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Tough New Federal TANF Rules on Work Participation:

Questions legislators should ask their TANF Agency

• What changes do you propose to our current TANF programs to meet the increased work participation rate requirements included in the Deficit Reduction Act?  Do these proposals require changes in state law, administrative rules and/or budget appropriations?

• How will these changes affect our TANF programs and programs funded by TANF?

  • Should we expect changes in the number of families who receive cash assistance?
  • The number of families who are sanctioned?
  • The number of families who leave welfare with a job?
  • The number of families who leave welfare without a job?
  • The availability of TANF funds for activities outside of welfare-to-work, suh as child care, early education, child welfare, and youth programs?
• Do you include options to increase post-employment assistance and to move some families out of the TANF program into state programs to increase the state’s work participation rate and avoid federal penalties?

• What are our state's work participation rates for 2005 calculated under the rules that take effect in October 2006? 

  • How do the new regulations issued in June 2006 affect that rate? (Regulations are expected by June 30, 2006.)

• Will we meet the minimum 50 percent all-family rate by October 2006?   What would we need to do to meet the rate for federal fiscal year 2007?

• Will we meet the minimum 90 percent two-parent family rate by October 2006?   Since most states will not be able to meet the two-parent rate, how do you propose that we respond to the threat of federal financial penalties? 

• If our current plans may not meet work participation rates in FFY 2007, what can we do to improve our performance and avoid federal penalties?

• If changes in our TANF program are necessary, are we going to need to add new funds or shift existing spending to make these changes?

• Do these changes proposed to meet the federal requirements improve our key program outcomes such as

  • Increased employment of families on welfare?
  • Improved job retention and advancement for families who leave welfare?

r more information on welfare reform issues, please contact Jack Tweedie in the Denver office at 303.364.7700 or cyf-info@ncsl.org or either Sheri Steisel or Lee Posey in the D.C. office at 202.624.5400 or fedhumserv-info@ncsl.org.