01-18134. Proposed Information Collection Activity; Comment Request

Title: TANF Time Limits Questionnaire.

OMB No: New Collection.

Description: The imposition of federally imposed time limits on the receipt of cash assistance under the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) program was a central and major part of welfare reform. The earliest that TANF recipients could be affected by the 60-month federal limit will be in the last quarter of 2001. The purpose of the TANF Time Limits project is to document what is known about this important element of welfare reform as the period for TANF re-authorization approaches. The proposed survey instrument is intended to obtain “real-time” information from those states in which TANF recipients could have reached the 60 month limit on receipt of federally funded assistance in the last quarter of calendar year 2001. The instrument is designed to gather preliminary information about the number of families accumulating 60 months of benefits, the outcomes for such families (e.g., cases closed, benefits extended with Federal funds, benefits extended with State funds), and the policies and practices of states to work with families approaching or reaching the federal time limit.

Respondents: The primary respondents for the questionnaire are those States that implemented TANF before February 1997. States that implemented TANF later may also be surveyed.

Annual Burden Estimates

Instrument	Number of respondents	Number of responses	Average burden hours per response	Total burden hours
TANF time limits	35	1	8	280
Estimated Total Annual Burden Hours				280

In compliance with the requirements of section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the Administration for Children and Families is soliciting public comment on the specific aspects of the information collection described above. Copies of the proposed collection of information can be obtained and comments may be forwarded by writing to the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Information Services, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Attn: ACF Reports Clearance Officer. All requests should be identified by the title of the information collection.

The Department specifically requests comments on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of the agency, including whether the information shall have practical utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the proposed collection of information; (c) the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents, including through the use of automated collection techniques or other forms of information technology. Consideration will be given to comments and suggestions submitted within 60 days of this publication.

Dated: July 16, 2001.

Bob Sargis,

Reports Clearance Officer.