A Question about If Cryptocurrency is Countable for TANF Eligibility

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA) conducted the 2021 National TANF Directors’ Meeting from September 20 - 24, 2021. During this workshop, discussion focused on transforming the delivery of anti-poverty tax credits. The California Department of Social Services (CDSS), together with the California Policy Lab (CPL) and Code for America (CFA), discussed the Department’s tax outreach effort for California's TANF and SNAP participants. Participants learned how to leverage data, communication strategies, and partnerships to increase economic supports available to clients via the tax system.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance (OFA) conducted the 2021 National TANF Directors’ Meeting from September 20 - 24, 2021. During this concurrent workshop, panelists explored how Tribal TANF and NEW programs can consider expanding virtual services to motivate participants to pursue opportunities, especially those which may have been previously inaccessible. Speakers discussed a variety of strategies used in the past year to create virtual education and training opportunities and virtual case management services for clients, as well as how these offerings were developed, challenges along the way, witnessed successes, and recommendations for programs considering offering similar resources. This session concluded with a review of OFA’s Coaching for Success eLearning modules, which program staff can use to provide virtual coaching and mentorship to participants.

Did you know that Administration for Children and Families (ACF) programs can help communities meet crucial needs after a disaster? ACF will host two 90-minute webinars highlighting updated guidance on program waivers and flexibilities available during emergencies. 

Program offices will share how funds can be used, how to meet administrative requirements, and how these flexibilities as outlined on the ACF Emergency and Disaster Waivers and Flexibilities webpage can support recovery efforts and continuity of human services for disaster survivors.

ACF program award recipients, state human services staff, and state emergency managers are welcome to attend!

• On March 11, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET, presenting programs will include: Administration for Native Americans, Office of Community Services, Office of Family Assistance, Office of Family Violence Preventions and Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement, and Office on Trafficking in Persons.
• On March 18, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET, presenting programs will include: Children's Bureau, Family and Youth Services Bureau, Office of Child Care, Office of Child Support Enforcement, and Office of Head Start. 

Did you know that Administration for Children and Families (ACF) programs can help communities meet crucial needs after a disaster? ACF will host two 90-minute webinars highlighting updated guidance on program waivers and flexibilities available during emergencies. 

Program offices will share how funds can be used, how to meet administrative requirements, and how these flexibilities as outlined on the ACF Emergency and Disaster Waivers and Flexibilities webpage can support recovery efforts and continuity of human services for disaster survivors.

ACF program award recipients, state human services staff, and state emergency managers are welcome to attend!

• On March 11, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET, presenting programs will include: Administration for Native Americans, Office of Community Services, Office of Family Assistance, Office of Family Violence Preventions and Services, Office of Refugee Resettlement, and Office on Trafficking in Persons.
• On March 18, 2026 at 1:30 p.m. ET, presenting programs will include: Children's Bureau, Family and Youth Services Bureau, Office of Child Care, Office of Child Support Enforcement, and Office of Head Start. 

This guide helps TANF leaders and staff understand the full spectrum of potential fraud risks relevant to programs funded with TANF funds. TANF leaders and staff can use it to:

• Build collective fraud risk knowledge across your agency;
• Understand whether risks are person-based, system-based, or hybrid;
• Apply the WHO-HOW-WHAT framework to assess fraud scenarios; or
• Review fraud prevention strategies that can help mitigate these risks. 

This framework helps TANF agency leaders understand and implement separation of duties—a critical fraud prevention control required by federal regulations. TANF agency leaders can use it to: 

• Understand why separation of duties matters for program integrity;
• Review the national context and real financial impact of fraud;
• See how to structure your organization with proper separation;
• Identify the four critical functions that must never be combined; or
• Learn key control points and adaptations for small agencies.

This guide addresses two significant fraud vulnerabilities the GAO identified: beneficiary misuse of Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) cards (including selling cards on e-commerce platforms) and EBT card fraud perpetrated by agency employees. The checklist provides concrete security features, monitoring protocols, and response procedures to safeguard TANF benefits delivered through EBT cards.

The entirety of the TANF Fraud Risk Management: Visual Resources for TANF Agencies can be accessed here: https://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/content/tanf-fraud-risk-management-visual-resources-tanf-agencies.

This visual guide, developed in alignment with GAO recommendations, focuses on key TANF fraud risks organized by the type of individual potentially involved in committing fraud (e.g., beneficiary, agency employee, subrecipient, contractor) and outlines clear risk indicators, prevention strategies, and detection methods. The guide is designed to support TANF agencies in strengthening program integrity through a user-centered, accessible format that promotes transparency and accountability.

The entirety of the TANF Fraud Risk Management: Visual Resources for TANF Agencies can be accessed here: https://peerta.acf.hhs.gov/content/tanf-fraud-risk-management-visual-resources-tanf-agencies.

These visual guides support TANF agencies in proactively identifying, preventing, and mitigating fraud risks before they escalate to federal oversight. Grounded in the findings of GAO Report 25-107290, these resources address specific vulnerabilities in TANF fraud risk management and translate those insights into practical tools. By implementing these strategies, TANF agencies can strengthen program integrity, reduce inefficient spending, enhance accountability, and prevent the diversion of funds from their intended purpose, thereby upholding TANF’s core mission of assisting families in need.