H.R.1476: Coordinating Assistance for TANF Recipients Act

H.R. 1476 would allow the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) to provide grants to conduct demonstration projects to test strategies that coordinate case management for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients. These strategies would be evaluated for their ability to “increase employment and self-sufficiency.”

Activities the grant can be used for include:
• Develop an individual responsibility plan with a coordinated care manager;
• Coordinate this plan with other programs providing benefits to the recipient;
• Meet with the recipient monthly to review their employment status, their participation in other activities, and their progress toward meeting their goals;
• Provide transitional assistance for recipients approaching the phase out of benefits; and
• Improve coordination between programs serving recipients.

The Secretary and the State would be required to ensure a reliable evaluator conducts a high-quality evaluation of each project that utilizes random assignment in experimental designs when possible. The findings would be published on HHS’ website. Beginning in fiscal year 2021, $300,000,000 would be allocated for these purposes annually.