Supporting Statement B_TANF Data Reporting_2023_7.3.23

TANF Data Reporting for Work Participation

OMB Information Collection Request

0970 - 0338

Supporting Statement Part B –

Statistical Methods

September 2023

Submitted By:

Office of Family Assistance

Administration for Children and Families

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods

In order to receive federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds per the statutory requirement, all states, territories and the District of Columbia must report either universe or sampled data. Among 50 states, the District of Columbia, and 3 territories, only 22 of them submitted sampled data in the past year. More states and territories may elect to submit sampled data in the coming years.

2. Procedures for the Collection of Information

The TANF Sampling and Statistical Methods Manual Part 265, which is applicable to the TANF Data Report and the Separate State Program – Maintenance of Effort (SSP-MOE) Data Report, is the only instrument in this information collection package that employs statistical methods.

These procedures only apply to the states/territories that submit samples. Simple random sampling, systematic random sampling, stratified simple random sampling, and stratified systematic random sampling are four acceptable methods of sampling for the purpose of collecting and reporting the disaggregated TANF and SSP-MOE data.

The states/territories that submit samples must select their TANF samples (and, if applicable, SSP-MOE samples) for data reporting purposes under a sampling plan approved by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) TANF Manager. All sampling procedures used by the state agency grantee, including frame composition and construction, must be fully documented and available for review by the ACF Regional Office.

A ninety-five percent confidence interval with a precision of about ±2 percentage is needed for each sampling state’s data. When using systematic random sampling, imprecise caseload projections or an unexpected drop rate will result in the State not obtaining its target sample size. If the actual universe is smaller than the estimated size, undersampling may occur. A State agency must correct for undersampling to the extent necessary to meet sample size requirements for reporting of separate state programs.

3. Methods to Maximize Response Rates and Deal with Nonresponse

As mentioned in B1, states/DC/territories/tribes must submit data in order to receive funds. ACF has consistently seen a 100% response rate in previous years.

4. Test of Procedures or Methods to be Undertaken

There is no test of procedures or methods to be undertaken.

5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects and Individuals Collecting and/or Analyzing Data

Yun Song is the Statistician at the Office of Family Assistance can be consulted on statistical aspects. She can be reached by phone at: (202) 401-5293.