Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) supports families as they work toward financial independence, but misconceptions about who receives assistance and how they participate in work activities continue to shape public discussions. This issue brief, co-written by Office of Family Assistance Director David Swegle and Assistant Secretary of Administration for Children and Families Alex Adams, explores the gap between public perception and how TANF's work requirements operate in practice. As the first in a series on TANF work requirements, it explains the purpose of the federal work participation rate, why measuring state performance is more complex than it appears, and how federal rules influence program reporting and accountability. TANF leaders, administrators, and frontline staff can use this resource to better understand the policies behind work participation requirements and support informed conversations with partners and stakeholders.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) supports families as they work toward financial independence, and the policies used to measure state performance play an important role in how the program is administered. This issue brief, co-written by Office of Family Assistance Director David Swegle and Assistant Secretary of Administration for Children and Families Alex Adams, examines the TANF Caseload Reduction Credit and how it affects state work participation requirements. As the second in a series on TANF work requirements, it explains how the credit is calculated and why it was created, identifies its limitations, and examines recent legislative attempts to strengthen work requirements. TANF leaders and administrators can use this resource to better understand the relationship between caseload trends, accountability, and work participation requirements, helping them interpret program data and engage in informed policy discussions about the impact of workarounds on TANF participants’ financial independence.

Proposed changes to work requirements and time limits can have significant implications for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs and the families they serve. This Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) outlines potential changes that would provide states with greater flexibility in how work requirements and term limits are implemented. While the proposal is not final policy, it offers insight into possible future directions and priorities that could affect program operations.

TANF administrators and policy staff can use this resource to better understand the proposed changes, assess potential impacts on their programs, and inform planning efforts. Reviewing proposed rules early can help programs prepare for future policy developments, engage in discussions about implementation considerations, and consider how increased flexibility could support families facing barriers to employment while maintaining progress toward self-sufficiency.

Families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) often rely on housing assistance as part of their overall support system. This Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) report examines work requirement policies in HUD-funded assisted housing programs and explores how those requirements are implemented across different housing settings.

For TANF practitioners, the report provides useful context for understanding the housing-related policies that may affect the families they serve. By learning how housing work requirements interact with employment expectations in other programs, TANF staff can better coordinate services, reduce participant confusion, and help families successfully navigate multiple systems while working toward economic stability.

Helping families achieve self-sufficiency often requires coordinated support across multiple programs and service systems. This Department of Housing and Urban Development guidebook provides practical strategies for designing, managing, and strengthening Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) programs, including participant engagement, case management, goal setting, and partnership development.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) administrators and frontline staff can use this resource to identify approaches that support long-term success for participants. This guidebook offers ideas for strengthening case management practices, improving participant retention, and building stronger connections between employment, education, housing, and other services. Programs looking to enhance family-centered approaches may find valuable lessons that can be adapted to their own work.

Many families receiving housing assistance are working toward the same goals that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs support: stable employment, increased earnings, and long-term financial independence. The Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) Program helps participants build assets as their income grows, creating opportunities to save money while working toward personal and professional goals.

For TANF practitioners, this Department of Housing and Urban Development webpage highlights a valuable partner program that can help families move beyond immediate assistance and build lasting economic stability. TANF staff can use it to identify referral opportunities, strengthen partnerships with housing agencies, and connect participants to supports that encourage employment, savings, and self-sufficiency.

Keeping up with policy updates and guidance can be challenging for programs that work across multiple benefit systems. The Food and Nutrition Administration’s collection of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirement policy resources brings together federal guidance, policy memoranda, and related materials that help explain how work requirements are implemented and administered.

For Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) agencies, this collection can serve as a valuable reference when training staff, responding to participant questions, and coordinating services with SNAP partners. By staying informed about SNAP policies, TANF practitioners can better support families receiving multiple forms of assistance and help ensure participants have access to the information they need to successfully meet program requirements.

Work requirements can be difficult for participants to understand, particularly when they are balancing employment, family responsibilities, and participation in multiple assistance programs. This Food and Nutrition Administration webpage explains Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) work requirements, including who is subject to them, available exemptions, and what participants must do to maintain eligibility.

TANF practitioners can use this information to help participants better understand their responsibilities and avoid interruptions in food assistance benefits. The webpage can also support staff training and cross-program coordination efforts by providing a clear overview of key SNAP work requirement policies that may affect TANF families.

Strong partnerships between the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training (SNAP E&T) program and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs can expand access to employment and training opportunities for families seeking greater economic stability. This Food and Nutrition Administration handbook provides guidance on developing and managing SNAP E&T state plans, including program design, partnerships, funding, and service delivery.

TANF leaders can use this handbook to better understand how SNAP E&T operates and identify opportunities to align services, coordinate workforce activities, and maximize available resources. For programs looking to strengthen career pathways and employment outcomes, the handbook offers practical information that can support more effective collaboration between TANF and SNAP E&T systems.