What is the average welfare benefit?

Each state determines, partly based on federal guidelines, and partly determined by state prerogative, how much each recipients check will be worth. There are formulas that each state puts into place to make this process unbiased and objective, which generally involves determining your income, compensating for your particular expenses, and dividing by a certain factor. Typically, a person earning an income of $1,500 to $2,000 per month-a level of income that would generally make a person with children or other dependents eligible for TANF-could expect to get a check for somewhere between $350 and $450 per month.