Tribal Self-Governance Study
Description of Program,
Service, Function or Activity (PSFA)
INVENTORY
1. Agency Name: Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA)
2. Program Name: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). This program is administered by the State agency (a separate data collection form is being completed for TANF assistance administered by the Tribes).
3. CFDA #: 93.558
4. Program Objectives: The purpose of TANF is to increase the flexibility of States in operating a program designed to: (1) provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives; (2) end the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; (3) prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies; and (4) encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.
5. Titles and Descriptions of at least Three Funded Grantees: All 54 States and Territories are operating TANF programs.
AUTHORITY
6. Authorizing Statute(s): Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, Block Grants to States for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
7. Regulatory/Administrative Requirements: Section 402 (a) of the Social Security Act provides: "…the term "eligible State" means, with respect to a fiscal year, a State that, during the 27-month period ending with the close of the 1st quarter of the fiscal year, has submitted to the Secretary a plan that the Secretary has found to include…" all of the necessary elements listed in section 402 of the Act including the State certifications specified under section 402)(a) (2)-(7).
8. Mandatory Statutory Changes Needed to Operate PSFA as a Demonstration: Not applicable. Tribes have the authority under section 412 of the Act to administer their own TANF program.
APPLICANTS, BENEFICIARIES and FORMULAS
9. Type of Funding: State block grant.
10. Eligible Applicants: States, Territories, and Tribes.
11. Allotment Formulas, Etc.: $16.8 billion each year until fiscal year 2002. The block grant covers benefits, administrative expenses, and services. States, territories, and tribes determine eligibility and benefit levels and services provided to needy families.
12. Applicant Provisions/Allotments in Law for Indians: Under section 412 of the Act, Tribes may apply to operate a TANF block grant program. Eligibility to administer TANF is, however, restricted to Federally-recognized tribes in the lower 48 States and 13 designated entities in Alaska. TANF allotments for Indian tribes are based upon previous State expenditures of Federal dollars in AFDC, Emergency Assistance (EA), and JOBS in fiscal year 1994. Like States, Indian tribes may use their TANF funding in any manner reasonably calculated to accomplish the purposes of TANF, and they have broad flexibility to determine eligibility, method of assistance, and benefit levels.
13. Eligible Beneficiaries: Needy families that meet the TANF eligibility requirements.
14. Beneficiary Provisions/Allotments in Law for Indians: Section 402(a)(5) of the Act requires that the State provide Indians with equitable access to assistance: "…during the fiscal year, the State will provide each member of an Indian tribe, who is domiciled in the State and is not eligibility for assistance under a tribal family assistance plan approved under section 412, with equitable access to assistance under the State program funded under this part attributable to funds provided by the Federal Government."
15. Amount and Percent of Total that is Mandatory for Indians: None.
FINANCIAL
16. Total FY 2000 Funding: $16.8 billion in Federal funds.
17. Amount and Percent of Total Funding Awarded to Indians: See Tribal Data Collection Form.
18. For Awards to Tribes: Number, Range and Average Amounts: See Tribal Data Collection Form.
19. Total FY 2001 Funding and Amount for Indians, If Known: See Tribal Data Collection Form.
OTHER
20. -- how long assistance is funded: Five-year lifetime limit (or less at State option)
-- fund use restrictions: States can incur reductions in their block grant for failure to: satisfy work requirements; comply with the five-year time limit; meet State maintenance of effort requirements; reduce recipient grants for refusing without good cause to participate in work activites; maintain assistance when parents cannot find child care for child under 6; comply with paternity establishment and child support enforcement requirements; participate in the Income and Eligibility Verification System; repay a Federal loan on time and; for the missue of funds, States can be penalized for the amount misused and if found intentiaonlly misused there will be an additional penalty.
-- reporting requirements: Section 411(a)(1) of the Act requires: "Each eligible State shall collect on a monthly basis, and report to the Secretary on a quarterly basis, the following disaggregated case record information on the families receiving assistance…".
-- audit requirements: States perform audits in accordance with the Single Audit Act.
CONTACTS
21. DHHS Workgroup Contact: Office of Family Assistance (OFA)
22. HHS Agency/Program Contact: Robert Shelbourne, Division Director, OFA, (202)-401-5150