This page provides links to helpful TANF policy guidance documents, including Program Instructions, Information Memoranda, Policy Announcements, Questions and Answers, and Additional Resources. All TANF guidance documents are available in the Office of Family Assistance resource library. The links at the end of each section below allow you to filter the resource library by type of guidance document.
Program Instructions (PI)
- ACF-OFA-PI-24-01 (Revisions to instructions for form ACF-196R, the financial report for state TANF agencies)
- ACF-OFA-PI-23-05 (Renewed Form ACF-202, Caseload Reduction Report)
- ACF-OFA-PI-23-04 REVISED (ACF-199 TANF Data Report and ACF-209 SSP-MOE Data Report and Instructions, Approved by the Office of Management and Budget through 10/31/2026 (OMB Control Number 0970-0338)
- TANF-ACF-PI-2023-03 (Form ACF-4125, Children in Foster Homes and Children in Families Receiving Payments in Excess of the Poverty Income Level from a State Program Funded Under Part A of Title IV of the Social Security Act)
Information Memorandums (IM)
- TANF-ACF-IM-2023-02 (State Work Participation Rates for FY 2022)
- TANF-ACF-IM-2022-02 (State Work Participation Rates for FY 2021)
- TANF-ACF-IM-2022-01 (Guidance for Use of the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund)
- TANF-ACF-IM-2021-01 (State Work Participation Rates for FY 2020)
POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS (PA)
- TANF-ACF-PA-2009-01 (The Emergency Fund for TANF Programs)
- TANF-ACF-PA-2005-01 (Eligibility of Native Americans born in Canada or Mexico for Federal TANF and State Maintenance-of-Effort (MOE) benefits)
- TANF-ACF-PA-2004-01 (Clarification that third party cash or in-kind may count toward a State’s or Territory’s TANF maintenance-of-effort (MOE) requirement)
Q&As
- Q & A: Counting and Verifying Hours of Work Participation
- Q & A: TANF and WIOA
- Q & A: Summer Food Service Program
Additional Resources