Q30: Are there any circumstances under which a State may use Federal TANF funds to provide "assistance" to non-needy families? Am I eligible for TANF? | Pine Tree Legal Assistance A, section C outlines further criteria for consideration in determining if a cost is reasonable and necessary. Separate State Program o States spend their MOE funds in separate State programs, operated outside of the TANF program operated by the State. (f) For example, the cost of an interpreter who provides program information or performs an employability assessment is not subject to the limitations; however, the cost of an interpreter to elicit family information for an eligibility determination is an administrative cost covered by the limitations. When evaluating a request to lease a modular unit with TANF funds, the Tribe must also consider the extent to which the funds expended by the TANF program would represent the proportional cost of the units use by TANF staff and clients. Therefore, costs pertaining to meetings and conference, including food service expenses, are allowable if the primary purpose of the event is the dissemination of technical information related to TANF. Beyond the limited pro-family claiming provision described above, State may only claim for MOE purposes, allowable expenditures for or on behalf of eligible families. A State may not use Federal TANF funds to satisfy a cost-sharing or matching requirement of another Federal program unless specifically authorized by Federal law. Income generated from any of these activities will be offset against expenses. However, States may use Federal TANF funds to help both the needy and the non-needy with benefits or services that are reasonably calculated to accomplish TANF purpose three or four (which relate to reducing out-of-wedlock pregnancies and the formation and maintenance of two-parent families). A13: We have not spoken to this issue in the regulation, preamble, or other policy guidance. Response: Family planning services are not among the enumerated healthy marriage and responsible fatherhood activities. The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A Accordingly, if the State elects to provide assistance during a period of temporary absence, the time period must be a minimum of 30 days and a maximum of 180 days, subject to any good exceptions. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Temporary Assistance catered meals during an all-day employment-related training for TANF clients. Activities associated directly or indirectly with individual FSP certification are not considered informational. In deciding whether to use TANF or MOE funds for SCHIP outreach and/or Food Stamp informational activities, States need to keep in mind basic program and cost principles. State Maintenance of Effort Requirements and Trends. lunch provided during a Family Day at the fair for TANF clients. If you are human user receiving this message, we can add your IP address to a set of IPs that can access FederalRegister.gov & eCFR.gov; complete the CAPTCHA (bot test) below and click "Request Access". PDF The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A A State may develop its own reasonable temporary absence policy for purposes of MOE expenditures. For example, a governmental unit may establish a separate corporation for the sole purpose of owning property and leasing it back to the governmental unit. . A State may use Federal TANF funds (but not State MOE funds) to pay for foster care activities that were included in a State's approved AFDC, JOBS, or Supportive Services plans as of September 30, 1995, or August 21, 1996. This Action Transmittal also advised States that provided juvenile justice benefits or services to submit amendments to their Regional Office by December 31, 1995, deleting references to such assistance. (See /programs/ofa/pa2001.htm .) PDF Department of Health and Human Services Assistance Listing 93.558 - Cfo If applicable, State expenditures in this area must follow the cost allocation guidelines governing expenditures involving two or more Federal programs. Selected Items of Cost, A trailer or modular unit is considered real property when the unit and its installation are designed or planned to be installed permanently at a given location so as to seem fixed to the land as a permanent structure or appurtenance thereto. A36: 2 CFR Part 225 (OMB Circular A-87) establishes principles and standards for determining costs for Federal awards carried out through grants, cost reimbursement contracts, and other agreements with State and local governments and federally recognized Indian tribal governments (governmental units). A14: States may use TANF and MOE funds for SCHIP outreach activities that will improve access of needy families to SCHIP benefits. Emergency assistance to needy families with children was set forth in section 406 (e) of the Act. The continuation of similar benefits designed to address a specific crisis or episode of need provided beyond the initial four months of non-recurrent short-term benefit receipt, even if provided through a new program, is not consistent with the regulatory definition of non-recurrent, short-term benefits at 45 CFR 260.31(b)(1). This provision precludes the use of Federal TANF funds for any medical services