Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act

Summary

Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in TANF Act This bill limits how and when states may use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds and establishes an eligibility threshold for all TANF-funded assistance and services. Currently, each state sets its own eligibility threshold for TANF-funded cash assistance. The bill establishes an upper limit on eligibility applicable to all assistance and services (including non-cash benefits) funded by TANF family assistance grants. Under this provision, only families with income under 200% of the federal poverty guidelines may receive TANF-funded assistance and services. Further, the bill generally requires states to obligate TANF funds by the end of the fiscal year after they are paid and to spend funds by the end of the second fiscal year after they are paid. However, states may reserve a specified portion of their TANF funds for future use. (There is currently no requirement to use TANF funds within a specified period.) The bill also explicitly requires states to use federal TANF funds to supplement, not replace, state and local funding for TANF-supported programs. (Current law requires states to spend a specified minimum amount on TANF-eligible activities and populations, known as the maintenance of effort requirement.) States must also take specified steps to track and report on improper payments of federal funds (e.g., overpayments, underpayments, payments to ineligible recipients). Within one year of enactment, HHS must submit to Congress a plan to reduce or eliminate improper payments made by states under the TANF program within 10 years.

Summary from the Congressional Research Service. How we handle summaries

Where it stands

Passed one of the two chambers; it still needs the other.

House Committee on Ways and Means · U.S. House of Representatives

Your position on this bill

Choose the position closest to yours. You'll sign in or create an account to save it.

Cosponsors

Related bills

• H.R. 2242Eliminating Fraud and Improper Payments in TANF ActRelated bill
• H.R. 2359Improve Transparency and Stability for Families and Children ActRelated bill
• H.Res. 1333Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8646) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2027, and for other purposes; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7726) to amend the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act of 1990 to withhold funds from noncompliant States under such Act; providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7892) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to require to the Secretary of Education to use an identity fraud detection system to review each FAFSA to determine whether the FAFSA presents a reasonable suspicion of identity fraud; and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 8872) to amend part A of title IV of the Social Security Act to target funds to low-income families, strengthen program integrity guardrails for State expenditure of funds, require measurement of improper payments, and establish goals for eliminating fraud and improper payments under the program of block grants to States for temporary assistance for needy families, and for other purposes.Procedurally related

As identified by Congress.gov.

Full history

1. Jun 3, 2026

   Debate - the House Proceeded With One Hour of Debate on H.R. 8872.

   DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 8872.

   U.S. House of Representatives

2. Jun 3, 2026

   Introduced

   POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.

   U.S. House

3. Jun 3, 2026

   Postponed Proceedings - Pursuant to Clause 1(c) of Rule Xix, the Chair Announced Further Proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.

   POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.

4. Jun 3, 2026

   Postponed Proceedings - Pursuant to Clause 1(c) of Rule Xix, the Chair Announced Further Proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.

   POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.

5. Jun 3, 2026

   Postponed Proceedings - Pursuant to Clause 1(c) of Rule Xix, the Chair Announced Further Proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.

   POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - Pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule XIX, the Chair announced further proceedings on H.R. 8872 is postponed.

Read the record

• Read on Congress.gov (opens in a new tab) The official record on Congress.gov.