- Three program divisions: Family & Children Services (DFCS), Aging Services (DAS) and Child Support Services (DCSS).
- How to apply for benefits: DFCS takes applications for SNAP, Medicaid, TANF and Refugee Assistance. Apply online at Georgia Gateway (gateway.ga.gov), by phone at 877-423-4746 (as printed on the DFCS site), or by mailing a paper application to your local DFCS office.
- Car and transportation help: we found no DHS program that gives out or buys cars. The real help is narrower: DFCS TANF support services for participants in work activities (transportation, some repairs, insurance and license fees, with advance approval). Our Georgia car assistance guide covers it in full.
People search for “Georgia DHS” to apply for benefits, report a concern, find a local office or ask about car help. This guide explains what the department is, what its three divisions do, how to apply, and where car and transportation help fits in. An earlier version of this article spoke in the agency’s voice, listed leaders and divisions that do not match the official pages, and told stories about named families that we could not verify. We removed all of that. Facts here come from official Georgia pages, and where we could not confirm a detail we point you to the official page.
What Georgia DHS Is
| Topic | What the official source says |
|---|---|
| Role | DHS says it delivers a wide range of human services designed to promote self-sufficiency, safety and well-being for all Georgians. |
| History | DHS formed in July 2009 as part of the reorganization of the former Georgia Department of Human Resources, which had served Georgia since 1972. |
| Size | DHS says it employs approximately 9,500 people and has an annual operating budget of $2.3 billion. |
| Divisions | Three program divisions: Aging Services, Child Support Services, and Family & Children Services. |
| Mission | “Strengthen Georgia by providing individuals and families access to services that promote self-sufficiency, independence, and protect Georgia’s vulnerable children and adults.” |
| Vision | “Stronger Families for a Stronger Georgia.” |
| Leadership | The Executive Leadership page lists Candice Broce as Commissioner. Staff lists change, so check the Executive Leadership page for the current team. |
| Address and main phone | 47 Trinity Ave. S.W., Atlanta, GA 30334. Primary phone (877) 423-4746, as printed on the DHS site. |
Sources: DHS About, DHS Mission, Vision and Core Values and DHS Executive Leadership.
The Three DHS Divisions
| Division | What the official site says |
|---|---|
| Family & Children Services (DFCS) | Provides support services and programs to help Georgia families and children in need. You can apply for SNAP, Medicaid, TANF and Refugee Assistance through DFCS. Child Protective Services staff investigate reports of child abuse and neglect. Find your county office on the DFCS locations page. |
| Aging Services (DAS) | Coordinates with other aging organizations to help older Georgians stay in their homes and communities, and supports family members and caregivers. DAS runs its programs through Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs), so what is available depends on your region. Program areas listed include help at home, nutrition and wellness, caregiver programs, Adult Protective Services, Medicare counseling and the Senior Community Service Employment Program for low-income seniors age 55 and older. Find your AAA on the DAS locations page. |
| Child Support Services (DCSS) | Works to increase the consistency of financial support children receive from parents. DCSS describes seven steps in a case, from opening a case to reviewing the order. Find an office on the DCSS locations page. Cooperation with DCSS is a requirement of receiving TANF unless good cause can be established. |
Sources: DFCS, DAS Programs and Services, DCSS and DFCS TANF.
Related Agencies That Are Not DHS Divisions
Some services people expect from “Georgia DHS” are run by other state agencies. DHS’s own transportation page names several of them as separate organizations that use its coordinated transportation system.
- Behavioral health and developmental disabilities: the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) has its own department and website at dbhdd.georgia.gov. Earlier versions of this article wrongly described it as a DHS division.
- Vocational rehabilitation: the Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency (GVRA) helps people with disabilities find and keep jobs. It is a separate agency.
- Medicaid: Georgia Medicaid’s non-emergency medical ride program is run by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), which has its own Georgia Medicaid website. DFCS lists Medicaid among the benefits you can apply for through DFCS and Georgia Gateway.
- Unemployment benefits and job services: the Georgia Department of Labor (GDOL) handles unemployment claims and career centers.
Sources: DHS Transportation, DBHDD, GVRA, Georgia Medicaid NEMT and GDOL.
How to Apply for Benefits Through Georgia Gateway
DHS describes Georgia Gateway as the state’s integrated system for determining eligibility across several benefits programs: Medicaid and related medical programs (including PeachCare for Kids), SNAP, TANF, WIC, and Childcare and Parent Services (CAPS).
