Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act

The Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act seeks to enhance the integrity and effectiveness of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. It mandates that states apply the Payment Integrity Information Act of 2019 to their TANF programs, requiring them to identify, measure, and report improper payments. Furthermore, the bill directs the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a plan within one year to significantly reduce or eliminate these improper payments within a decade. To ensure funds reach those most in need, the legislation establishes an income threshold, requiring states to use TANF grants only for families whose income is less than twice the federal poverty guidelines . It also introduces strict deadlines for states to obligate funds by the end of the succeeding fiscal year and expend them by the end of the second succeeding fiscal year, though a limited amount can be reserved for future use. Crucially, the bill prohibits states from using federal TANF funds to supplant their own state and local spending, requiring a certification from the chief executive officer to ensure federal funds supplement existing efforts.