TANF Provisions in FRA of 2023

Publication Date: August 21, 2024
Current as of:
Graphic showing a timeline with career progression timeline for an individual. It starts with a young woman carrying an infant, thinking about her future. It then progresses to showing that woman in school, then starting her career and finally financially successful with a young child. The background in yellow, showing a building with the title "Temporary Assistance for Needy Families" and a text on the local right hand side that reads "Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023."

TANF Pilots

TANF Work Outcomes Measures

The TANF Work Outcomes Measures interim final rule includes three new reporting requirements, with data collection instruments finalized as of December 2024: 

OFA published a Program Instruction and technical resource guide (PDF) designed to support state and territory agencies in successfully understanding, preparing, and submitting the new reporting requirements. 

OFA’s TANF Outcomes Technical Assistance and Logistics (TOTAL) contract is hosting webinars and office hours and developing tools to support the work outcomes reporting data collection. See TOTAL resources on OFA’s PeerTA website: https://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/.  

On July 24, 2024, OFA hosted a webinar to review the new measures and provide technical guidance for preparing and submitting the new reports for the measures.

On August 14, 2024, OFA hosted virtual office hours session focused on the FRA TANF work outcomes measures. The recording of the session is now available, passcode: W8dH4hf^ 

Work Participation Rate (WPR) Calculation Changes

  • Section 301 of the FRA resets the base year for the caseload reduction credit component of the WPR calculation. The base year will change from 2005 to 2015, effective October 1, 2025.
  • Section 303 of the FRA requires HHS to exclude from the TANF work participation rate calculations cases that receive assistance payments benefits of less than $35 for a month funded with separate state program (SSP) funds. . This statutory provision also takes effect October 1, 2025.
  • Per the Unified Agenda of Regulatory Actions , HHS will propose regulatory changes to implement these WPR calculation changes.

Additional Resources