Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federal block grant that provides temporary cash assistance, subsidized childcare, and work programs for low-income families. With limited exceptions, adult TANF recipients must participate in one or more WorkFirst activities that are identified through an assessment and documented in the recipient's Individual Responsibility Plan. These activities may include paid and unpaid employment-based training programs, career development, community service, work skills assessment and job search training, and vocational training programs. The TANF program is administered by the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS).
Federal rules limit the length of time an adult can receive TANF benefits to a cumulative total of 60 months. Time limit extensions (TLE) may be offered to families on the basis of hardship, as defined by the state, or in instances of family violence. States can extend federal TANF assistance beyond the 60-month limit for up to 20 percent of the average monthly caseload.
The DSHS has adopted rules identifying who is eligible for a hardship TLE. Examples of hardship under the adopted rules include a person with severe and chronic disabilities, a person acting as a caregiver for a disabled child or adult, and a person experiencing homelessness, among others.
The DSHS has also adopted regulations that apply the 60-month time limit to households in which a parent is in the home and ineligible for TANF.
The DSHS must adopt rules to allow a hardship TLE if the recipient:
In addition, the DSHS must modify its regulations that impose the 60-month lifetime limit on households with an ineligible parent to apply only to households with a parent who is ineligible due to fraud and disqualifying claims.
The substitute bill removes the requirement in the original bill that the DSHS allow a TLE if a recipient is participating satisfactorily in the program. The substitute bill adds a provision requiring the DSHS to modify its regulations that impose the 60-month lifetime limit on households with an ineligible parent to apply only to households with a parent who is ineligible due to fraud and disqualifying claims.
(In support) This bill corrects the institutionalized racism imbedded in underlying TANF policy. Many black families are being cut off at disproportionately higher rates than their white counterparts. All families should be able to get help when they need it. The TANF extensions can be a game changer and give families more time to get back on their feet. In 2011 the Legislature drastically restricted access to TLEs, which resulted in a disproportionate amount of black and Indigenous families being cut from the program. These families have been able to access additional time under the COVID-19 extensions. Without action by the Legislature, this protection will expire in just five months, resulting in the reinstatement of a racist policy. Survivors of domestic violence use TANF during the most difficult times of their lives. To qualify for a family violence extension, a survivor must disclose the abuse, and many survivors do not disclose this information for a lot of good reasons. It can take a long time for a survivor to get safe and stable.
(Opposed) None.
(Other) Most families receive TANF for a much shorter period than the 60-month time limit, but some do reach the limit. The federal government allows states to set criteria for extensions for up to 20 percent of recipients, and the DSHS does not anticipate that this bill will result in that limit being exceeded.