ACF Reissues TANF Pilots
ACF Reissues TANF Pilots
On July 2nd, the Administration for Children and Families announced a new Request for Applications in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
TANF Pilot Context
In 2023, the bipartisan Fiscal Responsibility Act (P.L. 118-5) created a pilot testing TANF’s promotion of work.
Five states received approval for pilots in 2024. ACF cancelled those pilots in Marchand announced it would start the process over.
The Structural Policy Driver
TANF's structure includes “assistance” (direct financial support) and “non-assistance” (everything else).
This matters because many states use TANF overwhelmingly for child welfare, which often falls into the non-assistance category.
At its core, TANF balances provision of financial assistance with promoting labor force participation.
These pilots are designed to test new ways of striking that balance.
What Comes Next
ACF is accepting applications through August 15th, and will begin its pilot for selected states on October 1st.