| Change | State Policy Implications |
| The regulations define “assistance” to include supports for basic needs, and supportive services for non-working families. | TANF funds can pay for child care, transportation and other supports for working families, without subjecting families to time limits. |
| States may adopt separate state programs using maintenance of effort funds without fear of penalties or additional reporting requirements. | Separate programs can serve legal immigrant families, families exceeding the federal time limits and families for whom work requirements and time limits are inappropriate–such as those with disabled parents or children; and offer post-secondary education, English as a second language or substance abuse treatment. |
| The refundable portion of state earned income tax credits can be paid with federal TANF dollars or count toward the state’s maintenance of effort requirement. | States may want to adopt refundable earned income tax credits. |
| States will receive the maximum penalty if they do not have a statewide process to inform single custodial parents of children under six that they may not be sanctioned if child care is unavailable. | States should establish clear criteria for determining when child care is unavailable, and develop a statewide process to inform parents of this exemption. |
