This page describes the rules for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). It is part of the report The State of State Choices: A national landscape analysis of postsecondary eligibility restrictions and opportunities in SNAP, CCDF, and TANF. Click here to return to the previous page, or continue reading below.
Introduction and Background on Students and TANF
For students and families living in or near poverty, cash assistance is a powerful tool to help address basic needs. Cash is flexible and easy to use. Regular cash benefits are uniquely positioned to address food, housing, child care, and other needs when delivered efficiently and in a timely manner.[1] For students, similar flexible sources of financial support like emergency aid can help them stay enrolled when they are having trouble meeting their basic needs.[2]
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, sometimes referred to as “welfare,” is our nation’s only federal cash assistance program. TANF funds are distributed to states in the form of block grants by the federal government to help lift families out of poverty. States can use these dollars within broad parameters. States must contribute their own funding toward TANF purposes under the program’s “maintenance of effort” (MOE) requirements, which they then use to operate their TANF programs for related activities.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also recently announced proposed rules on how states can spend their TANF funds, including some proposed restrictions on spending for students in higher education.[3] A wide range of stakeholders responded to the proposed rule, including the authors of this report.[4] At the time of publication of this report, HHS has yet to issue final rules—leaving some ambiguity about the full range of TANF parameters. We describe the rules as they exist today.
TANF has numerous shortcomings that have been well-documented over the years. Because federal funding for TANF block grants has remained unchanged for nearly 30 years, state allotments have not evolved with population or demographic growth, enrollment is limited even among eligible families, and benefits have eroded over time.[5]
As a result, fewer and fewer families receive services and benefits each year. For every 100 families in poverty, only 21 received assistance from TANF in 2020—down from 68 families in 1996.[6] If TANF had continued to reach the same number of families in poverty as it did in 1996, nearly 2.4 million more families would be served by TANF today.[7]
However, with more funding, TANF could help more parenting students meet their basic needs and access and complete a college credential. Parenting students have significant need for this assistance; 53% of parenting students report experiencing food insecurity, 68% experience housing insecurity, and 17% experience homelessness—rates that are disproportionately higher than students without children.[8]
TANF participants must be considered low-income and either currently pregnant or have dependent children 18 years of age or younger. They must also engage in a set of activities, or work requirements, as a condition of receiving support, including vocational, on-the-job, or job skills training. Unfortunately, TANF does not provide adequate support for parenting students attempting to persist through a training or degree program due to low levels of benefits, flat funding, and restrictive work requirements. In FY 2022, only about 10% of families enrolled in TANF had education beyond high school.[9] Despite low postsecondary attainment, only a fraction of work-eligible TANF participants were engaged in “vocational education” to meet their work activity.[10]
Like the work requirements that harm SNAP and CCDF participants, the TANF work requirement also fails to acknowledge that parenting students struggle to manage school, work, and child care responsibilities at the same time. The Hope Center survey reports that, during the pandemic, most parenting students spent 40 or more hours caring for children, leaving them with little time for college coursework in addition to a job.[11]
The TANF program could help address some of the challenges facing parenting students by providing flexibility in how students access education and training services and expanding cash assistance to those students.
TANF: A Federal Program with Broad State Flexibility
TANF’s rules are a combination of federal guidelines and state rules. Each state implements its TANF program to meet one of four broad federal goals:[12]
- Provide assistance to needy families
- End the dependency of needy parents on government benefits through job preparation, work, and marriage
- Prevent and reduce out-of-wedlock pregnancies
- Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families
States have significant flexibility in shaping their TANF program within the parameters of these broad goals. Currently, each state determines income eligibility thresholds, asset tests, and benefit levels, with an extensive range across states. In 2020, the maximum monthly income eligibility ranged from $268 to $2,359 for a family of three.[13] Additionally, the amount of assets that families are limited to in order to receive benefits ranged from $1,000 to $15,000, while other states did not require asset limits.[14] Benefit levels also vary widely by state and region, but as of 2023, the median benefit level across the United States was $492 per month.[15] While TANF benefit levels have certainly failed to keep up with inflation, they can still improve the basic needs security of students and their families.
Eligibility criteria are largely set at the state level, with federal guidance dictating that a family be considered “needy.” As a result, states vary widely in their choice of program rules, barriers, and benefits. Household composition also affects eligibility (i.e. whether families include stepparents, grandparents, one- or two-parent households, and their incomes).