- Choose how to apply. DFCS says you can apply online at gateway.ga.gov by selecting “Apply for Benefits” (Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. to midnight, excluding weekends and holidays), by phone through the Customer Contact Center at 877-423-4746, or by printing a paper application (Form 297), filling it out and mailing it to your local DFCS office. The gateway.ga.gov site blocks some automated tools, but it is the address DHS and DFCS publish.
- Send a complete application. DFCS says an application is considered filed when it is received and has the head of household’s name, an address, a date, and the signature of the head of household or another household member.
- Look for your caseworker’s details. For TANF, DFCS says caseworker information is at the top right corner of any notice from the agency. If you have not received a notice, call the Customer Contact Center or find your local DFCS office.
- Upload paperwork when you can. DFCS says applications, renewals and verification paperwork should be uploaded to Georgia Gateway when possible, and that people without online access should mail paperwork to their local county office.
- Renew on time. DFCS says benefits recipients must go through periodic eligibility reviews. A renewal form and required proof can be submitted in Georgia Gateway or on Form 508.
- Ask for language or disability help. DFCS says interpreters and translated materials are free, and you can dial 711 (Georgia Relay) if you are deaf, hard of hearing, deaf-blind or have difficulty speaking.
Sources: DHS Georgia Gateway, DFCS TANF and DFCS Contact Information.
Who May Qualify
Each benefit has its own rules, and eligibility is decided by the agency, not by this guide. The official pages say:
| Benefit | What the official page says |
|---|---|
| TANF | Monthly cash assistance with an employment services component for low-income families with children under age 18, children age 18 who attend school full-time, and pregnant women. Cooperation with Child Support Services is required unless good cause can be established. |
| SNAP, Medicaid, WIC, CAPS | Applied for through Georgia Gateway and DFCS. We did not copy each program’s income and resource rules here because they change. Use the official application and your caseworker to check. |
| Aging Services | Depends on the program and your Area Agency on Aging. For example, the Senior Community Service Employment Program is for unemployed low-income Georgians age 55 and older. |
| Child Support Services | Services to help children get financial support from parents. Contact DCSS for how to open a case. |
Car and Transportation Help Through DHS
Many people reach this page by searching for a “DHS car voucher” or a free car. We could not find any Georgia DHS program that gives out, buys or vouchers a car on the official pages we opened. Here is what does exist, and our Georgia car assistance programs guide explains each item in more detail.
DFCS TANF support services (policy 1830)
DFCS policy 1830, effective November 2025, says support services help TANF applicants and recipients take part in work activities. The case manager must approve incidental expenses before you incur them. These are the vehicle-related limits it lists:
| Type of help | What the policy says |
|---|---|
| Transportation | $7 per day to and from work, training or a child care provider, with a higher daily rate possible if higher routine costs are documented. No more than $350 per participant per month. Car rental is not covered. |
| Vehicle repairs and maintenance | Up to $1,000 per period of participation, paid only after you submit an actual invoice for the completed repair. |
| Vehicle insurance | Up to $300 during any 12-month period. |
| Driver’s license or emissions inspection | Up to $50 per participant per period of participation. |
| Conditions | The vehicle must be your sole source of transportation, registered to you (or to either parent in a two-parent case), and you must have a valid driver’s license. The policy does not list buying a car, a free car or a car voucher. |
Amounts are as printed in the policy when we read it and can change. Source: DFCS TANF Policy 1830: Employment Support Services.
DHS Coordinated Transportation
The DHS Transportation Services Section runs a Coordinated Transportation System, described as a human service transportation system. DHS policy says eligible TANF and SNAP clients can get transportation for job search, work activities or personal responsibilities, with prior approval from a DFCS case manager. Staff at human service agencies register riders and order trips, so you ask your caseworker rather than applying to the system yourself. DHS also says that as funding changes, it decides which essential trips will be performed. Source: Rider and Trip Type Eligibility Determination.
For more on other Georgia options such as GVRA, Medicaid rides, transit and charities, see the Georgia guide linked above. For the Georgia “Wheels to Work” question, see our Wheels to Work explainer. For how TANF works across states, see Is there a TANF car program?
Documents to Gather First
DFCS tells you what proof it needs for your case. These are the items the official pages mention:
- For any DFCS application: at minimum the head of household’s name, an address, the date and a signature.
- For TANF vehicle costs: a valid driver’s license, a copy of the title or tag registration showing you own the vehicle, an actual invoice for any completed repair, and receipts or a hardship statement if you ask for an up-front payment.
