[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 45, Volume 2]
[Revised as of October 1, 2004]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 45CFR260.31]

[Page 121]
 
                        TITLE 45--PUBLIC WELFARE
 
     CHAPTER II--OFFICE OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE (ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS), 
 
PART 260_GENERAL TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES (TANF) PROVISIONS
--Table of Contents
 
        Subpart A_What Rules Generally Apply to the TANF Program?
 
Sec. 260.31  What does the term ``assistance'' mean?

    (a)(1) The term ``assistance'' includes cash, payments, vouchers, 
and other forms of benefits designed to meet a family's ongoing basic 
needs (i.e., for food, clothing, shelter, utilities, household goods, 
personal care items, and general incidental expenses).
    (2) It includes such benefits even when they are:
    (i) Provided in the form of payments by a TANF agency, or other 
agency on its behalf, to individual recipients; and
    (ii) Conditioned on participation in work experience or community 
service (or any other work activity under Sec. 261.30 of this chapter).
    (3) Except where excluded under paragraph (b) of this section, it 
also includes supportive services such as transportation and child care 
provided to families who are not employed.
    (b) It excludes:
    (1) Nonrecurrent, short-term benefits that:
    (i) Are designed to deal with a specific crisis situation or episode 
of need;
    (ii) Are not intended to meet recurrent or ongoing needs; and
    (iii) Will not extend beyond four months.
    (2) Work subsidies (i.e., payments to employers or third parties to 
help cover the costs of employee wages, benefits, supervision, and 
training);
    (3) Supportive services such as child care and transportation 
provided to families who are employed;
    (4) Refundable earned income tax credits;
    (5) Contributions to, and distributions from, Individual Development 
Accounts;
    (6) Services such as counseling, case management, peer support, 
child care information and referral, transitional services, job 
retention, job advancement, and other employment-related services that 
do not provide basic income support; and
    (7) Transportation benefits provided under a Job Access or Reverse 
Commute project, pursuant to section 404(k) of the Act, to an individual 
who is not otherwise receiving assistance.
    (c) The definition of the term assistance specified in paragraphs 
(a) and (b) of this section:
    (1) Does not apply to the use of the term assistance at part 263, 
subpart A, or at part 264, subpart B, of this chapter; and
    (2) Does not preclude a State from providing other types of benefits 
and services in support of the TANF goal at Sec. 260.20(a).