In addition to the income requirements and the requirement to have dependent children, participants must be U.S. citizens or legal immigrants who have been in the United States for at least five years. Children who are U.S. citizens are eligible even if their parents are non-citizens, and state MOE funds can be used to cover parents who have not yet met the five-year mark.[16]
States can also enforce restrictive measures prior to approval for TANF benefits. Families could be required to pass behavioral requirements (i.e. drug screenings[17] and family caps[18]) and may also be required to complete a mandatory job search prior to being enrolled in TANF. Some states provide emergency supplemental payments to stabilize families in crisis. Certain relatives of TANF eligible families could receive it if they care for a related dependent in the home. Families receiving federal monthly TANF benefits have a maximum federal lifetime limit of 60 months or longer for some families experiencing extreme hardship.[19]
Once enrolled, each state also has discretion in determining work-related activities, sanctions, and time limits. Federal rules require states to meet a minimum “work participation rate” (WPR) for the share of TANF participants engaged in work or work-related activities. Overall, a state’s minimum WPR is 50% for all families, but after adjustments for caseload reductions, the effective rate is lower for most states and the WPR can fall below 50%.[20]
States are required to engage individuals in “work” within 24 months of participation in TANF, but states determine what activities count as work-related activities, which are split into “core” and “non-core” activities.[21] If parents fail to meet work requirements, states may impose sanctions on families, which could result in the loss of benefits. The various core activities parents can participate in include:
- unsubsidized employment
- subsidized employment
- on-the-job training
- job search
- job readiness assistance
- work experience
- community service
- vocational education training for up to 12 months[22]
“Non-core” activities include job skills training directly related to employment, education directly related to employment, and satisfactory attendance in high school or high school equivalency preparation classes. Each of these activities comes with its own set of requirements and limits.
The vocational education training category may offer participants the chance to pursue a certificate, associate, bachelor’s, or advanced degree for up to one year while receiving TANF benefits.[23] However, states are not permitted to count more than 30% of families engaged in education or training toward their overall WPR, which causes most states to disincentivize higher education.[24]
Participants who pursue education despite these state-level obstacles face numerous hurdles, including meeting hourly activity requirements. Not all of the education hours may count towards this requirement and would require the combination of core or non-core activities, including employment. The work hour requirement creates hardships for parenting students, as dropping a class or taking additional classes to meet the hour requirement may not be feasible without diminishing their ability to balance their workload and persist through school.[25] There are also states that limit the types of degrees participants can pursue, cutting off even more avenues for students to follow their academic and career interests. Figure 3 below details the complex student eligibility rules, requirements, and limits facing participants seeking postsecondary education and training.
Racist and deficit-based narratives about people with low incomes, and women of color in particular, drove the development of TANF’s exceptionally complex rules.[26] Rhetoric like the “welfare queen” myth has long been weaponized against cash assistance programs, including TANF and its predecessors. TANF’s work requirements force participants into low-wage jobs and deny families benefits when they cannot meet these requirements, all of which disproportionately harms Black families.[27] Such stereotypes have also negatively impacted low-income Indigenous and Latine families across the country.
Because each state has broad autonomy over its benefit levels, wide disparities exist, and racial disparities across the states have risen.[28] This complex set of rules, work requirements, and limitations on education and training have purposely excluded people from the program and prevented families from achieving self-sufficiency and upward mobility.
State-by-State Examination of TANF Education and Training
Below, we take a state-by-state look at lifetime limits and eligibility requirements regarding education and training activities. Specifically, we examined state manuals and state TANF plans to find information on student eligibility rules for parenting students. Due to outdated information and inconsistent manuals and plans, the lifetime limits and some activity requirements were cross-checked with the HHS 2020 Welfare Rules Databook for accuracy.[30]
The map below includes all information gathered from a state’s program, including at least five categories of barriers to students: lifetime limits, activity requirements on education, program type limitations, academic measurement, and study time requirements. Understanding what is currently required from students helps bring transparency to the barriers students may experience and highlights variations in rules across states.
Understanding what is currently required from students helps bring transparency to the barriers students may experience and highlights variations in rules across states.
