PART 284—METHODOLOGY FOR DETERMINING WHETHER AN INCREASE IN A STATE OR TERRITORY'S CHILD POVERTY RATE IS THE RESULT OF THE TANF PROGRAM Link to an amendment published at 91 FR 48289, July 31, 2026. Authority: 42 U.S.C. 613(i) Source: 65 FR 39248, June 23, 2000, unless otherwise noted. § 284.10 What does this part cover? (a) This part describes the methodology for determining the child poverty rates in the States and the Territories, as required by section 413(i) of the Social Security Act, including determining whether the child poverty rate increased by five percent or more as a result of the TANF program(s) in the State or Territory. It also describes the content and duration of the corrective action plan. (b) The requirements of this part do not apply to any Territory that has never operated a TANF program. § 284.11 What definitions apply to this part? The following definitions apply to this part: ACF Act Census Bureau methodology Child poverty rate Date of enactment MOE i.e., SAIPE SSP-MOE State TANF Territories Tribal TANF program We (and any other first person plural pronouns) § 284.15 Who must submit information to ACF to carry out the requirements of this part? (a) The Chief Executive Officer of the State, or his or her designee, is responsible for submitting to ACF the information required by this part. (b) The State should obtain information from and work with the Indian tribe(s) (and Tribal consortia) operating a Tribal TANF program in the State in preparing and submitting the assessment, as specified in § 284.30, and the corrective action plan, as specified in § 284.45. § 284.20 What information will we use to determine the child poverty rate in each State? (a) General. (b) Estimates from the Census Bureau. (2) In 2000, and annually thereafter, we will determine for each State, at the 90-percent confidence level, the percentage change in the child poverty rate and provide this information to the State. The determination of percentage change in 2000 will cover the change between calendar years 1996 and 1997. (c) Estimates from the State. (2) If the State provides data on child poverty as described in paragraph (c)(1) of this section, it must: (i) Provide an estimate of the child poverty rate for the same two calendar years as the Census Bureau estimates provided to the State under paragraph (b)(2) of this section; (ii) Provide the change in the child poverty rate for the applicable two-calendar-year period at the 90-percent confidence level; (iii) Use the official definition of poverty as used by the Census Bureau; and (iv) Describe the methodology used to develop its independent estimates, the sources of data and methodology for collecting the data, any known problems associated with making estimates of this type, the estimate of the standard error, and the power of the sample to detect a five percent change in the child poverty rate. (3) The State must submit its independent estimates and supporting information within 45 days of the date the State receives the Census Bureau estimates as described in paragraph (b) of this section. (d) Determination of the State's child poverty rate. (2) For all other States, we will determine the State's child poverty rate based on the Census Bureau's estimates. § 284.21 What will we do if the State's child poverty rate increased five percent or more over the two-year period? (a) If we determine, based on § 284.20, that the State's child poverty rate did not increase by five percent or more over the applicable two-year period at the 90-percent confidence interval, we will: (1) Conclude that the State has satisfied the statutory requirements of section 413(i) of the Act; and (2) Notify the State that no further information from or action by the State is required for the applicable two-calendar-year period. (b) If we determine, based on § 284.20, that the State's child poverty rate increased by five percent or more over the applicable two-year period at the 90-percent confidence level, we will notify the State that it has 90 days from the date of its receipt of our notification to submit an assessment of the impact of the TANF program(s) in the State, as specified in § 284.30. § 284.30 What information must the State include in its assessment of the impact of the TANF program(s) in the State on the increase in child poverty? (a) The State's assessment must: (1) Cover the same two-calendar-year period as the Census Bureau estimates provided to the State in § 284.20(b)(2); (2) Directly address the issue of whether the State's child poverty rate increased as a result of the TANF program(s) in the State and include the State's analysis, explanation, and conclusions in relation to this issue; and (3) Include the information on which the assessment was based. (b) The State's assessment may be supported by any materials the State believes to be pertinent to its analysis, explanation, and conclusions. The following are examples of such materials: (1) The number of families receiving TANF cash assistance payments under the State TANF program and, if applicable, the Tribal TANF program(s); (2) The total amount of State and Tribal spending on TANF cash assistance payments; (3) The number and/or percentage of eligible families with children in the State who are participating in the Food Stamp Program or other State supportive and assistance programs; (4) The proportion of students certified for free or reduced-price school lunches; (5) TANF income eligibility rules that show that client participation was not limited or cash benefits did not decrease; (6) Examples of efforts that the State and the Indian tribe(s), as appropriate, have taken using TANF and other funds to support families entering the work force; (7) The percentage of eligible individuals in the State receiving TANF assistance; (8) Information on TANF program participation such as the number of applications disapproved or denied, or cases sanctioned; (9) The number of TANF cases closed as a result of time-limit restrictions or non-compliance with work requirements; (10) The amount of total cash assistance expenditures that can be claimed for SSP-MOE purposes; (11) Information based on Unemployment Insurance wage record data showing, for example, increases in the number of TANF participants entering jobs, retaining jobs, and increasing their earnings; (12) The number of families receiving work subsidies, i.e., (13) Information that a State met the definition of “needy State” under section 403(b)(6) of the Act for an extended period of time within the applicable two-calendar-year period; (14) Examples of past efforts that the State and the Indian tribe(s), as appropriate, have taken to mitigate or address child poverty; (15) Any other data on the TANF program(s) in the State that would support the State's conclusions; and (16) Information on other circumstances in the State that may have contributed to the increase in child poverty such as changes in economic or social conditions, e.g., an increase in the State's unemployment rate. § 284.35 What action will we take in response to the State's assessment and other information? (a) We will review the State's assessment along with other available information. If we determine that the increase in the child poverty rate of five percent or more is not the result of the TANF program(s) in the State, we will notify the State that no further information from, or action by, the State is required for the applicable two-calendar-year period. (b) Based on our review of the State's assessment and other information, if we determine that the increase in the State's child poverty rate of five percent or more is the result of the TANF program(s) in the State, we will notify the State that it must submit a corrective action plan as specified in §§ 284.40 and 284.45. § 284.40 When is a corrective action plan due? Each State must submit a corrective action plan to ACF within 90 days of the date the State receives notice of our determination that, as a result of the TANF program(s) in the State, its child poverty rate increased by five percent or more for the applicable two-calendar-year period. § 284.45 What are the contents and duration of the corrective action plan? (a) The State must include in the corrective action plan: (1) An outline of the manner in which the State or Territory will reduce its child poverty rate; (2) A description of the actions it will take under the plan; and (3) Any actions to be taken under the plan by the Indian tribe(s) (or Tribal consortia) operating a TANF program in the State. (b) The State must implement the corrective action plan until it determines and notifies us that its child poverty rate, as determined in § 284.20, is less than the lowest child poverty rate on the basis of which the State was required to submit the corrective action plan. The “lowest child poverty rate” means the five percent threshold above the first year in the two-year comparison period. § 284.50 What information will we use to determine the child poverty rate in each Territory? (a) Our intent is that, to the extent that reliable data are available and the procedures are appropriate, the Territories must meet the requirements in §§ 284.11 through 284.45 as specified for the 50 States and the District of Columbia. (b) When reliable Census Bureau data are available for the Territories, we will: (1) Notify the Territories through guidance of our intent to use these data in the implementation of this part; and (2) Begin the process by providing to each Territory the number and percent of children in poverty in each jurisdiction, as specified in § 284.20(b).