Legislation & Politics

New Regulations for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued new rules to implement TANF provisions in the Deficit Reduction Act.   Many issues of importance to AFSCME were defined in the law and can’t be changed in the regulations.  The new restrictive definitions of work activities may curtail states’ ability to count activities that have been permissible for nearly a decade. The new rules also require documentation of daily supervision and other requirements for verification of participation in work activities.  States operating a TANF and food stamp workfare program must comply with the minimum wage laws, and will be deemed to have met the hourly participation rate. We hope that states promote expanding other acceptable work activities besides workfare that would release some pressure for states to institute or expand workfare programs given the change in the calculation for the caseload reduction credit. August 2006.  See AFSCME’s comments on the new rules.

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Raymond Summers
Council 31, Illinois

Raymond Summers

"I'm not a Democrat or a Republican, but I am a proud city employee. I support candidates who are on our side. And after they win, I make sure they vote for legislation that supports public services."