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Iowa’s TANF State Plan

18  Family Self-Sufficiency Grants (FSSG): Available statewide, this program helps PROMISE JOBS participants address specific barriers to self-sufficiency. The grants are designed to pay for products or services that are necessary for the PROMISE JOBS participant to obtain or retain employment and that are not available through other sources. It must be reasonably anticipated that a payment will assist the family to retain or obtain employment in the two full calendar months following the payment authorization date.

The grants must not duplicate assistance available under regular PROMISE JOBS policies or available through local community resources; but are to address barriers to self-sufficiency by meeting expenses that cannot be approved under regular PROMISE JOBS policies. Local plans may differ in the benefits or services offered to recipients. Examples include:  Vehicle repair or maintenance  Relocation costs  Occupational/professional licensure/testing fees  Utility assistance  Housing assistance  Transportation assistance other than vehicle repair  Job interview clothing or special clothing related to a job (e.g., boots)  Tools & equipment for employment  Other miscellaneous costs, including but not limited to: grooming/personal care, alarm clock, watch, calendar/day planner, salon services, and hygiene products)

Limit on assistance. The total payment limit per PROMISE JOBS participant is $1,000 per year, meaning the 12 fiscal months following the date of authorization of the initial payment for the participant. A fiscal month can begin and end in different calendar months.

Frequency of assistance. FSSG is intended to provide immediate and short-term assistance. While a participant may be a candidate more than once and may receive payments in consecutive months in some circumstances, payments shall not be established as regular or ongoing.

Supplanting. FSSG shall not be used for services already available through the Iowa HHS, PROMISE JOBS, or other local resources at no cost.

 Child Care Assistance limited to FIP households – see next subsection.

Child Care Assistance:

For the purposes of TANF, Iowa uses both TANF and state maintenance of effort (MOE) funds for child care assistance. The actual composition of funding is dependent upon state financial needs and may change from year to year.

 State Child Care Assistance Previously Authorized: This Separate State Program (SSP) provides state funding for child care expenditures previously authorized and allowable under the former Child Care for AFDC recipients and At-Risk Child Care programs and is limited to families eligible for the Family Investment