(TANF)
Sixth Annual Report to Congress
XII. Specific Provisions of State Programs
Basic Work Program
Benefit Levels
Time Frame for Work
States Claiming Continuing Waiver Inconsistencies with Respect to Work Requirements
Treatment of Earnings
Resource Limits
Encouraging Personal Responsibility
Individual Development Accounts
Initial Sanctions for Not Complying with Work Requirements
Applicant Cash Diversion Programs
Time Limiting Assistance
Waiver Inconsistencies Related to Work Participation and/or Time Limit Assistance
Other Key Policies
Child Support Enforcement
Adoption of Family Violence Option
Family Cap
Each State must submit a plan to the Secretary that outlines how it intends to conduct a program in all political subdivisions of the State (not necessarily in a uniform manner) that provides cash aid to needy families with (or expecting) children and provides parents with job preparation, work, and support services. States may determine what benefit levels to set and what categories of families are eligible. States have the flexibility to design and operate a program that best matches their residents' needs and helps families gain and maintain self-sufficiency.The information in the tables in this chapter was based on State Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) plans and amendments, and has been reviewed by each State. The information reflects each State's program as of June 2002.
In this chapter, program features are organized into some common themes: (1) basic work program; (2) encouraging personal responsibility; (3) time limiting assistance; and (4) other key policies.
The chart below (Table 12:1) outlines how each State has designed its TANF program.
| State | Effective Date Of Current Plan |
Form of Administration | State or County Discretion | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eligibility and Benefits | Available Services | |||
| Alabama | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Alaska | January 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Arizona | October 1, 2002 | State | State1 | State1 |
| Arkansas | December 28, 2001 | State | State | State |
| California | October 1, 2002 | State Supervised/ County Administered | State | State |
| Colorado | January 1, 2003 | State Supervised/ County Administered | County2 | County |
| Connecticut | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Delaware | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Dist. of Col. | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Florida | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Georgia | October 1, 2002 | State | State | County |
| Guam | October 1, 2002 | Territory (State) | Territory | Territory |
| Hawaii | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Idaho | November 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Illinois | October 1, 2001 | State | State | State |
| Indiana | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Iowa | October 1, 2001 | State | State | County |
| Kansas | January 1, 2002 | State | State | County |
| Kentucky | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Louisiana | January 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Maine | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Maryland | October 1, 2002 | State Supervised/ County Administered | State | County |
| Massachusetts | October 1, 2001 | State | State | State |
| Michigan | October 1, 2000 | State | State | State |
| Minnesota | October 1, 2002 | State Supervised/ County Administered | County | State or County discretion |
| Mississippi | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Missouri | October 1, 2001 | State | State | State |
| Montana | October 1, 2002 | State Supervised/ County Administered | State | State |
| Nebraska | October 1, 2001 | State | State | State |
| Nevada | November 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| New Hampshire | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| New Jersey | October 1, 2002 | State Supervised/ County Administered | State | State |
| New Mexico | January 1, 2003 | State | State | State |
| New York | November 1, 2002 | State Supervised/ County3 Administered | State | County |
| North Carolina | October 1, 2002 | County | County4 | County |
| North Dakota | October 1, 2001 | State Supervised/ County Administered | State | State5 |
| Ohio | October 1, 2002 | State Supervised/ County Administered | State6 | County |
| Oklahoma | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Oregon | October 1, 2002 | State Supervised/ County Administered | State | County |
| Pennsylvania | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Puerto Rico | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State and Delegated Agencies |
| Rhode Island | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| South Carolina | October 1, 2002 | State | County | State |
| South Dakota | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Tennessee | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Texas | October 1, 2001 | State | State | County |
| Utah | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| Vermont | October 1, 2001 | State | State | State |
| Virginia | October 1, 2002 | County | State | State |
| Virgin Islands | October 1, 2002 | State Territory | State Territory | State Territory |
| Washington | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
| West Virginia | January 1, 2003 | State | State | State |
| Wisconsin | October 1, 2001 | County | State | Provides most of states available services and the county provide some administrative costs. |
| Wyoming | October 1, 2002 | State | State | State |
[1] Waivers in some areas of the State
[2] Increases only
[3] State supervised with maximum flexibility
[4] In certain areas
[5] Legislative change allows different programs in the State
[6] Counties are allowed discretion with respect to the eligibility requirements for receipt of TANF non-assistance.
