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Strengthening Welfare Reform

Summary: 
A new policy from the Department of Health and Human Services will allow states to test new, more effective ways to help people get and keep a job.

Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services released guidance regarding waivers for the TANF program. These waivers will strengthen welfare reform by accelerating job placement and moving more Americans from welfare to work. Under this policy, no waivers that undercut work requirements in welfare reform will be approved. 

This policy will allow States to test new, more effective ways to help people get and keep a job.  For years, Republican and Democratic Governors have requested more flexibility in implementing welfare reform so they can meet their States’ specific needs. 

Below is a letter from Republican governors written in 2005 asking Congress for increased flexibility (click the image to download).

TANF Letter (July 18, 2012)