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and K through 12 Education and Support) into its service-delivery model. Subsequently, in Fiscal Year (FY) 2016, at the direction of Mayor Muriel E. Bowser, DHS convened a TANF Hardship Working Group that recommended a Hardship Extension Policy for customers who received TANF in D.C. for 60 months or longer. The TANF Hardship Working Group included DHS staff, local advocacy organizations, members and staff of the D.C. Council, TEP providers, and, most importantly, TANF customers. The working group addressed the impending TANF policy change calling for a termination of TANF cash assistance benefits, in October 2017, for customers who had reached the Federal lifetime limit of 60-months of TANF benefit receipt.

The culmination of both activities led to the development of the current TANF Policy that took effect April 1, 2018 along with revisions to the TEP service delivery model that took effect on October 1, 2018. The new TANF Policy in D.C. has accomplished three critical goals:

1. Rescinded the plan to terminate benefits at 60+ months, allowing D.C. residents access to cash assistance and employment, education, and 2Gen services as long as they continue to meet TANF eligibility requirements;

2. Cash Assistance Program - Elevated the TANF benefit amount for 60+ month customers who had experienced cash reductions in benefits since 2011 via the previous TANF policy; and

3. Embraced the value that puts families, and most importantly children, first enacting a two-part TANF work sanction policy: a. Bifurcating the monthly TANF benefit, allocating 80% of the benefit for child protection and enrichment, and 20% for parental engagement in employment, education, and 2Gen services; and