This Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation brief provides a graphical overview of some of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) policy differences across states and territories. It includes information about initial eligibility, benefit amounts, work and activity requirements, and ongoing eligibility and time limits.

Healthy Marriage and Responsible Fatherhood Programs (HMRF) programs are part of the Administration for Children and Families strategy to help interested adults and youth build stronger relationships, marriages, fathers, child engagement, and families.

HMRF programs help accomplish several of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program’s key purposes, including promoting marriage, encouraging the formation and maintenance of two parent families, promoting employment, and providing support for children to be raised in their homes or the homes of relatives. In this podcast episode, listeners will learn more about HMRF programs and how states are utilizing TANF funds to support HMRF work.

As the TANF program nears its 30th year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF) is committed to reinforcing the program’s core values of personal responsibility and work as a pathway to reduced dependency and family self-sufficiency. The Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA) authorized a new opportunity for states to pilot program performance and accountability measures in TANF. Pub. L. No. 118-5, § 302. The pilot can play a pivotal role in the design of modern approaches to moving work-eligible individuals into the labor force, while providing critical insights on ways to operationalize personal responsibility. To align with Trump Administration priorities, ACF is issuing a new request for pilot proposals and encourages all states and territories, including members of the prior cohort of applicants, to submit a proposal. The up to five pilot states will focus on moving TANF recipients from dependency to independence by promoting work, personal responsibility, and strong, stable families as the foundations of self-sufficiency. This draft request for proposals is available for public comment. Email any comments on the proposed collection of information to infocollection@acf.hhs.gov for consideration by ACF.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) published a Federal Register Notice seeking public comment by June 20, 2025, on a proposed information collection for the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA) TANF Pilot Program. This reissued request reflects a shift in federal priorities toward promoting work and reducing dependency. Up to five states will be selected for a six-year pilot that replaces traditional Work Participation Rate (WPR) requirements with work and family stability outcome-based performance measures. During the 30-day comment period, stakeholders should review the Draft Request for Proposals to understand and comment on the pilot’s goals, eligibility, and accountability framework. Alternatively, a copy can be obtained by sending an email to infocollection@acf.hhs.gov; all requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

The Office of Family Assistance’s TANF Outcomes Technical Assistance and Logistics (TOTAL) team delivers training and technical assistance to state TANF programs and partners responding to the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA). The team hosted additional office hours to better understand states’ experiences with submitting the first Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters report, which was due May 15.

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program plays a key role in promoting strength and stability for families experiencing poverty. By helping families to meet their basic needs, obtain employment, and nurture healthy family relationships, TANF programs can foster long-term family wellbeing and economic independence. States have significant flexibility to use TANF funds to address unique family needs and accomplish any of the four purposes of TANF.

The Office of Family Assistance released a series of briefs that highlight innovative and strategic ways that states are leveraging TANF funds to strengthen families and communities by building capacity for self-sufficiency and economic independence. This brief highlights the Mental Health Outreach for MotherS (MOMS) Partnership which aims to meet the mental health needs of mothers and primary caregivers with low incomes. This partnership addressing the mental health needs of mothers and caregivers supports the first statutory purpose of TANF and can have lasting positive impacts on families and children. This brief looks at MOMS partnerships offered in Vermont and the District of Columbia.

As part of implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023, state and territory TANF programs are required to submit the Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Report by May 15, 2025. This report is mandatory for states and territories to submit on a quarterly basis. 

Below is the high-level timeline for submissions:

• May 8, 2025: Employment Outcomes Reporting: Drop-in Office Hours
• May 9, 2025: FRA Submission Functionality Available for Jurisdictions with Designated Submitters
• May 12, 2025: FRA Submission Functionality Announcement for Jurisdictions without Designated Submitters
• May 15, 2025: Submission deadline for Q1 FY2025 Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Data
• To Be Announced: Reflection Meeting on the First Work Outcomes Submission

Any questions can be submitted to TANFData@acf.hhs.gov. 

As part of implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023, state and territory TANF programs are required to submit the Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Report by May 15, 2025. This report is mandatory for states and territories to submit on a quarterly basis.

Any questions can be submitted to TANFData@acf.hhs.gov. 

As part of implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023, state and territory TANF programs are required to submit the Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Report by May 15, 2025. This report is mandatory for states and territories to submit on a quarterly basis.

On May 12, 2025, TANF Data & Systems Team will send an announcement of the TANF Data Portal’s FRA Work Outcomes Data submission functionality being available. The team will start contacting jurisdictions without designated submitters by reaching out to TANF Directors and recent ACF 199/209 submitters and ask them who will be submitting their data.

Any questions can be submitted to TANFData@acf.hhs.gov. 

As part of implementation of the Fiscal Responsibility Act (FRA) of 2023, state and territory TANF programs are required to submit the Work Outcomes of TANF Exiters Report by May 15, 2025. This report is mandatory for states and territories to submit on a quarterly basis.

 On May 9, 2025, jurisdictions that have a designated submitter will be granted access to the TANF Data Portal’s FRA Work Outcomes Data submission functionality.

Any questions can be submitted to TANFData@acf.hhs.gov.