Skip ACF banner and navigation
Department of Health and Human Services logo
Questions?  
Privacy  
Site Index  
Contact Us  
   Home   |   Services   |   Working with ACF   |   Policy/Planning   |   About ACF   |   ACF News Search  
Administration for Children and Families US Department of Health and Human Services

Work Related Provisions of State TANF Plans

State

Time Frame for Work (Months)

Sanctions for Not Complying with Work Requirements Without Good Cause

Age of Youngest Child Exemption from Work Requirements

Earnings Disregards

Upfront Diversion

Transitional Medicaid Available (Months)

Transitional Child Care Available (Months)

Maximum Benefit Level, Family of 3 (2 kids)

Alabama

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 11/15/96

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

6 Months

Minimum

Under Age

2 Years

All earnings disregarded for first 3 months if reported timely and accurately.

In subsequent months disregard 20% of the gross and dependent care.

 

No

12

12

$164

Alaska

Received: 06/02/97

Subject to TANF: 07/01/97

24

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

Under Age

1 Year

First 12 months: $150 and 33%

Second 12 months: $150 and 25%

Third 12 months: $150 and 20%

Fourth 12 months: $150 and 15%

Fifth 12 months: $150 and 10%

2 Months of

Benefits

12

12

$923

Arizona

Received: 09/30/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

Individual

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

for 1 Month

Minimum

Under Age

1 Year

30% flat amount

 

24

24

$347

Arkansas

Received: 05/02/97

Subject to TANF: 07/01/97

 

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

Under Age

3 Months

For initial eligibility, 20 percent is deducted for work-related expenses, e.g., taxes. For on-going eligibility, 20 percent is deducted for work-related expenses followed by a 60 percent work incentive deduction from the remainder.

3 Months

of

Benefits

12

36

$204

California

Received: 10/09/96

Subject to TANF: 11/26/96

Applicants: 18

Recipients as of 01/11/98: 24

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

County

Option

Under 12

Weeks to

Under Age

1 Year

Earned income or unearned disability income disregard of $225 plus 50% of earned income.

County

Option

12

24

$682

Region I

$649

Region II

Colorado

Received: 05/13/97

Subject to TANF: 07/01/97

24

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

for 3-6

Months

Minimum

County

Option

Same as under former AFDC.

County

Option

12

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families

$357

Connecticut

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

Immediate

First: 20% reduction

Second: 35% reduction

Maximum:

Termination

for 3 Months

Minimum

Under Age

1 Year

Earned income disregarded as long as the unit's gross earnings do not exceed the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Yes

24

No Income

Limit

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families,

Based on

Sliding Fee

Scale

A: $636

B: $543

C: $536

Delaware

Received: 01/22/97

Subject to TANF: 03/10/97

Immediate for all determined able and 2-parent households; Workfare for single parent households after 24 months

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

Permanently

Under Age

13 Weeks

Same as under former AFDC.

No

24

24

$338

Dist. of Col.

Received: 12/03/96

Subject to TANF: 03/01/97

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever comes first

First: one month reduction or compliance, whichever later

Second: 3 months or compliance

Maximum: : 6 months or compliance

Under Age

1 Year

$100 work expenses

For recipients, 50% of earned income

Yes

12

Ongoing to

Meet Needs

$379

Florida

Received: 09/20/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

Immediate

First:

Termination

Maximum:

Termination

for 3 Months

Minimum

(Protective

Payee for

Children

Under 12

Years Old)

Under Age

3 Months

The first $200 plus 1/2 of remainder is disregarded

2 Months

of

Benefits

12

24

$303

Georgia

Received: 11/15/96

Subject to TANF: 01/01/97

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

Under Age

1 Year

Same as under former AFDC.

Yes

Amount Not

Specified

12

12

$280

Hawaii

Received: 04/07/97

Subject to TANF: 07/01/97

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever comes first

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

Under Age

6 Months

The earned income disregards have been increased to 20 percent, $200, and 36 percent, without time limit. The earned income of minor, dependent students is excluded as income.