Lifetime Limits
TANF lifetime limits determine how long a participant can receive TANF benefits. TANF is limited at the federal level to a total of 60 months (or five years). Currently, 36 states allow their participants to be enrolled up to this federal limit, maximizing their benefit. Of these 36 states, Mississippi drops the 60-month limit to 24 months if a participant fails to participate in work activities, while Indiana, Louisiana, Virginia, Massachusetts, Nevada, North Carolina, and South Carolina impose waiting periods or benefit limits.[31]
The rest of the states have limits ranging from 12 to 48 months, with Arizona offering the least number of months of potential eligibility at just 12 months. As of 2018, the District of Columbia has no lifetime limit, allowing participants to apply for benefits as needed. This more generous eligibility is made possible through local appropriations that kick in after families hit their 60-month federal limit.[32] Additionally, most states provide limited lifetime limit extensions beyond 60 months.
Length of Education
Once participating in TANF, states can count vocational training and education toward their WPR for up to one year.[33] However, since most states surpass their WPR requirement, some states have allowed TANF participants to pursue more extended periods of vocational education training.
States allow TANF participants to participate in “non-countable” activities, which are not counted toward the education time limits of the WPR. Alternatively, states can invest separate state funds (apart from MOE funds) to support expanded time in postsecondary education, which prevents families pursuing postsecondary education from being negatively counted against the limitations of the WPR.[34]
At least eight states allow the vocational education training component past the first 12 months. Nebraska and California allow up to 36 months. Maryland and Pennsylvania (KEYS participants only) allow up to 24 months. Oregon and Wisconsin only allow career and technical education programs for 18 and 24 months, respectively. Additionally, Washington (24 months) and North Carolina (36 months) only allow an extension for those participants who meet certain criteria.
Hours Related to Education
TANF activity requirements require that single parents meet participation hours of at least 30 hours a week, with at least 20 of those hours coming from “core” activities. Yet, some states limit the educational activities that can count under this 30-hour threshold, with just 17 states permitting parents to report up to 10 hours from education. This means that a student attending classes and caring for their child would need to participate in another activity (such as working while going to school) to meet the other 20 hours (10 hours in classes, and 20 hours working). Balancing all these responsibilities, on top of family, puts a student at risk academically.
On the other hand, 29 states do not limit how many hours can be counted towards education, which may allow parenting students to meet eligibility with education alone. California, one of the most flexible states, allows participants to meet participation requirements through a broader range of activities for their entire time receiving cash aid; previously, participants were limited to countable activities after 24 months.[35] Depending on the state, once a parenting student meets their educational lifetime limit and core activity hours, they can continue pursuing education and training as a non-core activity. A postsecondary degree is usually included within the “job skills training” component but can vary within different programs.
Most states specify that parents may count one hour of study time towards each hour of class, which can help parentsmeet their activity requirements. However, this flexibility does not benefit parenting students in states where a student is arbitrarily capped at how much time they can spend on educational activities.
Types of Education
Students also sometimes encounter limits on the type of postsecondary degree or training program they can pursue while on TANF. Based on available state manuals and plans, we find that most states allow students to pursue up to either a bachelor’s degree or advanced degrees. However, some states set lower limits, including New York and North Dakota, which only allow up to two-year programs or an associate degree, while Wisconsin limits TANF to their technical college programs—cutting out four-year degrees and above.
Most states include remedial or adult education in TANF, but it cannot be counted as a standalone activity in most cases. The range of state policies is varied and complex. Also, we could not determine the information on postsecondary education eligibility for some states, which could also confuse potential students and families who may apply for benefits.
Academic Progress
On top of these complex criteria, once a parent is enrolled in an educational component and meets activity requirements, some states also require students to meet specific academic measurements like grade point average (GPA), attendance, and study time.
Eight states require students on TANF to maintain at least a 2.0 GPA or “C” average within their education program. GPA is often used to determine “commitment” or “deservingness” from participants or used as an incentives. For instance, Illinois parents who are enrolled full-time in a postsecondary program and maintain a GPA of 2.5 will not have their participation count against the 60-month lifetime limit. Similarly, North Carolina participants enrolled in education part-time can have the lifetime limit suspended for up to 36-months if they maintain a 2.5 GPA.
