The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-193) made direct funding available to federally-recognized tribes to operate Tribal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs. Tribes that elect to operate their own TANF programs assume the role of providing TANF in lieu of the state, which otherwise provides TANF benefits and services to all eligible state residents, including members of Indian tribes.
Many individual tribes and consortia of tribes have taken on operation of a Tribal TANF program. Seventy-four approved Tribal TANF programs serve 287 federally recognized tribes and Alaska Native villages. In addition to the populations on the reservations and in the Alaska Native villages, these Tribal TANF programs provide benefits and services to the non-reservation American Indian/Alaska Native populations residing in approximately 130 counties.
ACF recommends that those wishing to operate a Tribal TANF program review the Tribal TANF Program Guidance document below and reach out to TANF Regional Program Managers and other tribes operating Tribal TANF programs to better understand what’s involved in operating a Tribal TANF program. While many tribes value the flexibility to tailor the program to better serve their tribal communities, like inclusion of traditional work activities, operating a TANF program is not easy. Before applying to run a Tribal TANF program, tribes should understand the challenges of starting up a program and meeting required standards of program operation as well as the potential financial penalties for failing to meet those standards. If a tribe or consortium is able to overcome the challenges, Tribal TANF can be an effective means to target assistance and resources to move recipients to work.
The Process
Letter of Intent
The process to become a Tribal TANF program officially begins when the tribe or consortia submits a Letter of Intent (LOI). This letter, which details the tribe’s service area and population, allows ACF to submit a data request to the state where the service area is located in order to calculate the applicant tribe’s Tribal Family Assistance Grant amount. (As per statute, the grant amount is based on the number of tribal members and other Native Americans in the tribe’s service area receiving welfare in 1994). Once the tribe and state agree upon a grant amount, the tribe then has 60 days to submit an acceptable Tribal Family Assistance Plan (TFAP).
Tribal Family Assistance Plan
The contents of a TFAP must include all the elements delineated at Section 412(b) of title IV-A of the Social Security Act, as amended by P.L. 104-193, and 45 CFR Part 286, and cover a three-year period. ACF may work with the tribe to revise the TFAP draft before it is ready for approval.
Tribal TANF Program Guidance
- For more information on becoming a Tribal TANF program, including what needs to be included in the Letter of Intent and TFAP, check out the Tribal TANF Program Guidance.
Inquiries
- Inquiries should be addressed to the appropriate ACF Regional Office (see Regional Program Managers for addresses).
Tribal TANF Plan Requirements
- For a list of Plan Requirements (PDF) and the citation to the regulation governing same.
Resources
Code of Federal Regulations PART 75—Uniform administrative requirements, cost principles, and audit requirements for HHS awards
This Tribal TANF guidance provides program information, TANF plan content guidance, and a suggested plan outline for an application under 42 U.S.C. § 612, direct funding and administration of the TANF program by Tribes.