States are free to set the benefit levels that apply under their TANF programs. Since 1995, 19 States have increased maximum grant amounts, nine of which were increased between 2000 and 2002 (see highlighted figures). Three States reduced their maximum grants amounts (See Table 12:2).
| State | Jul-95 | Mar-98 | Mar-99 | Jan-00 | Jun-01 | Jun-02 | June 2002/ July 19952 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $164 | $164 | $164 | $164 | $164 | $164 | 1 |
| Alaska | $923 | $923 | $923 | $923 | $923 | $923 | 1 |
| Arizona | $347 | $347 | $347 | $347 | $347 | $347 | 1 |
| Arkansas | $204 | $204 | $204 | $204 | $204 | $204 | 1 |
| California3 | $607 | $565/$538 | $611/$582 | $626/$596 | $645/$614 | $679/$647 | 1.12/1.07 |
| Colorado | $356 | $356 | $356 | $356 | $356 | $356 | 1 |
| Connecticut | $543 | $543 | $543 | $543 | $543 | $543 | 1 |
| Delaware | $338 | $388 | $338 | $338 | $338 | $338 | 1 |
| Dist. of Col. | $420 | $379 | $379 | $379 | $379 | $379 | 0.9 |
| Florida | $303 | $303 | $303 | $303 | $303 | $303 | 1 |
| Georgia | $280 | $280 | $280 | $280 | $280 | $280 | 1 |
| Hawaii4 | $712 | $712/$570 | $712/$570 | $712/$570 | $712/$570 | $712/$570 | 1.00/0.80 |
| Idaho | $317 | $276 | $276 | $293 | $293 | $293 | 0.92 |
| Illinois | $377 | $377 | $377 | $377 | $377 | $377 | 1 |
| Indiana | $288 | $288 | $288 | $288 | $288 | $288 | 1 |
| Iowa | $426 | $426 | $426 | $426 | $426 | $426 | 1 |
| Kansas | $403 | $403 | $403 | $403 | $403 | $403 | 1 |
| Kentucky | $228 | $262 | $262 | $262 | $262 | $262 | 1.15 |
| Louisiana | $190 | $190 | $190 | $190 | $240 | $240 | 1.26 |
| Maine | $418 | $418 | $439 | $461 | $461 | $485 | 1.16 |
| Maryland | $377 | $388 | $399 | $417 | $439 | $472 | 1.25 |
| Massachusetts | $579 | $579 | $579 | $579 | $633 | $633 | 1.09 |
| Michigan | $459 | $459 | $459 | $459 | $459 | $459 | 1 |
| Minnesota | $532 | $532 | $532 | $532 | $532 | $532 | 1 |
| Mississippi | $120 | $120 | $120 | $170 | $170 | $170 | 1.42 |
| Missouri | $292 | $292 | $292 | $292 | $292 | $292 | 1 |
| Montana | $401 | $450 | $461 | $469 | $494 5 | $494 | 1.23 |
| Nebraska | $364 | $364 | $364 | $364 | $364 | $364 | 1 |
| Nevada6,7 | $348 | $348 | $348 | $348 | $348 | $348 | 1 |
| New Hampshire | $550 | $550 | $550 | $575 | $600 | $600 | 1.09 |
| New Jersey | $424 | $424 | $424 | $424 | $424 | $424 | 1 |
| New Mexico8 | $304 | $389 | $389 | $389 | $389 | $439 | 1.28 |
| New York9 | $577 | $577 | $577 | $577 | $577 | $577 | 1 |
| North Carolina | $272 | $272 | $272 | $272 | $272 | $272 | 1 |
| North Dakota | $431 | $457 | $457 | $457 | $457 | $477 | 1.06 |
| Ohio | $341 | $341 | $362 | $373 | $373 | $373 | 1.09 |
| Oklahoma | $307 | $292 | $292 | $292 | $292 | $292 | 0.95 |
| Oregon | $460 | $460 | $460 | $460 | $460 | $460 | 1 |
| Pennsylvania | $403 | $403 | $403 | $403 | $403 | $403 | 1 |
| Rhode Island | $554 | $554 | $554 | $554 | $554 | $554 | 1 |
| South Carolina | $200 | $200 | $201 | $203 | $203 | $204 | 1.02 |
| South Dakota10 | $430 | $430 | $430 | $430 | $430 | $469 | 1 |
| Tennessee | $185 | $185 | $185 | $185 | $185 | $185 | 1 |
