Social Services Block Grant (93.667)

Program

93.667 Social Services Block Grant

Federal Agency

Agency: Department of Health and Human Services
Office: Administration For Children And Families

Authorization

Social Security Act, Title XX, as amended; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, as amended, Public Law 97-35; Jobs Training Bill, Public Law 98-8 and 473; Medicaid and Medicare Patient and Program Act of 1987; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, Public Law 100-203; Family Support Act of 1998, Public Law 100-485; Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Public Law 106-66, 42 U.S.C 1397 ET seq.

Program Number

93.667

Last Known Status

Active

Objectives

To enable each State to furnish social services best suited to the needs of the individuals residing in the State. Federal block grant funds may be used to provide services directed toward one of the following five goals specified in the law: (1) To prevent, reduce, or eliminate dependency; (2) to achieve or maintain self-sufficiency; (3) to prevent neglect, abuse, or exploitation of children and adults; (4) to prevent or reduce inappropriate institutional care; and (5) to secure admission or referral for institutional care when other forms of care are not appropriate. In addition, special funding was provided to some states in fiscal year 1995 and 1996 for supplemental SSBG grants in support comprehensive of community revitalization projects in 104 federally designated Empowerment Zones (EZs) and Enterprise Communities (ECs). The supplemental funding is called "EZ/EC SSBG." The States, through the designated localities, may use the EZ/EC SSBG funds for activites included in each locality's strategic plan for comprehensive revitalization and directed toward goals 1,2 or 3 listed above. These funds will remain available until December 21, 2004. Information about this component of the SSBG is included below as appropriate.

Types of Assistance

FORMULA GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions

Federal funds may be used by States for the proper and efficient operation of social service programs. Except for items (1) and (4) below, for which a waiver from the Secretary may be requested, Federal funds cannot be used for the following: (1) The purchase or improvement of land, or the purchase, construction, or permanent improvement of any building or other facility; (2) the provision of cash payments for costs of subsistence or the provision of room and board (other than costs of subsistence during rehabilitation, room and board provided for a short term as an integral but subordinate part of a social service, or temporary shelter provided as a protective service); (3) the payment of wages to any individual as a social service (other than payment of wages to welfare recipients employed in the provision of child day care services); (4) the provision of medical care (other than family planning services, rehabilitation services or initial detoxification of an alcoholic or drug dependent individual) unless it is an integral but subordinate part of a social service for which grants may be used; (5) social services (except services to an alcoholic or drug dependent individual or rehabilitation services) provided in and by employees of any hospital, skilled nursing facility, intermediate care facility, or prison, to any individual living in such institution; (6) the provision of any educational service which the State makes generally available to its residents without cost and without regard to their income; (7) any child day care service unless such service meets applicable standards of State and local law; (8) the provision of cash payments as a service; or (9) for payment for any item or service (other than an emergency item or service) furnished by an individual or entity during the period when such individual or entity is excluded pursuant to Section 1128 or Section 1128(A) of the Social Security Act from participation in this program; or at the medical direction or on the prescription of a physician during the period when the physician is excluded based on Section 1128 or 1128(A) from participation in the program and when the person furnishing such item or service knew or had reason to know of the exclusion (after a reasonable time period after reasonable notice has been furnished to the person). A State may transfer up to 10 percent of its allotment for any fiscal year to the preventive health and health services, alcohol and drug abuse, mental health services, maternal and child health services, and low-income home energy assistance block grants.

Eligibility Requirements

Applicant Eligibility

The 50 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and American Samoa.

Beneficiary Eligibility

Under Title XX, each eligible jurisdiction determines the services that will be provided and the individuals that will be eligible to receive services.

Credentials/Documentation

Prior to expenditure of funds, the State must report on the intended use of the payments the State is to receive, including information on the types of activities to be supported and the categories or characteristics of individuals to be served. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-87.

Application and Award Process

Preapplication Coordination

Preapplication coordination is not applicable. Environmental impact information is not required for this program. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Submission of a pre-expenditure report application is required.

Award Procedure

States are awarded funds quarterly.

Deadlines

Not Applicable.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time

Not Applicable.

Appeals

See 45 CFR, Part 16, Procedures of the Departmental Appeals Board.

Renewals

Not Applicable.

Assistance Considerations

Formula and Matching Requirements

Statutory formulas are not applicable to this program.

This program has no matching requirements.

This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance

Grants are awarded quarterly on a fiscal year basis. The Electronic Transfer System will be used based on quarterly grant awards for monthly cash draws from Federal Reserve Banks. The funds will remain available for projects and programs in the designated localities until December 21, 2004.). Method of awarding/releasing assistance: quarterly.

Post Assistance Requirements

Reports

An annual report is required. No cash reports are required. No progress reports are required. No expenditure reports are required. No performance monitoring is required.

Audits

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised June 27, 2003)," Audits of States, Local Governments and Non-Profit Organizations," Non-Federal entities that expend $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) or more in a year in Federal awards shall have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of this part. Non-Federal entities that expend less than $300,000 ($500,000 for fiscal years ending after December 31, 2003) a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in section .215(a), but records must be available for review or audit by appropriate officials of the Federal agency, pass-through entity, and General Accounting Office (GAO).

Records

States are required to maintain records documenting the purposes for which expenditures were made.

Program Accomplishments

Fiscal Year 2008: A total of 57 grants were awarded in FY 2008. Fiscal Year 2009: It is estimated that 78 grants will be awarded in FY 2009, of which 21 grants are for the Disaster Relief Funds. Fiscal Year 2010: It is estimated that 57 grants will be awarded in FY 2010.

Financial Information

Account Identification

75-1534-0-1-506.

Obligations

(Formula Grants) FY 08 $1,700,000,000; FY 09 est $2,300,000,000; FY 10 est $1,700,000,000

Range and Average of Financial Assistance

$48,518 to $206.071,998 ; $29,824,563.

Regulations, Guidelines and Literature

45 CFR 96.

Related Programs

93.044 Special Programs for the Aging_Title III, Part B_Grants for Supportive Services and Senior Centers; 93.045 Special Programs for the Aging_Title III, Part C_Nutrition Services; 93.600 Head Start; 93.630 Developmental Disabilities Basic Support and Advocacy Grants; 93.645 Child Welfare Services_State Grants; 93.647 Social Services Research and Demonstration; 93.658 Foster Care_Title IV-E; 93.669 Child Abuse and Neglect State Grants; 93.671 Family Violence Prevention and Services/Grants for Battered Women's Shelters_Grants to States and Indian Tribes

Information Contacts

Regional or Local Office

See Regional Agency Offices. Local Office: Not applicable. Regional Office: Office of Community Services Regional Liaisons in the Office of the Regional Administrator. (See Appendix IV of the Catalog for Regional Offices.).

Headquarters Office

Division of State Assistance, Office of Community Services, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., Washington, District of Columbia 20201 Email: POC@DHS.GOV Phone: (202) 401-2333

Web Site Address

http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ssbg.

Examples of Funded Projects

Not Applicable.

Criteria for Selecting Proposals

All States, the District of Columbia, and the five other jurisdictions will receive their share of funds if they submit a pre-expenditure report that meets the requirements.