No

12

No Limit,

Sliding Fee

Based on

Income

$712

(exempt families, teen households in school, and households in TOP)

$570

(all others)

Idaho

Received: 05/15/97

Subject to TANF: 07/01/97

Immediate

First:

Termination

for 1 Month

Minimum

Maximum:

Lifetime

Ineligibility

Under 12 weeks

40% of earnings are subtracted from a work incentive table

Amount of need not to exceed $276 per month with a maximum of three months benefits

12

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families

$276

Illinois

Received: 05/16/97

Subject to TANF: 07/01/97

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever comes first

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

for 3 Months

Minimum

Under Age

1 Year

$2 of every $3 is disregarded

$1,000

12

No Limit for

Low Income

Families;

Copayment

for All With

Earned

Income

$377

Indiana

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

Under Age

12 Weeks

Gross income disregarded up to 100% of Federal Poverty level

No

12

12

$288

Iowa

Received: 11/15/96

Subject to TANF: 01/01/97

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

(Ineligibility

for 6 Months)

No automatic exemptions

A work expense disregard of 20% of gross earnings of applicants and recipients.

A work incentive disregard equal to 50 percent of the earned income left after all other deductions have been subtracted from gross earnings for applicants and recipients.

Yes in pilot areas

12

24

$426

Kansas

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

Immediate

First: full family until cured

Subsequent: full family 2 months no cure

Under Age

1 Year

Recipient: $90 plus 40% disregarded plus child/incapacitated expense.

Applicant: $90

No

12

Child Care provided up to 185% of poverty

$429

Kentucky

Received: 09/30/96

Subject to TANF: 10/18/96

6

Each Instance:

Reduction

(Remaining

Grant Paid

to Protective

Payee)

Under Age

1 Year

Recipients: A one-time 2 month disregard to recipients who become employed. After that same as under former AFDC.

Applicants: As under former AFDC program.

Yes

(Payment

Amount

Not

Available)

12

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families

$262

Louisiana

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 01/01/97

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever comes first

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

Under Age

1 Year

$120 Standard Deduction

$900 Deduction Time Limited for 6 Months

No

12

12

$190

Maine

Received: 09/30/96

Subject to TANF: 11/01/96

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever comes first

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

(Third Party

Payments)

Under Age

1 Year

In eight counties: 20% of the gross earnings and $134 from the remaining earnings are disregarded.

In remaining counties: $150 and 50% of the remaining that are less than the FPL.

Up to 3 Months

of

Benefits

12

Until

Youngest

Child

Reaches

Age 13 or

Family

Becomes

Ineligible

$468

Maryland

Received: 09/27/96

Subject to TANF: 12/09/96

Immediate

(Job

Search)

First:

Termination

Until

Compliance

Maximum:

Termination

Until 30

Days of

Compliance

Under Age

1 Year

26% for wages and 50% for self-employed income

Up to 12

Months of

Benefits,

Local

Department

Option

12

12

$388

Massachusetts

Received: 09/23/96

Subject to TANF: 09/30/96

60 days

(for non-exempt with school age children)

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

or Mandated

Participation

in Community

Service

Under Age

6 Years

Family Cap

Child Under

3 Months

$120 plus 50% of remainder

 

 

 

No

12

12

$579

Michigan

Received: 08/27/96

Subject to TANF: 09/30/96

60 days

First 2 Months of Assistance:

Termination

After First 2 Months:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

Automatic

Exemptions

Are Not

Provided

$200 plus 20%

Pilot in one county

12

24

$459

(Detroit)

Varies for different areas of the State.

Minnesota

Received: 05/01/97

Subject to TANF: 07/01/97

6

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

and

Vendor Paid

Under Age

1 Year

18% for applicants

36% for recipients

4 Months

of

Benefits

12

12

$532

Mississippi

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

24

Termination

Under Age

1 Year

Total earnings disregarded for first 6 months if employed within 30 days of approval.

No

12 for employment; 4 for increased child support

12

$120

Missouri

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 12/01/96

24 months

or when job

ready,

whichever

comes first

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

Under Age

1 Year

As under the former AFDC program.

(Under the 21st Century Communities waiver, the $30 and 1/3 earned income disregard may be extended for up to 48 months.)

