TANF-ACF-IM-2012-03 (Jul. 12, 2012)

(information memorandum issued by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; memo details that traditional Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) mandatory work requirements contained in Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 that must be satisfied before TANF welfare benefits can be received can be waived or overridden by so-called Sec. 1115 waiver authority under the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. Sec. 1315); memo takes position contrary to 2001 Congressional Research Service Report that work requirements in TANF cannot be waived because they are not specifically listed in Sec. 1115 of Social Security Act and the Congress included only one of 35 sections of TANF as waivable which does not include the work requirements).