Estimate your potential monthly assistance based on family size and household income.
1 Person
2 People
3 People
4 People
5 People
6 People
7 People
8 or more People
Estimated Monthly FIP Grant: $0.00
Understanding the Iowa Family Investment Program (FIP)
The Family Investment Program (FIP) is Iowa's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It provides time-limited cash assistance to low-income families with children while they work toward becoming self-sufficient. This calculator helps residents estimate their potential benefit based on the current Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) guidelines.
How Iowa FIP Benefits Are Calculated
The calculation for FIP is not a flat rate. It depends on several factors, including household size and the amount of income the family currently receives. The state uses a "Payment Standard" which represents the maximum grant available for a family size with zero income.
The General Formula:
Determine the Payment Standard: This is based on the number of eligible people in the household.
Calculate Countable Earned Income: Iowa typically applies a 20% work expense deduction to gross earned income. In some cases, a 50% work incentive deduction may also apply after the initial eligibility period.
Add Unearned Income: Money from sources like Social Security or veteran benefits is added to the countable earned income.
Subtract Total Income from the Standard: The final grant is the difference between the Payment Standard and the total countable income.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify for FIP in Iowa, families must meet specific criteria:
Citizenship: Must be a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien.
Residency: Must live in Iowa.
Family Composition: There must be at least one minor child in the home (or a pregnant woman in her third trimester).
Work Requirements: Most adults must participate in the PROMISE JOBS program to help gain employment.
Asset Limits: Families must have limited resources (generally $2,000 for applicants and $5,000 for existing recipients).
Example Calculation
Imagine a family of 3 with a gross monthly earned income of $200 and no unearned income.
Payment Standard (Size 3): $426.00
Earned Income Deduction (20%): $200 x 0.80 = $160 countable.
While subject to legislative change, the standard maximum monthly grants in Iowa are generally as follows:
1 Person: $183
2 People: $361
3 People: $426
4 People: $495
5 People: $548
6 People: $610
Note: This calculator provides an estimate only. Actual eligibility and benefit amounts are determined exclusively by the Iowa Department of Human Services.
function calculateFIP() {
// Payment Standards for Iowa FIP (Estimated current rates)
var standards = {
"1": 183.00,
"2": 361.00,
"3": 426.00,
"4": 495.00,
"5": 548.00,
"6": 610.00,
"7": 670.00,
"8": 725.00
};
var famSize = document.getElementById("familySize").value;
var grossEarned = parseFloat(document.getElementById("earnedIncome").value);
var unearned = parseFloat(document.getElementById("unearnedIncome").value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(grossEarned)) grossEarned = 0;
if (isNaN(unearned)) unearned = 0;
var paymentStandard = standards[famSize];
// Iowa typically uses a 20% work expense disregard for the initial calculation
// Countable Earned = Gross Earned * 0.80
var countableEarned = grossEarned * 0.80;
var totalCountableIncome = countableEarned + unearned;
var estimatedGrant = paymentStandard – totalCountableIncome;
// Grants cannot be negative
if (estimatedGrant < 0) {
estimatedGrant = 0;
}
// Update Display
document.getElementById("fipResultDisplay").style.display = "block";
document.getElementById("grantAmount").innerHTML = "$" + estimatedGrant.toFixed(2);
var breakdownText = "Based on a family size of " + famSize + ", the maximum standard is $" + paymentStandard.toFixed(2) + ". ";
breakdownText += "After a 20% work disregard, your countable monthly income is estimated at $" + totalCountableIncome.toFixed(2) + ".";
document.getElementById("fipBreakdown").innerHTML = breakdownText;
}