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I V - A S T A T E O F M A I N E T A N F S T A T E P L A N

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Section II: TANF State Plan Requirements

The information in this section lists the State Plan requirements for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program pursuant to Title IV-A of the Social Security Act, section 402. Information detailing the provisions of Maine’s TANF program follows each State Plan requirement. Unless otherwise specifically indicated, the references to sections of law in this document are to Title IV-A of the Social Security Act.

General Provisions (42 U.S.C. 602(a)(1)(A))

Program Assistance and Services (42 U.S.C.602(a)(1)(A)(i))

Describe how the state will “Conduct a program, designed to serve all political subdivisions in the State (not necessarily in a uniform manner), that provides assistance to needy families with (or expecting) children and provides parents with the job preparation, work, and support services to enable them to leave the program and become self-sufficient.”

TANF Program

• The Department calls its financial assistance program Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). The jobs preparation program is called ASPIRE-TANF. The programs work together to help families move from welfare to work. The regulations for TANF are set in Maine statute at M.R.S.A., Title 22, Ch. 1053-B, http://legislature.maine.gov/statutes/22/title22ch1053-Bsec0.html. The Department’s current eligibility criteria is available at Ch. 331 Maine Public Assistance Manual, https://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/rules/10/144/144c331.docx. TANF provides temporary financial assistance to needy, dependent children and their parents (or specified relatives) to meet their basic needs while being cared for in their homes.

• Simultaneously, ASPIRE-TANF provides case management and support services to help families prepare for, find, and keep employment; while the Division of Child Support Enforcement and Recovery (DSER) helps families establish paternity and secure financial and medical support.

In accordance with the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), the State of Maine has developed its TANF State Plan based upon the four major purposes of TANF, which are to:

• Provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own home or in the home of a relative; • End dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;