| Texas | $188 | $188 | $188 | $201 | $201 | $208 | 1.07 |
| Utah | $426 | $426 | $451 | $451 | $451 | $474 | 1.06 |
| Vermont | $616 | $611 | $617 | $622 | $629 | $629 | 1.02 |
| Virginia | $291 | $291 | $291 | $291 | $320 | $320 | 1.1 |
| Washington | $546 | $546 | $546 | $546 | $546 | $546 | 1 |
| West Virginia | $253 | $253 | $278 | $328 | $453 | $453 | 1.79 |
| Wisconsin11 | $518 | $673 | $673 | $673 | $673 | $673 | 1.3 |
| Wyoming | $340 | $340 | $340 | $340 | $340 | $340 | 1 |
[1] In some States, benefits vary by regions. Benefits are shown for the region with the largest TANF caseload.
[2] This column presents the ratio between the two benefit levels. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Urban Consumers increased 18.1 percent over this time period. Thus, a State's benefit levels kept up with inflation only if the number in this column is 1.18 or higher.
[3] California has a multi-tiered benefit system for exempt and non-exempt recipients and for urban and rural areas. Entries with two figures are for non-exempt recipients in urban and rural areas.
[4] In December 1996, Hawaii implemented a policy that provides the higher benefit amount to all families for two months and to exempt families (e.g. child-only cases) on an ongoing basis. Non-exempt families face a lower benefit amount after two months on assistance.
[5] Montana's rate increased to $507 effective 7/1/01.
[6] Effective July 1, 2001, Nevada implemented a policy change that pays $187 more for non-needy caretaker (NNCT) cases. A family of three for a NNCT case gets $535.
[7] Effective November 1, 2002, under Nevada's Kinship Care Program, the State pays a cash grant equal to 90 percent of Foster Care cases to children who are under the custody of certain relatives that qualify for the program. If the eldest child is 13 years older, that child receives $616 and $100 is paid for any additional child in the household. If the eldest child is 12 years or younger, that child receives $534 and $100 is paid for any additional child. For example, a family with two children (first child who is at least 13 years) receives $716 a month. A 2nd family of two children (the first child 12 years and younger) receives $634 a month. A family of three could receive a grant ranging from $1068-$1232, depending upon the ages of the children.
[8] New Mexico provided a $100 housing subsidy for TANF recipients beginning April 1, 1998. The receipt of the housing subsidy was based on whether the TANF family received any type of government-subsidized housing. This subsidy was eliminated on June 1, 2001.
[9] New York has a benefit of $703 in Suffolk County.
[10] Effective July 1, 2001, South Dakota's benefit level increased to $469. Effective July 1, 2002, the benefit level increased to $483.
[11] Wisconsin has a benefit of $688 for a family in its transition program (primarily adults with disabilities).
Under TANF, parents or caretakers must engage in work (as defined by the State) when determined ready, or no later than 24 months, whichever is earlier (See Table 12:3).