- For other benefits: your caseworker will tell you what verification is needed. Keep copies of everything you send.
Our documents checklist for car help can help you organize your papers.
Phone Numbers as Printed on Official Pages
These are the numbers shown on the official sites when we checked. They can change, so use the linked page if a call does not connect.
| Need | Number printed on the official site |
|---|---|
| DHS main line, DFCS Customer Contact Center, Georgia Gateway help desk, Child Support Services | 877-423-4746 (DFCS Contact Information, Georgia Gateway, DCSS) |
| EBT card: order, re-order or check balance | 888-421-3281 (DFCS Contact Information) |
| Report child abuse or neglect, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | 1-855-GACHILD (1-855-422-4453). DFCS says that if you have an immediate emergency, call 911 or your local police department (DFCS Child Abuse and Neglect) |
| Aging Services | 866-552-4464, toll-free (DAS) |
What NOT to Do: Avoid Imposters and Fake Vouchers
Scammers copy the names of government agencies. Consumer Auto is not a government agency, and nothing on this site is an application.
- Do not pay anyone for a “guaranteed” DHS car voucher. We found no such DHS program. Apply for benefits only through the official addresses listed above.
- Know the red flags. The Georgia Attorney General lists being asked to pay money to receive a prize or get a job, pressure to act immediately, scare tactics, insistence on payment by wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency, and requests for your password, PIN, Social Security number or financial information from someone who contacts you out of the blue.
- Verify before you act. If you are not sure a call, email or text is real, the Attorney General says to hang up or not reply or click links, then look up the real contact information yourself and call that number.
- If you lose money, contact your bank, card issuer, payment app or gift card company right away, then report it to local law enforcement, the Georgia Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and the FTC.
Sources: Georgia AG: What to Do if You’ve Lost Money in a Scam and Georgia AG: Imposter Scams.
Official Georgia Resources
- Georgia DHS: About
- Georgia Gateway (DHS page) and gateway.ga.gov
- Division of Family & Children Services and DFCS office locations
- DFCS: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
- DFCS TANF Policy 1830: Employment Support Services
- Division of Aging Services and Area Agencies on Aging
- Division of Child Support Services
- DHS Transportation Services Section
- Georgia Attorney General Consumer Protection Division
Some of these official sites block automated link checkers, so a tool may report an error even though the page works in a normal browser.
Related Guides
- Georgia car assistance programs (2026): what help really exists
- Wheels to Work: what it means and where to look
- TANF car program? What TANF can and cannot pay for
- DHS car voucher: what help really exists
- Documents checklist for car help
- Government car voucher programs by state
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Georgia Department of Human Services do?
DHS says it delivers human services to promote self-sufficiency, safety and well-being for Georgians. It has three program divisions: Family & Children Services, Aging Services and Child Support Services.
Is DBHDD part of DHS?
No. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities is its own department with its own website. DHS’s transportation page lists it as a separate organization served by the DHS coordinated transportation system.
How do I apply for SNAP, TANF or Medicaid in Georgia?
DFCS says you can apply online at gateway.ga.gov, by phone at 877-423-4746, or by mailing a paper application (Form 297) to your local DFCS office. Online hours are Monday to Friday, 5 a.m. to midnight, excluding weekends and holidays.
Does Georgia DHS give out free cars or car vouchers?
We found no such program on the official DHS or DFCS pages. For TANF participants, DFCS policy lists some transportation, repair, insurance and license costs, with advance approval. See our Georgia car assistance guide for details and what to avoid.
What is the DHS phone number?
The DHS and DFCS sites print (877) 423-4746 as the primary number. The same number is listed for the Georgia Gateway help desk.
How do I report child abuse in Georgia?
DFCS says reports are taken 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at 1-855-GACHILD (1-855-422-4453). If you have an immediate emergency, call 911 or your local police department.
Who runs Georgia DHS?
The DHS Executive Leadership page lists Candice Broce as Commissioner. Check that page for the current leadership team.
Does Consumer Auto work for Georgia DHS or take applications?
No. We are an independent guide, not a government agency, and we cannot apply for you. Use the official links in this guide.
Bottom Line
Georgia DHS is a state agency with three divisions: DFCS, Aging Services and Child Support Services. You apply for most benefits through Georgia Gateway, by phone or on paper, and DFCS decides eligibility. We found no DHS program that gives out cars. The car-related help we could verify is DFCS TANF support services for participants in work activities, with advance approval and the limits in policy 1830. Use only the official links above and never pay anyone for a “free” car or voucher.
