Oct 2 -- The Office of Family Assistance (OFA), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) proposes to amend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program regulations to strengthen the safety net and reduce administrative burden. This NPRM encompasses a package of reforms to ensure TANF programs are designed and funds are used in accordance with the statute. In addition, the package includes provisions that are more technical in nature and are designed to reduce administrative burden and increase program effectiveness. In order to be considered, the Department must receive written comments on this NPRM on or before December 1, 2023.
This NPRM would:
(1) establish a ceiling on the term “needy”;
(2) clarify when an expenditure is “reasonably calculated to accomplish a TANF purpose”;
(3) exclude as an allowable TANF maintenance-of-effort (MOE) expenditures cash donations from non-governmental third parties and the value of third-party in-kind contributions;
(4) ensure that excused holidays match the number of federal holidays, following the recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday;
(5) develop new criteria to allow states to use alternative Income and Eligibility Verification System (IEVS) measures;
(6) clarify the “significant progress” criteria following a work participation rate corrective compliance plan;
(7) clarify the existing regulatory text about the allowability of costs associated with disseminating program information.
Taken together, the seven proposed changes would strengthen TANF's safety net function, ease administrative burdens, and ultimately, improve TANF's ability to serve as a critical support to families experiencing economic hardship to achieve economic mobility.
FRN:
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/2023-21169 [24 pages]