other than prepregnancy family planning services. catered meals during an annual TANF Outreach Meeting for administrators and staff from other TANF programs and other local social service providers. PDF GAO-16-315, TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES: Update on States 69, April 12, 1999, p. 17825). Thus, in situations where LEP-related services are needed for TANF, Food Stamp, and Medicaid benefits, States must appropriately allocate the costs of those services among these three programs. Q & A: State Maintenance-of-Effort and Tribal Programs For example, is a State bound by the foster care payment rates in effect as of the date selected by the State (either 9/30/95 or 8/21/96)? Part 225, Appendix A, Section C requires that all costs be necessary and reasonable for proper and efficient performance and administration of Federal awards.The regulatory definition of reasonable is: A cost is reasonable if, in its nature and amount, it does not exceed that which would be incurred by a prudent person under the circumstances prevailing at the time the decision was made to incur the cost. L. No. States with specific questions about the implications of particular funding or administrative decisions should talk to their RO representatives for advice. Federal Register, Volume 88 Issue 122 (Tuesday, June 27, 2023) - GovInfo (per section 406(a)(1) of the Act, the child must be living with his father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, brother, sister, stepfather, stepmother, stepbrother, stepsister, uncle, aunt, first cousin, nephew, or niece, in a place of residence maintained by one or more of such relatives as his or their own home. Please refer to the aforementioned document for a fuller explanation. Q5: Does a child living with a legal guardian constitute an eligible family for the purpose of assistance and MOE? A comprehensive explanation of "administrative costs," together with a complete list of the items that are included and excluded from the definition, are available in the Federal regulations at 45 CFR 263.0 and in the preamble discussion to the final TANF regulations (at 64 FR 17808 - 17814). For example, it may look at income received in the prior month, in the current month, or even in the prior year (e.g., for eligibility for a refundable tax credit) in determining financial need. Q38: Under what conditions may a State provide assistance to a family whose child has been absent for longer than a 180-day period? (Note: Federal TANF funds may also be used to help a "needy" youth that is not a member of an "eligible/needy family" - a "needy" non-custodial teen parent. A18: Payments for health insurance coverage would constitute expenditures on medical services. TANF requires states to maintain a significant portion of their own historic financial commitment, called maintenance of effort (MOE), to welfare-related programs. Non-federal funds used to meet the matching requirement for the HUD homelessness programs cannot count as MOE in the TANF Program. Q & A: Use of Funds | The Administration for Children and Families - ACF [REVISED] Q15: Under the grandfathering provision at section 404(a)(2) of the Act, may a State use TANF funds for Food Stamp and Medicaid administrative costs? A few Tribal representatives have also inquired about the use of TANF funds for food service expenses at cultural activities. As we stated in the preamble to the TANF final rule, at 62 FR 17841, "[a]ctivities authorized under this subsection must have been in an approved plan under part A or part F to be an allowable expenditure of Federal TANF funds." Also, the preamble to the final rule says: "With regard to foster care or other out-of-home maintenance payments, we would note that such costs are not allowable TANF costs under section 404(a)(1) of the Act since they are not reasonably calculated to further a TANF purpose. e. Significant deviations from the established practices of the governmental unit which may unjustifiably increase the Federal award's cost. Control group is a term relevant to continuation of a "waiver" and has the meaning specified at 260.71 . The document known as the ASMB C-10, which is entitled The Cost Principles and Procedures For Establishing Cost Allocation Plans and Indirect Cost Rates For Agreements with the Federal Government, provides guidance on the allocation of costs eligible for reimbursement under more than one program. B. Work participation rates identify the proportion of families receiving monthly cash assistance that participate in allowable work activities for a specified number of hours each week. 64, No. c. Market prices for comparable goods or services. In the preamble to the final regulation, we stated: "A family may not receive 'assistance' under the State's TANF program unless the family is needy. The TANF Sample Manual was revised to eliminate outdated and unused sections. This means that if there is another minor child in the home, the State must reduce the assistance grant to account for the removal of the absent child. The TANF staff understand that they can't build a facility, but would like to know what can be done to stay within the guidelines for allowable uses of TANF funds. However, States may not expend State MOE funds for any activity unless