These GPA requirements in TANF are often out of step with “satisfactory academic progress” (SAP) requirements for financial aid, which usually use a 2.0 GPA threshold, creating multiple different GPA standards for different forms of assistance families may receive. Even the slightly higher SAP thresholds place greater burdens on students experiencing basic needs insecurity, who may need to take fewer classes and who may experience greater academic difficulty due to the challenge of meeting basic expenses.[36]
Limitations
We examined state manuals and plans to gather sufficient information on eligibility for parenting students. Even with multiple sources, there are many obstacles in obtaining current information pertaining to TANF practices, eligibility, and the vocational education component. Further, not all state agency websites presented the latest manuals or state plans. Additionally, utilizing state manuals and plans does not give us a full picture of who and how many participants are assigned to participate in education and training activities. Even if a state technically allows participation in higher education programs while receiving TANF, participants may not actually take advantage of or be aware of this option.
TANF Recommendations for State Policymakers
TANF is designed around a notion of “deservedness”—that those with need should have to “earn” their benefits. This mentality not only perpetuates stereotypes surrounding people who need financial support and harms Black, Indigenous, and Latine families, it also goes against the program's goal of lifting families out of poverty. Work requirements make it harder for families to stay eligible for benefits and keeps families from utilizing an already restrictive program.[40] To begin moving away from the racist rhetoric surrounding “work for benefits” and alleviate barriers for parenting students, federal and state policymakers must begin to dismantle arbitrary work requirements.
With the information we could find, we found that the TANF program has substantial flexibility at the state level, yet not all states are taking advantage of this flexibility to enable families to pursue economic mobility through higher education. The lack of state use of their federal flexibility is especially notable when we look at program lifetime limits. Although federal regulations allow participants to participate in the program for up to 60 months or five years, many states still push families out of benefits far earlier. This only forces families towards low-wage jobs, which reduces self-sufficiency in the long term. To help support families participating in education programs, some recommendations for states include:
- Expand postsecondary education beyond one year: Federal regulations limit education as a “core activity” to one year for most participants. However, some states allow parents to continue their education as a core activity anywhere from 18 to 36 months. States may allow parents to participate in activities even if they are not counted towards the federal WPR. In July 2020, Maryland extended the vocational education core component limit to 24 months.[41] This step allows parents to comply with work requirements for up to 24 months (so long as they are engaged in education for 20 hours a week). Additionally, in 2009, Nebraska allowed TANF participants to engage in vocational training for up to 36 months (up from 12 months).[42] More states should be working to expand or eliminate limits on education so that more families with low incomes can pursue postsecondary education.
- Meeting work requirements through education alone: On top of lifetime limits, many states require parenting students to work while pursuing education—an unnecessary burden that contributes to basic needs insecurity. To provide more flexibility for families, states should allow the widest range of activities, including education, to count towards the participation requirement on its own, similar to current rules under California’s Welfare-to-Work (WTW) program.[43] This means participants can participate in education beyond federal restrictions and maximize their time on TANF. States should push to have education alone meet any work requirements.
- Maximize study time hours: Most states allow parenting students to count up to one hour of unsupervised study hours towards work requirements. Given that studying and homework time account for a large part of a student’s day, all states should be participating in this practice.
- Remove academic progress measurements. Most states require parenting students to meet a 2.0 GPA or be in good academic standing with their college or university, similar to SAP for financial aid. However, SAP requirements often increase barriers for students who already have to meet all other eligibility rules. Studies have shown that SAP can be burdensome for low-income students and those who face substantial life responsibilities.[44]
References for the state-by-state map can be found here.
Click here to return to The State of State Choices: A national landscape analysis of postsecondary eligibility restrictions and opportunities in SNAP, CCDF, and TANF. Click here to read about the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and here to learn more about the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF).
References
[1] Shrivastava, A. and Waxman, S. (2024). In 2024, state policymakers should continue to prioritize providing unrestricted income assistance to families.
[2] The Hope Center at Temple University. (2022, June). States leading the way in emergency aid for college students; U.S. Department of Education (2023). Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund 2021 Annual Performance Report; Daniel Rossman, D., Karon, J, and Alamuddin, R. (2022). The impacts of emergency micro-grants on student success. Ithaka S+R.
[3] Welton, C. (2023, November). Proposed temporary assistance for need families (TANF) rules would affect state higher education. The Institute for College Access & Success.
[4] Welton, C. & Rios, L. (2023). Comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services proposed rule: Strengthening temporary assistance for needy families (TANF) as a safety net and work program, RIN: 0970-AC97 effect on postsecondary education access & completion;
[5] Center for Budget and Policy Priorities. (2022, March) Policy basics: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families.
