Q & A: Counting and Verifying Hours of Work Participation

This Administration for Children and Families policy guidance webpage addresses common challenges in how Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs count and verify participation hours. For TANF practitioners, this is a practical tool for resolving day-to-day questions that arise in case management, particularly around what qualifies as countable activity and how to document it consistently. It supports more uniform decision-making across TANF staff, reduces ambiguity in case processing, and helps ensure families are treated consistently regardless of which staff member is handling their case.