TO:

State Agencies Administering the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program and Other Interested Parties

SUBJECT:

FY 2004 TANF High Performance Bonus (HPB) Work Measure Reporting Requirements

REFERENCES:

TANF-ACF-PI-04 and TANF-PI-2002-01

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this program Instruction is to provide State agencies with (a) reporting requirements for the work measures and (b) the quarterly submission dates for transmitting monthly files of adult TANF recipients necessary to compute HPB scores.

BACKGROUND:

Section 403(a)(4) of the Social Security Act made $1 billion available over a five-year period to reward bonuses to high performing States in meeting the purposes of the TANF Program. This period ended September 30, 2003. Current operation of the TANF program is based on a continuing funding resolution (scheduled to expire March 31, 2004) passed by the Congress.

ACTION:

In anticipation of a re-authorization (which includes an employment achievement bonus) and in recognition of the current funding status of the TANF program, we are requiring States that choose to compete for bonuses based on performance in FY 2003 (bonus year FY 2004) on the work measures to collect and transmit quarterly data electronically. States that have separate TANF-MOE programs are also required to transmit similar files on this program. No other data or files are to be transmitted.

EFECTIVE
DATE:

Immediately

INQUIRIES:

Inquiries should be directed to the appropriate ACF Regional Administrator.

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