A CALL TO ACTION

SALT is supporting a change to the administration of TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) that will lighten the burden of some of the most vulnerable in Virginia. To support this change by submitting your comments, CLICK HERE. You will only need to enter your name and email address to support this proposed change. However, we encourage you to add your own comments and feel free to edit the comments that have been prepared by SALT. THE PROPOSED CHANGE WILL HAVE NO POSSIBILITY OF SUCCEEDING WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT! 

COMMENTS ON THE PROPOSED ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES WILL ONLY BE ACCEPTED UNTIL DECEMBER 30. YOUR SUPPORT IS CRITICAL FOR SUCCESS. 

ADDITIONAL DETAILS:

This proposed change will be of no additional cost to taxpayers, since TANF currently has a federal block grant surplus of $124 million. The proposed change will use $11.3 million of the $124 million block grant dollars that Virginia has already received from the Federal Government. This use of the surplus is clearly affordable and will correct a current inequity among TANF groups. More details are provided below and on the SALT web page. Click on READ THE SALT FACT SHEET.

The current TANF grouping of localities, which causes TANF to be inequitably distributed among localities in Virginia, was created for distributing TANF benefits according to the variable costs of living in various Virginia communities. Unfortunately, this goal, set in 1974, has not been realized, because of changing circumstances and economies.   To obtain a more accurate, equitable and efficient eligibility process for the TANF Program, the entire Locality Grouping System requires amending.

Consolidation of Group II and Group III would eliminate the need for updating and reassigning various changing locality groupings. Localities currently assigned in Group II have costs similar to neighboring localities in Group III.  When compared to families from localities in the highest group, Group III, this difference results in benefit payments nearly 20 percent lower for cities and towns assigned in Group II.

TANF Groups II and III should be consolidated, so the disparity in the benefits for the two groups can be eliminated and fairness maintained. The current rates in Group III would then apply to everyone in the consolidated group. TANF currently has a federal block grant surplus of $124 million, so the cost increase of $11.3 million for providing equitable payments to those that are TANF-eligible in Groups II and III is plainly affordable.