SALT supports a time-limit change (SB ) to the current TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) requirement so the limit for receiving benefits (currently a maximum of 5 years allowed by federal law) becomes a continuous 5 years, eliminating the current two-year limit imposed by the state. SALT joins the Virginia Poverty Law Center (VPLC) in asking for the elimination of the two-year break. Virginia’s current two-year TANF time-limit for families receiving the federal TANF funds requires modification, in order to eliminate an unwarranted obstacle for those striving to move out of poverty. The current two-year time-limit on the continuous receipt of TANF benefits is an impediment lacking justification, making the goal of moving out of poverty unnecessarily difficult to attain.

• Per federal law (P.L. 104-193, Sec. 408(a)(7)), there is a lifetime limit of 60 months for receipt of TANF.
  
  
• Adult recipients of TANF must participate in VIEW (Virginia Initiative for Education and Work) unless an exemption exists (caring for a child under 1, under 18 or over 60, disabled, or caring for a disabled household member).
  
  
• VIEW offers various services including case management, job readiness, job skills training, vocational education, GED, etc., as well as supportive services such as transportation and child care to help participants obtain and retain employment. In addition to the lifetime 60-month limit, there is an additional time limit which applies to participants in VIEW. VIEW participants have a 24-month time limit which is followed by a 24-month period of ineligibility in which they may not receive TANF.
  
  
• A VIEW participant could reach the 60-month lifetime limit, but it would be broken up by the periods of ineligibility, e.g. two years on, two years off, two years on, two years off, one year on.
  
  
• SB 187 eliminates the two-year time limit. All families would continue to be subject to the 60-month lifetime limit, but participants in VIEW would not be subject to the 24-month time limit or the period of ineligibility.
  
  
• Most families receive TANF for a year or less. For one parent, not disabled families (75% of all TANF cases), median time on TANF is about 12 months. About one-quarter stay for approximately 2 years, and another quarter for less than 6 months.
  
  
• For no parent and one disabled parent cases, the median time receiving TANF is approximately a year and half (19 months). About one quarter of these families receive TANF for four years or more.
  
  
• Most families only have 1 spell of TANF receipt – most families do not cycle on and off of TANF.
  
  
• In 2019, 430 TANF recipients had assistance terminated due to reaching the 24-month time limit. During 2019, 210 participants hit the 60-month limit.
  
  
• For January 2020, there were a total of 16,940 TANF cases. Of these, 5,129 were participating in the VIEW program.