No

12

24 month extention

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families

$292

Montana

Received: 11/01/96

Subject to TANF: 02/01/97

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

Exemptions

Are Not

Provided

The earned income disregards are: $200 work expense ($100 for the Community Services Program participants); 25% of the balance, except for Community Services participants.

3 Months

of

Benefits

12

Sliding Fee

Immediately

$461

Nebraska

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 12/01/96

Immediate

First:

Termination

for 1 Month

Maximum:

Termination

For 12 months

Between 12

Weeks and 6

Months Old

Under the regular assistance component, and under the standard disregards version of the Employment First component, the disregards are $30 and 1/3, with a time limit, as under the former AFDC program. Under the high disregards version of Employment First, the disregard is $100 plus 60 percent of the remainder.

No

24

24

$364

Nevada

Received: 10/18/96

Subject to TANF: 12/03/96

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever is sooner

First: greater of 1/3 or an amount equal to needs of one person in household

Maximum: Termination

Under Age

1 Year

Earnings disregards are as follows:

disregard all earned income for three months; disregard 50 percent of gross earnings for the next nine months; disregard $90 or 20 percent of gross earnings (whichever is greater) for month 13 and ongoing; and disregard the full cost of child care for as long as the individual remains eligible for assistance while working.

No

12

12

$348

New Hampshire

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

26 Weeks

of Job

Search

Followed by

26 Weeks

of Work

Activities

Progressive

Reductions

Under Age 2 Years and Under Age 1 if Child was Conceived while Family was on Assistance

Recipients and applicants that have received assistance in any 1 of the previous 6 months: 50%

Other applicants: 20% to determine preliminary step for net income eligibility. If eligible, 50% earned income disregard.

No

12

No Limit

for Families

Below

190% of

Poverty

$550

New Jersey

Received: 10/15/96

Subject to TANF: 02/01/97

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever is sooner

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

Under 12

Weeks

Disregard 100% of the first full month of employment and 50% thereafter.

No

24 for

Employment

4 for

Increased

Child or

Spousal

Support

24

$424

New Mexico

Received: 04/04/97

Subject to TANF: 07/01/97

60 days

First:

Reduction

25%

Second: Reduction 50%

Maximum:

Termination

for Minimum

6 Months

Under Age

1 Year

First 2 Years:

Earnings in excess of the minimum hours required are deducted from gross earnings plus $150 for single parents and $500 for 2-parent family. Up to $200 per child per month child care.

No

12

12 months

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families

$389

(Additional $100 for each family not receiving subsidized housing assistance)

New York

Received: 10/17/96

Subject to TANF: 12/02/96

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever is sooner

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

Under Age

1 Year

$90 plus 42%

No

12

12

$577

New York

$703

Suffolk

North Carolina

Received: 10/22/96

Subject to TANF: 01/01/97

Must register with Employment Assistance before benefits approved; must work after 24 months

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

Electing counties can set own provisions

Under Age

1 Year

varies in elected counties

Same as under former AFDC program.

Up to 3 Months

of

Benefits

12

12

$272

North Dakota

Received: 05/01/97

Subject to TANF: 07/01/97

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever is sooner

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Case Closed

Under Age

4 Months

27% or $90, whichever is greater

No

12

12

$549

Ohio

Received: 09/19/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

24 Months

First:

Ineligible for

1 Month

Maximum

Termination

for 6 Months

Minimum

Under Age

1 Year

$250 plus 1/2 for 18 months

County

Option

12

12

$362

Oklahoma

Received: 09/30/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

Immediate

Each Instance:

Termination

Under Age

3 Months

$120 plus 50% of remainder

No

12

12

$292

Oregon

 

Received: 09/27/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

Under Age

90 Days

Disregard 50%

Yes

(Benefit

Not

Available)

12

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families

$503

($460 TANF benefit and $43 JOBS incentive)

Pennsylvania

Received: 01/23/97

Subject to TANF: 03/03/97

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

Permanently

Under Age

1 Year

Disregard 50% of gross income.

No

12

Based on income.

(1) $421

(2) $403

Philadelphia and most counties.

