New rules would make states tighten how they manage Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) money.
This bill would make states follow stricter rules for how they manage Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) money. It would ensure these funds primarily go to families earning less than twice the federal poverty line. The bill would also prevent states from using federal money to replace their own spending. These changes aim to reduce waste and fraud in the program and would take effect on October 1, 2027.
Currently, states have more flexibility in how they manage Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds, without a universal income cap for recipients or strict federal payment integrity laws applying directly to state TANF programs. If this bill becomes law, states would be required to apply federal payment integrity laws, limit assistance to families earning less than twice the poverty guidelines, and follow new deadlines for spending funds, with a limited reserve option of up to 15% of yearly funds (total reserve not exceeding 50% of prior year's funding). States would also need to certify that federal funds add to, not replace, their own spending.
HR 8872 · 119th Congress · May 19, 2026 · AI Summary by gemini-2.5-flash · 9/10
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