Resource Library

Work Participation Rates for FY 2018

The U.S. Department of Human Services (HHS) issues TANF work participation rates, which measure how well states engage families receiving assistance in certain work activities during a fiscal year. A state must meet an overall (or “all families”) and a two-parent work participation requirement or face a potential financial penalty. The statutory requirements for fiscal year (FY) 2014 are 50 percent for all families and 90 percent for two-parent families, but a state’s individual target rates equal the statutory rates minus a credit for reducing its caseload.

This memorandum transmits the FY 2013 work participation rates.  All States were required to report work participation information for the months of October 2012 through September 2013.

This memorandum transmits the FY 2011 work participation rates.  All States were required to report work participation information for the months of October 2010 through September 2011.

To transmit the proposed forms and instructions for TANF financial data collection, in accordance with the announcement published in the Federal Register on September 12, 2013.

This memorandum transmits the FY 2010 work participation rates.  All States were required to report work participation information for the months of October 2009 through September 2010.

This Information Memorandum transmits the FY 2009 work participation rates. All States were required to report work participation information for the months of October 2008 through September 2009. The FY 2009 national average overall work participation rate was 29.4 percent. Five States, the District of Columbia, and two Territories failed to meet their overall work participation rate requirements. The FY 2009 national average two-parent families work participation rate was 28.3 percent. Six States and one Territory failed to meet their two-parent families work participation requirement. (Twenty-four States, the District of Columbia, and two Territories were not subject to the two-parent work participation requirement due to the manner in which they structured their programs.) The attached tables provide detailed State-by-State information regarding work participation rates and standards, caseload reduction credits, the number of work-eligible individuals, and activities in which individuals participated.

This Information Memorandum reminds State TANF agencies of requirements found in the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and encourages them to reassess their current procedures for registering individuals to vote and to make improvements in their systems where necessary.

This Information Memorandum transmits the transmission file layouts and edits for the Report on Engagement in Additional Work Activities.

This Information Memoradum explains how the referenced legislation affects award amounts for the FY 2011 TANF Contingency Fund and TANF Supplemental Grant award amounts and provides a table showing the award calculations.