[6] Shrivastava, A., and Thompson, G. (2022). Policy brief: Cash assistance should reach millions more families to lessen hardship. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
[7] Shrivastava, A., and Thompson, G. (2022).
[8] Goldrick-Rab, S., Welton, C., and Coca, V. (2020, May).
[9] Office of Family Assistance. (2022). Characteristics and financial circumstances of TANF recipients, fiscal year 2022 An Office of the Administration for Children & Families. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
[10] Office Family Assistance: An Office of the Administration for Children & Families. (2022). State work participation rates - Fiscal year 2021 - Table 4a. U.S. Department of Health & Human Resources.
[11] The Hope Center at Temple University. (2021). The Hope Center Survey 2021: Basic needs insecurity during the ongoing pandemic.
[12] Office of Family Assistance: An Office of the Administration for Children & Families. (2022). About TANF. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
[13] Dehry, I., Knowles, S., Shantz, K., Minton, S., and Giannarelli, L. (2022). Welfare rules databook: State TANF policies as of July 2020, OPRE Report 2021-147. Office of Planning, Research, and Evaluation, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
[14] Dehry, I., Knowles, S., Shantz, K., Minton, S., and Giannarelli, L. (2022).
[15] Thompson, G.A., Azevedo-McCaffrey, D., and Carr, D. (2023, February). Increases in TANF Cash Benefit Levels Are Critical to Help Families Meet Rising Costs. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
[16] Center of Budget and Policy Priorities. (2022).
[17] Thompson, D. (2019). Drug testing and public assistance. Center for Law and Social Policy.
[18] Family caps hurt families who have children while enrolled in TANF. States who have family caps do not raise the monthly benefit to reflect the new household size.
[19] Office of Family Assistance.(2019). TANF final rule: Executive summary. An Office of the Administration for Children & Families. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services.
[20] Lower-Basch, E. & Burnside, A. (2021). TANF work participation rate. Center for Law and Social Policy.
[21] The 30 hour requirement applies to single-parent households. For two-parent households, they have a 35 hour weekly requirement. Single parents with children under 6 have a 20 hour weekly requirement. States can also require parents to work before 24 months if they determine the parent is able to do so.
[22] Vocational educational training means any “organized educational programs that are directly related to the preparation of individuals for employment in current or emerging occupations.” The reauthorization of the TANF program in 2018 expanded this definition to include bachelor’s and advanced degrees. See: Legal Information Institute. (n.d.) 45 CFR § 261.2 - What definitions apply to this part?. Cornell Law.; Federal Register. (2018). 45 CFR Parts 261, 262, 263, and 265 Reauthorization of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program; Final rule. Department of Health and Human Services: Administration for Children and Families.
[23] After one year, parents could potentially continue pursuing their degree through non-core activities, specifically through the job skills directly related to the education component, if their state allows. However, they would still need to meet 20 hours in another core activity.
[24] Lower-Basch, E. & Burnside, A. (2021).
[25] Kaverman, E. and Minoff, E. (2023, October). Designed to keep you down: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) creates obstacles for families even as it provides critical support. Center for the Study of Social Policy.
[26] Floyd, I., Pavetti, L., Meyer, L., Safawi, A., Schott,L., Bellew, E., & Magnus, A. (2021). TANF policies reflect racist legacy of cash assistance: Reimagined program should center Black mothers. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
[27] Minoff, E. (2020). The racist roots of work requirements. Center for the Study of Social Policy.
[28] Center of Budget and Policy Priorities. (2022)
[29] The target can be lower than 50% in states that see reductions in TANF caseloads, meaning the effective rate is lower for some states.
[30] Dehry, I. et al (2022).
[31] This means the state requires a family to wait a certain number of months before receiving benefits again. For instance, in Nevada, a household is limited to 24 months of cash assistance. After a waiting period of 12 months, a household would be able to apply for another 24 months of assistance.
[32] DC Department of Human Services. (2021). TANF state plan 2020.
[33] Falk, G. (2017). Temporary assistance for needy families (TANF): The work for needy families participation standard engagement in welfare to and work activities. Congressional Research Service.
[34] Lower-Basch, E., Duke-Benfield, A.E., & Mohan, L. (2014). Ensuring full credit under TANF’S work participation rate. Center for Law and Social Policy.
