May States adjust the 1996 standard of need to reflect cost of living adjustments?
No. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) did not include any allowance for cost of living or adjustments for inflation in setting the July 16, 1996 look-back date. States may not adjust the 1996 standard of need to reflect cost of living adjustments, since the statutory look-back date is set at a specific point in time. • Source/Date: 7/6/05 • Legal and Related References: Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (P.L.104-193) Back to top 17. Question: May a State determine a child’s title IV-E eligibility based on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Program instead of the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) Program? Answer: No. The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA) retained the connection between the title IV-E program and the AFDC program and established an AFDC “look-back date” of July 16, 1996. As such, TANF eligibility may not be substitut