the expenditures are made on behalf of needy families. A39: Background: The Office of Family Assistance (OFA) received an inquiry from a Tribe requesting to use Tribal TANF funds for the purchase or lease of a trailer or modular unit. States can use federal TANF and state MOE dollars to meet any of the four purposes set out in the 1996 law: (1) assisting families in need so children can be cared for in their own homes or the homes of relatives; (2) reducing the dependency of parents in need by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; (3) preventing pregnancies among unm. 2 CFR Part 225, App. Thus, we would not prescribe how a State determines eligibility for these types of benefits. (FY 1994) -- or 75% if they meet work participation requirements -- on "qualified State expenditures" to meet the basic MOE requirement. (b) The basic MOE level also depends on whether a Tribe or consortium of Tribes residing in a State has received approval to operate its own TANF program. Please note that cash incentives that are not in place prior to the performance of the work, not based on actual and documented employee performance, and not available to all Tribal employees (e.g., only available to TANF employees) are not allowable. We will also reference the guidance document (i.e., "Helping Families Achieve Self-Sufficiency, A Guide on Funding Services for Children and Families through the TANF Program") and briefly explain it in the Compliance Supplements that we prepare to assist auditors during their annual audits of State programs. Also they would count as MOE expenditures at drawdown only to the extent that they represent expenditures on behalf of needy families.States may also use Federal TANF funds for rent subsidies for needy families, but they may not draw down Federal TANF funds to place them in a reserve account. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: - U.S. Government Arizona lawmakers have limited federally funded welfare benefits to the shortest time window in the nation. Q35: The U.S. Department of Transportation's New Freedom Program (49 USC 5317), and the Formula Grants for Special Needs of Elderly Individuals (49 USC 5310) both have a cost sharing requirement. Moreover, the parent or caretaker must expect that the child will return home during the specified period, again subject to any good cause exceptions. Types of TANF Benefits The Division of Welfare and Supportive Services (DWSS) administers five different TANF benefit programs. Please note the language in the PI explaining that a state may not treat foregone revenue as an allowable use of TANF or MOE funds, and that only the portion of the tax credit that the state actually refunds to the taxpayer may be claimed. If yes, are such costs considered administrative costs? Some States might not have complied with these instructions. A19: Yes, States may use TANF funds in connection with legal representation for members of needy families who are pursuing SSI benefits. The requirement for families to assign rights to child support applies "as a condition of providing assistance under the State['s TANF program]"; thus, it affects any family receiving "assistance" under the TANF program, regardless of whether Federal TANF or State MOE funds are used.7As a reminder, restrictions on the use of Federal funds also apply to State MOE funds in any circumstances where a State is commingling its Federal TANF and State MOE funds.8This activity falls outside the definition of "assistance.". A23: States may set up reserve accounts for this purpose using State funds, but the funds placed in a reserve account would not count as an MOE expenditure until the developer draws them down. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families State Plan available for public It is important to distinguish between allowable recreational activities and unallowable entertainment; therefore, at the jurisdictions request, we can review any morale-building activities that resemble entertainment on a case-by-case basis. The TANF program also has a required annual cost-sharing requirement, known as maintenance-of-effort (MOE). Two programs are considered assistance by federal definition and three are considered non-assistance programs. However, there may be circumstances under which adoption assistance (in the form of family services, benefits payments, or both) would be outside the normal purview of the IV-E program and reasonably calculated to accomplish TANF purpose one. However, this prohibition does not extend to the leasing of a trailer. There is no language in title IV-A of the Social Security Act which governs the TANF program that prevents Federal TANF funds from being used as matching funds for the above mentioned HUD homelessness programs. PDF The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families - Center for Law and Social Q28: Could a State use Federal TANF funds to help a non-profit agency purchase a multi-family building that would provide affordable housing to a number of needy families? Therefore, the statute envisions that States would serve only the needy when they are conducting activities or providing benefits that are reasonably calculated to accomplish TANF purpose one or two.
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