available in the following brochures:

Family Self Sufficiency Grants (FSSG)
The purpose of FSSG is to provide immediate and short-term assistance to PROMISE JOBS participant families which will remove specific barriers related to obtaining or retaining employment.  Removing these barriers to self-sufficiency might reduce the length of time a family is dependent on the Family Investment Program (FIP).

Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA)
Refugee Cash Assistance provides cash assistance for up to eight months to needy families, including single adults, who enter the United States as refugees who are not eligible for the Family Investment Program. Unless determined exempt, refugees must cooperate with work and training requirements of the RCA programs.

Who Can Get Help?
To get help from most of our programs, you must:
  • Be a U.S. citizen or legal qualified alien.
  • Live in Iowa.
  • Provide a social security number or proof of application for a number.
  • Meet income and resource limits (these vary from program to program).
  • Provide all information needed to determine eligibility and benefit level.

Exceptions:  The Family Investment Program requires that you have a minor child (under age 18 or 19 and still in high school) in the home.

How do I apply?
You can apply for FIP and other DHS programs by:

  • Applying online.  Click here to use the online application.
  • Printing an application form from the links below.  Complete the application by hand and return it to the DHS office serviing the county where you live.
  • Getting an application form from any local Department of Human Services (DHS) office. Click on County DHS Office Locations to find the location of the county DHS office nearest you.

Links to Program Applications

English
Family Investment Program (FIP), Refugee Cash Assistance, Food Assistance or Medical Assistance Public Assistance Application [PDF]
Espanol
Family Investment Program (FIP), Refugee Cash Assistance, Food Assistance or Medical Assistance Solicitud Para Asistencia Publica [PDF]


What if I Have Questions?
Any local DHS office can answer questions about the programs and services described here. Contact the local DHS office serving the county where you live (County DHS Office Locations).

The local DHS office serving your county is also listed in the State or County Government section of your local phone book, under "Department of Human Services" or just "Human Services".

You may also contact the DHS Division of Field Operations by calling (515) 281-6899 or 1-800- 972-2017.

Related Links

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF State Plan and related information

A brief summary of a report by Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. that describes how Iowa families who left FIP in the spring of 1999 were doing two years later, with a link to the full report on Mathematica's website.

Images of people and children