An IDA is a special bank account that helps an individual save for their education, the purchase of a first home, or to start a business. They use earnings from their work to set up an approved bank account for an IDA.

An individual contributes money from their earnings to an IDA. Their contributions are matched with money from their State's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. The matching money helps the individual reach their goal sooner.

If an individual is working and receiving TANF payments, they may be eligible for a TANF IDA.

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 authorized States to use money from their TANF grant to carry out a program to fund IDAs.

The agency that provides the TANF benefits decides who is eligible for an IDA.

NOTE: SSA does not determine whether an individual is eligible for an IDA.

The Administration for Children and Families (ACF) oversees the TANF and Demonstration Project IDA programs. (Demonstration Project IDAs are explained in SI 01130.679.)

An SSI spotlight.

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  A qualified entity is a not-for-profit organization described in section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and exempt from taxation under section 501(a) of such code; or

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  A State or local government agency or a tribal government acting in cooperation with a not-for-profit organization.

A qualified purpose is one or more of the following:

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  Postsecondary educational expenses

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  Business capitalization

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  First home purchase.

Postsecondary educational expenses are:

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  Tuition and fees required for the enrollment or attendance of a student at an eligible educational institution; and

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  Fees, books, supplies and equipment required for courses of instruction at an eligible educational institution.

IMPORTANT: The charge for room and board, if any, is not a “fee” for purposes of this section. However, the charge for room and board can be an approvable expense under a PASS (SI 00870.025B.5.g.).

An eligible educational institution is an institution described in section 481(a)(1) or 1201(a) of the Higher Education Act of 1965 or an area vocational education school (as defined in subparagraph (C) or (D) of section 521(4) of the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Education Act (20 U.S.C. 1471(4)) in any State.

Qualified business capitalization expenses are qualified expenditures for the capitalization of a qualified business pursuant to a qualified plan.

Qualified expenditures are expenditures included in a qualified plan, including capital, plant, equipment, working capital, and inventory expenses.

A qualified business is any business that does not contravene any law or public policy.

A qualified plan is a business plan that:

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  Is approved by a financial institution, or by a nonprofit loan fund having demonstrated fiduciary integrity;

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  Includes a description of services or goods to be sold, or a marketing plan and projected financial statements; and

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  May require the eligible individual to obtain the assistance of an experienced entrepreneurial advisor.

A qualified first-time homebuyer is a taxpayer (and, if married, the taxpayer's spouse) who has had no ownership interest in a principal residence during the 3-year period ending on the date of acquisition of the principal residence.

The date of acquisition is the date on which a binding contract to acquire, construct, or reconstruct the principal residence is entered into.

A principal residence is a principal residence that costs no more than the limits set by the IDA project.

A tribal government is a tribal organization, as defined in section 4 of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act (25 U.S.C. 450b) or a Native Hawaiian organization, as defined in section 9212 of the Native Hawaiian Education Act (20 U.S.C. 7912).

An individual's contributions that are deposited in a TANF IDA are excluded from resources.

Any matching funds that are deposited in a TANF IDA are excluded from resources.

Any interest earned on the individual's contributions and matching funds that are deposited in a TANF IDA is excluded from resources.

In both initial claims and redeterminations, use documents in the individual's possession to verify that the account is a TANF IDA. If such documents are not available, contact the TANF agency to verify that the account is a TANF IDA.

The treatment of an IDA after an individual's TANF eligibility ends or after an individual moves from one State to another can vary from State to State. Follow regional instructions for State-specific rules regarding whether an account stops being an IDA after TANF eligibility ends or an interstate move occurs, and how to treat funds that remain in the account and withdrawals from the account after TANF eligibility ends or an interstate move occurs.

If an individual asks about the availability of TANF IDAs in their area, or about the IDA program's rules, use information in regional POMS instructions to determine whether TANF IDAs are available. If no regional instructions exist, refer them to the local TANF office.