[35] Lower-Basch, E. & Burnside, A. (2022). TANF 101: Cash assistance. Center for Law and Social Policy; Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance (2023). CalWORKs program fact sheet.
[36] John Burton Advocates for Youth (2021, July). The overlooked obstacle: How satisfactory academic progress policies impede student success and equity.
[37] Children and Families Administration. (2023, October). Strengthening Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) as a safety net and work program. Federal Register.
[38] Bone, J. (2010). TANF education and training: Maine’s parents as scholars program. Center for Law and Social Policy.
[39] Office for Family Independent. Higher opportunity for pathways to employment (HOPE). Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
[40] Pavetti, L. (2016). Work requirements don’t cut poverty, evidence shows. Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
[41] Maryland Department of Human Services. (2020). FIA action transmittal.
[42] Mohan, L. (2014). TANF education and training: Nebraska's Employment First. Center for Law and Social Policy.
[43] California Department of Social Services. (2019). ACF approved TANF state plan.
[44] John Burton Advocates for Youth. (2021).
[45] Countable towards education refers to how many hours of education can be counted towards the work participation requirement. All information in this column was gathered from the 2020 Welfare Rules Databook.
[46] Vocational Education Training must be related to the preparation of employment in current or emerging occupations and must lead to useful employment.
[47] The education component must lead to a certification, Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree, bachelor’s or advanced degree and must be in a current or emerging occupation. However, it seems like they typically prioritize vocational education and technical schools. Information found in their state manual.
[48] Alternatively, it is acceptable for single parents to participate in educational activities on a full-time basis if the state is already meeting the federal work participation rate. Information found in their state manual.
[49] For a vocational program to be accepted, it must not have a high turnover. If pursuing a Bachelor’s or advanced degree, tuition costs and enrollment may not be funded by TANF. Information found in their state manual.
[50] Work-study is countable towards the participation hour requirement; it will be counted as unsubsidized employment. Information found in their state manual.
[51] In order to pursue Career and Technical Education, the participant must meet one of the following: Occupation must be listed in the Projected Employment Opportunities List (published by the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services Labor Market Information); Participant must have committed to relocate within another area in the state; Show a letter of intent of hire from potential employer once education and training is complete; Pursue an occupation in local demand (does not have to be on the Projected Employment Opportunities List) and must have it written in documentation by the Workforce Investment Board. Information found in their state manual.
[52] Count one hour of unsupervised study time for each credit hour. Information found in their state manual.
[53] For 24 months, participants will be tracked by the WTW 24-month Time Clock, which means participants will receive flexible requirements: no activity time limits, no core hourly requirements, and lower hourly requirements for some families. After the 24 months, participants will be held to standard federal requirements for an additional 12 months. Further information can be found in their state plan. See: https://www.cdss.ca.gov/Portals/9/DSSDB/ACF-Approved-TANF-State-Plan-2019.pdf
[54] Extensions are available after the first 21 months, but may not exceed 60 months. Information found in their state plan.
[55] The student rules included are based on Senate Bill 101-1999, which means that a TANF participant can qualify for postsecondary education up to a Bachelor’s degree. They must meet the following requirements: should not have received a Bachelor’s degree; education and training program must be through an accredited or approved program; be enrolled full-time and be in good standing with the program; if would have otherwise been subject to work requirement, must be meeting a combination of at least 20 hours per week (work-study, internships, research assistance, and externships can count as employment). There is no limit on education, but must be meeting a work activity. Information found in their state manual.
[56] Homework time is countable up to one hour of unsupervised time per credit or class hour if homework is a requirement. For those participating under SB 101-1099, a credit hour counts as 1.5 hours of study.
[57] Manual only includes Bachelor and advanced degrees as eligible degrees during the job skills training directly related to the employment component, which is a non-core activity.
[58] There are two components available for education and training: Postsecondary Education (PSE) component and Vocational Education and Training (VET) component. For participants pursuing education through the PSE component, they must be enrolled full-time and include a minimum number of work activities of 20 hours per week (no less than 4 hours can be paid in employment). This component can only be pursued for one uninterrupted period in a lifetime. Information found in their manual.
