HHS Seeks Comments on TANF Pilot Evaluation
Published Date: 6/12/2026
Notice
Summary
The government is testing new ways to help families get Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits by picking up to five states to try out fresh performance goals. They’ll study how these pilots work and how families do afterward, using surveys and interviews. This project starts soon, asks for public feedback by July 13, 2026, and aims to improve future help programs with smart data.
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Up to Five States Will Pilot TANF Benchmarks
The Department of Health and Human Services may select up to five states to test new outcomes-based performance benchmarks in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023. The pilot results will be studied and used to produce a report to Congress and to inform future TANF policy development.
Surveys and Interviews Will Require Participant Time
The evaluation will collect data from TANF staff and participants using multiple instruments, including a 12-month post-TANF-exit survey of 3,000 participants (0.75 hours each) and 100 in-depth participant interviews (1.25 hours each). The package of instruments totals an estimated 2,414 annual burden hours (calculated over 5 years), meaning selected staff and participants will spend the listed time completing surveys and interviews.
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