Jobs and Opportunity with Benefits and Services (JOBS) for Success Act of 2025

Key Points

• The bill reauthorizes TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) funding from 2026 through 2030, including family assistance grants, tribal grants, and grants to territories. This keeps the core safety net program running for low-income families for five more years.
• States would be measured on actual job outcomes rather than participation counts. The new system tracks whether people are employed six months after leaving the program, their earnings, and job retention, with penalties for states that fall short.
• Every work-eligible person on TANF must have an Individual Opportunity Plan within 60 days of becoming eligible. The plan sets employment goals, required work activities, and available services. States must review the plan with each person every 90 days, and benefits can be cut for those who don't follow through.
• Families earning more than twice the federal poverty level are cut off from TANF benefits and services. States also cannot use TANF money directly on child care programs, though they can transfer up to 50% of their grant to the Child Care and Development Block Grant or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
• At least 25% of each state's TANF grant and 25% of state matching funds must go toward core work-related activities like job training, apprenticeships, case management, and short-term benefits. Administrative spending is capped at 10%, down from 15%.
• The bill bans the use of TANF benefits at marijuana dispensaries, adds poverty reduction as a formal program purpose, and requires states to follow improper-payment rules similar to those for federal agencies.

Votes

No votes have been recorded for this legislation yet.