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This final rule informs states, local governments, and tribes that administer the TANF program of the statutory change to section 404(e) of the Social Security Act as enacted by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This change allows states, tribes, and territories to use TANF program funds carried over from a prior year for any allowable TANF benefit, service, or activity.

To share the final rule published April 6, 2010, which implements the statutory change to section 404(e) of the Social Security Act as enacted by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. This change allows States, Tribes, and Territories to use TANF program funds carried over from a prior year for any allowable TANF benefit, service, or activity.

This final rule informs states, territories, and the District of Columbia that they are required to use the “benefiting program” cost allocation methodology in U.S. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Circular A-87 (2 CFR part 225), which is determined by HHS/ACF to be the appropriate methodology for the proper use of Federal TANF funds.

This PI provides responses to a myriad of questions about the final rule implementing changes to the TANF program as required by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-171). Individual questions received subsequent to this PI will be posted to the OFA website.

This final rule implements changes including a renewed focus on work, program integrity, and strengthening families through healthy marriage promotion and responsible fatherhood to the TANF program as required by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) (Pub. L. 109—171).

This interim final rule inform states, local governments, and tribes that administer the TANF program of the statutory change to section 404(e) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 604(e)) as enacted by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Pub. L. 111-5). This change allows states, tribes, and territories to use TANF program funds carried over from a prior year for any allowable TANF benefit, service, or activity. Previously these funds could be used only to provide assistance.

This interim final rule implements the statutory changes enacted in the reauthorization of the TANF program though FY 2010 in the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.

This final rule implements the Charitable Choice statutory provisions in the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) as amended. The statutory and regulatory provisions apply to the Temporary Assistance for Needy
Families (TANF) program administered by ACF. The statute and final rule establish requirements for State and local governments that administer or provide TANF services and benefits through contracts or through certificates, vouchers, or other forms of disbursement. The requirements and protections also apply to organizations, including faith-based organizations, that provide services and benefits with TANF funds and to the beneficiaries of those services.

This Program Announcement sets forth revised standard procedures for resolving disagreements over state-submitted caseload and expenditure data used to establish the amount of a TFAG.  This issuance supersedes and rescinds the original PA on this topic (see TANF-ACF-PA-99-1 dated June 18, 1999).  A new PA is necessary because of a reorganization of the Office of Family Assistance and the need to clarify certain aspects of the process.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 eliminates AFDC's open-ended entitlement and creates a block grant for states to provide time-limited cash assistance for needy families, with work requirements for most recipients. The law also makes far-reaching changes to child care, the Child Support Enforcement Program, benefits for legal immigrants, the Food Stamp Program, and SSI for children. Modifications to the child nutrition program and reductions in the Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) are also included.