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5 South Carolina Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) State Plan Renewal

1.0 GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE TANF PROGRAM 1.1 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program

The four purposes of the TANF Program are to: (1) Provide assistance to "needy" families so children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives; (2) End the dependence of "needy" parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage; (3) Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and (4) Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

1.2 Definitions of Assistance The following TANF benefits are defined as assistance: (1) TANF monthly check or stipend; (2) Family Cap Voucher; (3) Support Services for unemployed families; and (4) Work Experience Training Allowance.

The following TANF benefits are not defined as assistance: (1) Nonrecurring short-term benefits designed to deal with a specific crisis situation or episode of need, not intended to meet ongoing needs and that will not extend beyond four months; (2) Support services to employed families; (3) Refundable earned income tax credits; and (4) Transportation provided under a Job Access/Reverse Commute Project provided to an individual who is not otherwise receiving assistance.

1.3 State Welfare Policy The State conducts a TANF program, known as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in South Carolina (formerly known as Family Independence in South Carolina) that provides assistance to needy families with dependent children and provides parents or caretaker relatives with job preparation, work, and support services to enable them to