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Delaware’s TANF State Plan 10-1-2017 to 9-30-2020

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TANF training has been incorporated into the cash grant training which is required for all new financial services staff. Case management training has now been incorporated into interviewing and coaching training, which is required for all new staff. Veteran staff attend trainings, open labs, and staff meetings, which re-enforce case management, interviewing, and TANF application processing.

Compliance With Participation Rates

Delaware intends to meet the participation rate requirements set forth in the TANF legislation. Recognizing that Delaware's hourly requirements for participation in work and work-related activities are broader than those prescribed by the current TANF legislation, we are prepared to provide some benefits utilizing solely state funding (SSF) if it becomes necessary to continue to meet TANF work participation requirements.

Maintenance of Effort

Delaware is aware of and intends to fully comply with the requirements of the law (P.L. 104-193) to maintain a prescribed level of historic state expenditures. Delaware will ensure that expenditures of state funds for benefits and services ("Qualified State Expenditures" as defined in the law) for TANF participants (either in the Part A federally funded program or non-Part A state funded program) who are TANF eligible will equal or exceed the required annual spending level.

As a 1975 fill-the-gap state, Delaware has opted to continue to use fill-the-gap for the issuance of child support disregards and child support supplemental payments to TANF clients. Delaware considers these payments to be "cash assistance" to eligible families and therefore to be within the definition of "Qualified State Expenditures".

Financial eligibility criteria for MOE-funded and solely state funded assistance or services are the same as for other TANF assistance or services, except that MOE claimed for child care under the provisions of 45 CFR Ch. II § 263.3 will follow the financial eligibility criteria established in the CCDF State Plan and associated State regulations. Other program services may be provided to needy families or needy parents as defined elsewhere in the Plan.

State Maintenance of Effort funded programs are below:

1. Diversion Assistance Program

Delaware operates a Diversion Assistance program intended to help a family through a financial problem which jeopardizes employment and