Tennessee residents who are eligible for the state’s Families First Program can expect to see an extra $500 payment this month, with checks expected to arrive by the end of this month.
The one-time payment is the third of its kind from the Families First Program to be sent out to families over the last year. Before the pandemic, payments from the FFP were somewhat rare, according to state officials, but they have become more common after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
STIMULUS UPDATE: DEADLINE TO RECEIVE DIRECT PAYMENTS WORTH UP TO $4,000 IS JUST TWO DAYS AWAY
Those who are eligible for the program typically see a payment of around $382, but some recipients have seen payments up to $1,400 over the last year, according to local news station WJHL. Some of those increased payments were due to an additional “Back to School” payment distributed earlier this year.
“We’ve accumulated several million dollars in a reserve fund,” said state Rep. David Hawk. “So, we’ve got the monies available to go out. And number two, it is a time of year where families can be completely stressed out.”
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Hawk said the program helps families navigate financial strains by addressing families’ specific needs. Several of the recipients are usually employed, he said, and can enroll in career development training through the program.
“These are folks that should be able to recognize where their family’s greatest needs are, whether it be through childcare, whether it be through some type of a gift, whether it be the car just had some problems and we need to make some repairs there,” he said. “This will give families that latitude to be able to take care of life.”
