department of health and social services

Division of Social Services

Statutory Authority: 31 Delaware Code, Section 107 (31 Del.C. §107)

General notice

PUBLIC NOTICE

Delaware Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Caseload Reduction Credit Report for Fiscal Year 2007

Nature of the Proceedings:

Delaware Health and Social Services (“Department”) / Division of Social Services initiated proceedings to provide information of public interest with respect to the Delaware TANF Caseload Reduction Credit Report for fiscal year 2007. The Department’s proceedings were initiated pursuant to 29 Delaware Code Section 10114 and its authority as prescribed by 31 Delaware Code Section 512.

The Department published its notice of public comment pursuant to 29 Delaware Code Section 10115 in the GENERAL NOTICE section of the June 2007 Delaware Register of Regulations, requiring written materials and suggestions from the public concerning the proposed regulations to be produced by June 30, 2007 at which time the Department would receive information, factual evidence and public comment to the said proposed changes to the regulations.

Summary of Proposal

Title of Notice

Delaware TANF Caseload Reduction Credit Report - Fiscal Year 2007

Statutory Basis

• Section 407(b)(3) of the Social Security Act, Pro Rata Reduction of Participation Rate Due to Caseload Reductions Not Required by Federal Law and Not Resulting from Changes in State Eligibility Criteria; and,

• 45 CFR 261.40 et seq., How Will We Determine the Caseload Reduction Credit?

Background

Section 407(b)(3) of the Social Security Act, as amended by the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA) requires a reduction of the State's required participation rate for a fiscal year by the number of percentage points that the average monthly number of families receiving assistance in the State in the immediately preceding fiscal year is less than the average monthly number of families that received assistance in the State in fiscal year (FY) 2005.

The statute prohibits this reduction from including any caseload declines due to requirements of Federal law or due to differences in State eligibility criteria. This reduction in the participation rate is termed the TANF Caseload Reduction Credit.

To receive a caseload reduction credit, a State must complete Form ACF-202, the Caseload Reduction Report, in accordance with the regulations at 45 CFR 261.40 et seq., Section 407(b)(3) of the Social Security Act and the DRA. The FY 2007 report provides the information needed to calculate a caseload reduction credit (FY 2006 versus FY 2005), and thus determine the participation standard the State must meet for the fiscal year.

For this report to be complete, an opportunity for the public to comment and assurances that DSS considered those comments is required by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) as part of our Caseload Reduction Report.

Summary of Comments Received With Agency Response

No comments were received during the public comment period.

Findings of Fact:

The Department finds that the Delaware TANF Caseload Reduction Credit Report ("Report") for Fiscal Year 2007, as set forth in the June 2007 Register of Regulations should be adopted.

THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED, that the Report is adopted and shall be final effective August 10, 2007.

Vincent P. Meconi, Secretary, DHSS , 7/16/07

FORM ACF-202 - TANF CASELOAD REDUCTION REPORT

OMB Approval No.: 0970-0309 Expiration Date: 09/30/2009 Page 1 of 2

FORM ACF-202 - TANF CASELOAD REDUCTION REPORT

PART 2 – Estimate of Caseload Reduction Credit

Impact of All Changes: None

Caseload Reduction Calculation

Actual Caseload Decline
	FY 2005 Average TANF Caseload	5,606
	FY 2005 Average SSP Caseload	128
	FY 2005 Average Total caseload	5,734

	FY 2006 Average TANF Caseload	5,504
	FY 2006 Average SSP Caseload	105
	FY 2006 Average Total Caseload	5,609
	Actual Decline	125 cases = 2.18%
	Actual Decline – Net Impact	125 cases = 2.18%

Cases Funded With Excess MOE
	Total FY 2006 MOE Expenditures	$37,374,628
	75% MOE Requirement	$21,771,069
	Excess MOE Spending	$15,603,559 divided by
	Average “assistance” spending per case	$ 3,926 equals
	Cases Funded by Excess MOE	3,974 cases
	Actual Caseload Decline	125 cases
	Adjusted Caseload Reduction	4,099 cases = 71.49%

Caseload Reduction Credit = 50%