Two-Thirds of States Qualify for Extended Counting of TANF Job Search and Job Readiness Assistance

Publication Date: October 2006

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Elizabeth Lower-Basch

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

Under TANF rules, job search and job readiness assistance may only be counted toward the work participation rate for 6 weeks in a fiscal year; however this limit is extended to 12 weeks in high unemployment states and those qualifying as “needy” under the Contingency Fund provisions of the law. This provision gives eligible states some flexibility in providing activities that address barriers to employment and that are only countable toward meeting TANF participation rates under the job search/job readiness work activity as defined in the interim final regulations.