[59] A participant may only pursue a Bachelor’s or advanced degree through the Postsecondary Education (PSE) Component if they are unable to pursue it through the Vocational Education and Training (VET) component or Job Skills Training Directly Related to Employment (JST) component. Information found in their manual.
[60] Single parents who attend a postsecondary degree full-time and maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA will not count against the 60-month lifetime limit and these funds will come from MOE or state funds. For more information, reference their state plan.
[61] During the first 12 months, participants do not have to meet a work requirement. For more information, reference their state manual.
[62] A bachelor’s degree cannot be pursued under the Vocational Education component, but can be pursued under the “Bachelor’s Degree Program” component. The caseworker must approve of this component based on educational and career goals, transportation, work history, child care, and family obligations. For more information, reference their state plan.
[63] There is also a 24-month benefit limit for mandatory participants participating in IMPACT. IMPACT is the state’s Employment and Training Program and is available to both SNAP and TANF recipients. However, Vocational Education Training is not included in the 24-month period. They do not have to complete their education activity in under 24 months. Information found in their state manual.
[64] Accelerating Opportunities-Kansas (AO-K) is a program offered that connects participants to career and technical education in immediate and labor market needs jobs. Education programs allowed include remedial education and postsecondary programs. TANF students participating in this program will receive a scholarship that pays for all their tuition after completing 12 credits. For more information: http://www.dcf.ks.gov/services/ees/Pages/Accelerating-Opportunity-Kansas.aspx.
[65] Full or part-time attendance can be used to meet the core federal participation requirements for up to 12 months. Participants can also be referred to Ready to Work programs, which supports students balance family, work and school, and offers supportive services. . Information found in their state manual.
[66] Parents may not receive cash assistance for more than 24 months in a 60 month period.
[67] Vocational Education activities can be limited to programs that provide skills and knowledge to perform an occupation or prepares the participant for a specific job or field of work (i.e. associate degree for accounting). Information found in their manual.
[68] There is no time limit for single parents with children under 6, according to the 2020 Welfare Rules Databook.
[69] Vocational Educational Training includes associate and bachelor’s degrees. Participants may also pursue postsecondary programs through the Parent as Scholars (PaS) program. The PaS program is need-based and helps cover financial aid for up to 2,000 families who are navigating a postsecondary education (2 or 4 year degrees). Information found in their state manual and plan.
[70] Graduate programs are usually not allowed, unless it is to renew a professional license or certificate for employment and courses must be completed within six months. Information found in their state manual and plan.
[71] As long as a participant is engaged in Vocational Education (leading to an associate degree) for 20 hours per week, they will be meeting work requirements. Beginning July 1st, 2020, per HB 1066, the period for which an individual can do this has been extended to 24 months. After this, participants will need to include additional hours in another core activity. Information can be found in the state plan and this manual policy transmittal.
[72] Manual states that two and four-year degrees are permissible. However, HB 1066, only includes associate degrees.
[73] A participant can only receive benefits for 24 months in a continuous 60-month period, unless exempt. If exempt, they have no limit at all. Information found in their state manual.
[74] Manual includes that for the vocational educational program, it cannot exceed 12 months. However, for the education or training activity, it says the activity cannot exceed 24 months for purposes of meeting the work program requirement.
[75] The Postsecondary Education component shall be a half-time program or more, be an approved program within the Northeast regional labor market, and count towards a certificate, associate degree, or other degree. Information found in their state manual.
[76] Lifetime limit can be reduced to 24 months if participant fails to participate in the work program or is not assigned to a work activity. Information found in their state manual.
[77] Advanced degrees can only be counted as a non-core activity under Job Skills Training. Information found in their state manual.
[78] Parents as Scholars (PaS) program allows 25 participants to go beyond the 12-month limit, if selected through application or lottery. Within the program, the participant must be a full-time student, attending an approved program (including associate or bachelor’s degrees) and maintain a 2.0 GPA. They also don’t have a limit on hours counted towards their education, unlike those who aren’t part of PaS. Information found in their state manual and Welfare Rules Databook.
[79] This is capped at two hours for single parents with children under six, according to the 2020 Welfare Rules Databook.
[80] Nebraska has two components related to education: “Vocational Education” and “Post-secondary education”. The 36-month education limit is only included in the Vocational Education component, which allows education to be pursued up to an associate degree. The Post-Secondary Education component does not include information on its education limit, however, this component allows education to be pursued up to a Bachelor’s degree. Information found in their state manual.
