Views of Responding Officials: The Department agrees with the finding and will implement corrective action, however, notes the following: Letter dated April 29, 2022 was sent to ACF notifying of the temporary amendment to the Hawaii TANF State Plan, Part B, Section 10.1, suspending the interview requirement for TANF applications and annual recertification. The temporary suspension of the interview requirement aligned with the waiver granted by the Food and Nutrition Service for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”). The letter also informed ACF the interview requirement will resume for new TANF applications by July 31, 2022. No date was provided as to when the interview requirement will resume for annual recertifications. The Department received a letter dated May 9, 2022 from ACF that acknowledged the temporary amendment to the Hawaii TANF State Plan.
A subsequent letter dated March 16, 2023 was sent to inform ACF that the suspended interview resumed for TANF applications effective July 1, 2022, however, will continue to be suspended for annual eligibility recertifications for TANF recipients. The Department received a letter dated March 29, 2023 from ACF that acknowledged the temporary State Plan amendment.
A letter dated July 25, 2023 informed ACF that TANF will continue to align with SNAP and extend its suspended interview requirement for annual recertifications until May 31, 2024. The Department received a letter dated August 3, 2023 from ACF that acknowledged the extended temporary amendment to the State Plan.
The Department did not need guidance from ACF on whether a particular action is allowable under program requirements. Pursuant to section 402 of the Social Security Act, ACF has the authority to determine whether a state’s TANF State Plan is complete but does not have the authority to approve or disapprove a plan. ACF acknowledged the temporary amendments made to the Hawaii TANF State Plan and expressed no concerns or determined that the temporary amendments were not allowable.
Corrective Action Taken or Planned: No corrective action. The temporary amendment to the Hawaii TANF State Plan will end effective June 1, 2024, as noted in the July 25, 2023 letter to ACF.
Expected Completion Date: Not applicable
Responding Officials: Catherine Scardino, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program Administrator