(3) $393

(4) $365

Rhode Island

Received: 03/13/97

Subject to TANF: 03/01/97

 

Assessment and employment plan within 45 days but education and training approval for first 24 mos

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

Payment to

Third Party

for Children

Under Age

1 Year

$170 plus 50 percent

3 Months

of

Benefits for 6 month period

Adults: 18;

Children under

250% FPL: No time limit

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families

$554

South Carolina

Received: 10/12/96

Subject to TANF: 10/12/96

When determined able to engage in work or 24 months, whichever is sooner

Each Instance:

Termination

Until 30 Days

of

Compliance

 

 

Under Age

1 Year

First 4 months: 50 percent of gross

Thereafter: $100

No

24

24

$201

South Dakota

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 12/01/96

2 Months

(Community

Service)

First:

Warning

Maximum:

Termination

for 1 Month with right to reapply after that month

Under Age

12 Weeks

$90 plus 20 percent of gross

2 Months

of

Benefits

12

12

A: $430

(independent

living)

B: $300

(shared living)

Tennessee

 

Received: 09/30/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

Immediate

First:

Termination

Until

Compliance

Maximum:

Termination

Minimum

3 Months

Under Age

4 Months

The work expense disregard will be set at $150, to conform to the requirements of the food stamp program. Tennessee will apply fill-the-gap budgeting to both earned income and child support.

No

18

18

$185

Texas

Received: 10/01/96

Subject to TANF: 11/05/96

Immediate

Each Instance:

Increasing

Reduction

Maximum:

Reduction

Under Age

4 Years

Same as under former AFDC program.

$1,000

12

Exempt volunteers 18

12

Exempt volunteers 18

$188

Utah

Received: 09/30/96

Subject to TANF: 10/01/96

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Case Closed

Automatic

Exemptions

Are Not

Provided

First $100 plus 50 percent of remainder

3 Months

of

Benefits

24

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families

$451

 

Vermont

Received: 09/20/96

Subject to TANF: 09/20/96

15 Months

for UP

30 Months

for Single

Parents

First:

Reduction

Vendor

Payments

Maximum:

Termination

Under Age

18 Months

Applicants and recipients employed in unsubsidized jobs receive permanent earned income disregard of $150 plus 25% of the remainder; recipients receiving wages from subsidized jobs under the community service jobs will receive a $90 work expense disregard.

No

36

No limit

for Low

Income

Families

 

$639

Virginia

Received: 12/06/96

Subject to TANF: 02/01/97

Immediate

First:

Termination

for 1 Month or until compliance, whichever is longer

Maximum:

Termination

for 6 Months or until compliance, whichever longer

Under Age

18 Months

Participants in VIEW may keep all earnings and TANF up to 100% of the Federal Poverty Level.

4 Months

of

Benefits

12

12

$354

Washington

Received: 12/12/96

Subject to TANF: 01/10/97

Immediate

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

40% Reduction

Under Age

1 Year

50 percent of monthly gross income

$1,500

12

No limit for families that are below 175% of the FPL. Co-payments based on sliding fee.

$546

West Virginia

Received: 11/27/96

Subject to TANF: 01/11/97

24

First:

Reduction

Maximum:

Termination

for 6 Months

Under Age

1 Year

for First Child;

Under Age

6 Months for

Subsequent

Child(ren)

40 percent

3 Months

of

Benefits

12

12

$278 (10% increase for married couples) (Up to $60 incentive when child support is received)

Wisconsin

Received: 08/22/96

Subject to TANF: 09/30/96

Immediate

First:

Reduction

(work hours)

and

Termination

(employment)

Maximum:

Termination

Under Age

12 Weeks

Disregarded until family reaches 115 percent of poverty level.

$1,000

Yes

(Months

not

specified)

Yes

(No time limit for family elgibility)

$673

Family in

Community

Service

$628

Family in

Transition

Wyoming

Received: 10/17/96

Subject to TANF: 01/01/97

Immediate

Under Pay

After

Performance

Each Instance:

Termination

for Minimum

1 Month

Under Age

3 Months

$200 per adult

No

12

No Limit

for Low

Income

Families

$340