[81] A household is limited to 24 months of cash assistance. After a waiting period of 12 months, a household would be able to apply for another 24 months of assistance.
[82] An extension past 12 months may be granted for a maximum of 3 months if determined necessary for transitioning to employment. After the extension, postsecondary education can only continue as a non-core activity. Information found in their state manual.
[83] After 12 months, activities count for 10 hours. Information found in 2020 Welfare Rules Databook.
[84] The Post Secondary Education component allows participants to pursue a program leading to an associate degree or higher after the following conditions are considered: the participants marketability of current skills, experience, and education; ability to be self-sufficient without a degree; ability to successfully complete the degree; access support services needed to complete the degree; and evaluate the local labor market. Tuition assistance is available if there are no other sources. Information found in their state manual.
[85] Vocational Education Training includes remedial or adult basic education, associate, and bachelor’s degrees, however, it must be required for entry-level employment, specific occupational areas and careers. More information on what types of careers qualify can be found in their state plan.
[86] New Mexico also has an Education Works Programs, which allows parents to participate in postsecondary education, including graduate and post-graduate, for an average of 20 hours per week for up to 24 months without a time limit. One- and one-half hours will be counted towards study time. Information found in their state manual.
[87] Vocational Education and Training component only allows degrees or occupations that are included in the Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT). Information found in their state manual.
[88] A participant cannot continue receiving benefits after 24 months for 3 years. Information found in their state plan.
[89] Participants enrolled in a postsecondary education at least part-time can have the 24-month lifetime limit waived for up to three years (36 months) if they maintain a 2.5 GPA. Information found in their state plan.
[90] The lifetime limit can be extended up to 60 months with an extension from their caseworker. Information found in their state manual.
[91] In Oregon, there are two core components that focus on education: Vocational Training and Self-Initiated Training. The 18-month limitation only applies to the Vocational Training core activity, which includes certificates and training that will lead to a job offer or career (no two or four-year degrees). For participants pursuing a two or four year program, they will have to complete this through the Self-Initiated Training core activity. No information was found on the education time limit for the “Self-Initiated Training” component. More information available in their JOBS manual.
[92] Keystone Education Yields Success (KEYS) program is offered and allows participants to be enrolled at one of Pennsylvania’s 14 community colleges, 14 universities, and 108 career and technical schools for a total of 24 months. After 24 months, must continue as a non-core activity. However, they can continue as core in 6 month increments if they are in a High Priority Occupation (HPO), GPA of 2.0 and enrolled in an average of 8 credit hours per semester. Information found in their state plan.
[93] Lifetime is limited to 24 months in a 10 year time period. Information found in their state manual.
[94] If a parent wishes to combine work with education, they must be a second year in an undergraduate program at a north central association of colleges and secondary schools institution, and they must meet a 2.5 GPA to stay eligible for this activity.
[95] There is a 24 month limit within the Virginia Initiative for Education and Work (VIEW) program. The VIEW program covers all work activities. After a participant hits the 24 month limit, they will be ineligible for TANF for the following 24 months until they can be eligible again. Information found in their state manual.
[96] The Vocational and Education Training component must be used for education directly related to employment; postsecondary education not directly related will not count towards the participation rate. Some examples of what is countable includes: health science programs, information technology, business, accounting, nursing and in demand jobs in their community. All postsecondary degrees can lead up to a Bachelor’s degree. Information found in their state manual.
[97] The lifetime limitation may be extended up to 24 months for parents participating in full-time vocational education, degree completion, or the high-wage/high-demand components. The months beyond the first 12 months will not count towards the federal work participation rate.
[98] Bachelor’s degree can only be pursued via the Degree Completion (DC) program rather than the Vocational Education (VE) program. The degree must be part of the high wage/high demand criteria. For more information, refer to section 7.2.11 in their state manual.
[99] There is no time limit for single parents with children under 6, according to the 2020 Welfare Rules Databook.
[100] The program focuses on technical college degrees, specifically through the Wisconsin Technical College System, and certifications. A parent can’t be assigned to attend a full-time technical college education for up to two years. However, full-time enrollment must be in addition to meeting a 25-hour activity requirement, which could include work-study, job shadowing, work experience, and internships. All information in the table is for the “Full-Time Technical College Education'' option within their Education and Training component. For more information, reference their state manual.