Social Services Block Grant

 

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.

General information about this opportunity
Last Known Status
Active
Program Number
93.667
Federal Agency/Office
Administration For Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services
Type(s) of Assistance Offered
A - Formula Grants
Program Accomplishments
Fiscal Year 2016 56 grants were awarded in FY 2016 56 grants awarded.
Fiscal Year 2017 56 grants were awarded in FY17.
Fiscal Year 2018 56 grants awarded in FY18
Fiscal Year 2019 It is anticipated that 56 grants will be awarded in FY2019.
Fiscal Year 2020 It is anticipated that 56 grants will be awarded in FY2020.
Authorization
Medicaid and Medicare Patient and Program Act of 1987, Public Law 100-93
Family Support Act of 1998, Public Law 100-485
Social Security Act, as amended, Title XX, 42 U.S.C. 1397 et seq.
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1987, Public Law 100-203
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1993, Public Law 103-66
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, as amended, Public Law 97-35
Who is eligible to apply/benefit from this assistance?
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 are eligible entities.
Beneficiary Eligibility
Under Title XX of the Social Security Act, 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.
What is the process for applying and being award this assistance?
Pre-Application Procedure
Preapplication coordination is not applicable.
Application Procedure
2 CFR 200, Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards applies to this program. Submission of a pre-expenditure report application is required.
Award Procedure
The pre-expenditure report must be reviewed and accepted before the State receives an award. States are awarded funds quarterly.
Deadlines
September 1 and June 1 of the fiscal year are the deadline for the pre-expenditure report.
Approval/Disapproval Decision Time
Not applicable.
Appeals
See 45 CFR, Part 16, Procedures of the Departmental Appeals Board and 45 CFR 96.52, Appeals.
Renewals
Not applicable.
How are proposals selected?
All States, the District of Columbia, and Territories will receive their share of funds if they submit a pre-expenditure report that meets the requirements.
How may assistance be used?
Federal funds may be used by States for the proper and efficient operation of social service programs. A portion of funds may be used for technical assistance if needed. 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.
What are the requirements after being awarded this opportunity?
Reporting
Not applicable.
Auditing
Each State shall, not less often than every two years, audit its expenditures from amounts received (or transferred for use). Such State audits shall be conducted by an entity independent of any agency administering activities funded under this program, in accordance with generally accepted auditing principles. Within 30 days following the completion of each audit, the State shall submit a copy of that audit to the legislature of the State and to the Secretary. 45 CFR Part 75 Subpart F applies to this program.
Records
States are required to maintain records documenting the purposes for which expenditures were made.
Other Assistance Considerations
Formula and Matching Requirements
Statutory Formula: Title XX Public Law 97-35 42 USC 1397b

Matching requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.

MOE requirements are not applicable to this assistance listing.
Length and Time Phasing of Assistance
Grants are awarded quarterly on a fiscal year basis. Payments to a State from its allotment for any fiscal year must be expended by the State in such fiscal year or in the succeeding fiscal year. The Electronic Transfer System will be used based on quarterly grant awards for monthly cash draws from Federal Reserve Banks. Method of awarding/releasing assistance: Quarterly.
Who do I contact about this opportunity?
Regional or Local Office
None/Not specified.
Headquarters Office
Capt. William Bolduc, MSW, LCSW
330 C Street SW, 5th Floor West, Mail Stop 5411
Washington, DC 20201 US
william.bolduc@acf.hhs.gov
Phone: 202-260-6607
Website Address
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/ssbg.
Financial Information
Account Identification
75-1534-0-1-506
Obligations
(Formula Grants) FY 18$1,587,800,000.00; FY 19 est $1,594,600,000.00; FY 20 est $0.00; FY 17$1,582,700,000.00; FY 16$1,584,400,000.00; -
Range and Average of Financial Assistance
$36,087 to $194,063,454 ; $28,303,508 on average.
Regulations, Guidelines and Literature
45 CFR 96.
Examples of Funded Projects
Not applicable.