States have the option to exempt single parents with children up to one year of age from work requirements, and to disregard them from the calculation of the work participation rates for a cumulative lifetime total of 12 months. States have the flexibility to provide exemptions to other families. However, all other families with an adult or minor head of household are included in the State's participation rate calculations. States that received waivers prior to enactment of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) may continue exemption policies approved under those waivers for the duration of the waiver period. Such States are indicated with an asterisk in Table 12:3.
| State | Number of Months before Required to Work |
Caring for a Young Child (Age of Child for Exemption) 1 |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Immediate | 3 months |
| Alaska | 24 | I year |
| Arizona | Immediate | I year |
| Arkansas | Immediate | 3 months |
| California | Immediate | 6 months2 |
| Colorado | 24 months or when determined work ready, whichever comes first. | No automatic exemption3 |
| Connecticut | Immediate | 1 year |
| Delaware* | Immediate | 13 weeks |
| Dist. of Col. | Immediate | 1 year |
| Florida | Immediate | 3 months |
| Georgia | 24 | 1 year |
| Guam | 24 | 1 year |
| Hawaii* | 24 | 6 months |
| Idaho | Immediate | 12 weeks |
| Illinois | Immediate | 1 year |
| Indiana | Immediate | 1 year |
| Iowa | Immediate | No automatic exemption |
| Kansas* | 24 | 1 year |
| Kentucky | After a specified number of months-24 | 1 year |
| Louisiana | 24 | 1 year |
| Maine | Immediate | 1 year |
| Maryland | Immediate | 1 year |
| Massachusetts* | 2 | 6 years |
| Michigan | 2 | 3 months |
| Minnesota* | Immediate | 1 year |
| Mississippi | Immediate | 1 year |
| Missouri | 24 | 1 year4 |
| Montana* | Immediate | No automatic exemption |
| Nebraska* | Immediate | 12 weeks |
| Nevada | Immediate | 1 year |
| New Hampshire | Immediate | 2 years5 |
| New Jersey | Immediate | 12 weeks |
| New Mexico | 3 | 1 year |
| New York | Immediate | 3 months6 |
| North Carolina | 3 | 1 year |
| North Dakota | Immediate | 4 months |
| Ohio* | Immediate | N/A7 |
| Oklahoma | Immediate | 3 months |
| Oregon* | Immediate | 3 months8 |
| Pennsylvania | Immediate | 1 year9 |
| Puerto Rico | No later than 24 months | 12 months |
| Rhode Island | 2 | 1 year |
| South Carolina* | Immediate | 1 year |
| South Dakota | Immediate | 12 weeks |
| Tennessee* | Immediate | 4 months |
| Texas | Immediate | 1 year |
| Utah | Immediate | No automatic exemption |
| Vermont | 30 | 18 months10 |
| Virginia* | 3 | 18 months |
| Virgin Islands | 24 months | 6 months |
| Washington | Immediate | 3 months |
| West Virginia | Immediate | 1 year |
| Wisconsin | Immediate | 12 weeks |
| Wyoming | Immediate | 3 months |
*State has a work requirement waiver
[1] A sanction cannot be imposed on a single custodial parent caring for a child who has not attained 6 years of age if childcare is unavailable.
[2] California counties have discretion to set the age of the exemption for caring for a young child, between the ages of 12 weeks and 1 year on a case-by-case basis.
[3] Colorado allows this to be determined by county discretion.
[4] In Missouri, the child must be under 12 months of age, but there is no limit on the length of the exemption if more than one birth is involved. After 12 months, the cash grant is paid out of MOE.
[5] In New Hampshire, the age is 1 year if a child is conceived while on assistance.
[6] New York counties have discretion to increase the age of the exemption for caring for a young child up to 1 year.
[7] Ohio counties have discretion to provide exemptions from work requirements.
[8] Oregon's exemption is for a parent caring for a child for 90 days after giving birth.
[9] Pennsylvania only allows this exemption once in a parent's lifetime.
[10] Within 2 months of reaching the time limit, Vermont only exempts from work requirements families wi