Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Post-Expenditure Report, Pre-Expenditure and Intended Use Plan

The Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) program is authorized under Title XX of the Social Security Act, as amended, and is codified at 42 U.S.C. §1397 through §1397e. The implementing regulations for this and other block grant programs authorized by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 are published at 45 C.F.R. Part 96. Those regulations include both specific requirements and general administrative requirements instead of 45 CFR Part 92 (the HHS implementation of the A-102 Common Rule) for the covered block grant programs. Requirements specific to SSBG are found in 45 C.F.R. §96.70 through §96.74. The SSBG program provides funds to States, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (hereinafter referred to as States) to support social services for adults and children in support of five statutory goals (42 U.S.C. §1397). Funds are allocated to the States based on population as block grants for the administration of their social services programs. Within specific legal limitations (42 U.S.C. §1397d), States have substantial discretion in the use of funds and may determine what services will be provided, who will be eligible, and how funds will be distributed among the various services. State or local SSBG agencies (i.e., county, city, and regional offices) may provide the services or purchase them from qualified agencies or organizations. States report recipients of SSBG-funded services as any individuals who receive a service funded, in whole or in part, by SSBG. Before a State receives SSBG funds, it must provide information specifying the intended use of the block grant. Annually, states must provide the ACF Office of Community Services (OCS) with information on the types of activities to be supported, the characteristics of individuals to be served, and the estimated amount of SSBG funding that will be allocated to each service category (42 U.S.C. §1397c). Historically, there was no specific format required for states to submit this information and ACF recommended that grant recipients use the post-expenditure reporting form to identify the intended use of funding estimates. A state’s plan for the intended use of funds is used to provide funding OCS with pre-expenditure estimates, which are most commonly provided through the post-expenditure reporting form and are referred to as the pre-expenditure report. The estimated burden for the submission of pre-expenditure report data has historically been included within the burden estimates for the SSBG Post-Expenditure Report (0970-0234). Information reported includes an annual total of adults and children served and expenditures in each of the 29 service categories. Post-expenditure reporting requirements for SSBG are codified at 45 C.F.R. § 96.74. States must submit their annual Post-Expenditure Report within 6 months of the end of the period covered by the report. This request is to extend approval of all materials approved under this OMB number and to make minor updates to the standard pre-and post-expenditure reports. Specifically, we have modified four column titles on the standard pre-and post-expenditure reports, which are required of states to report planned and actual expenditures of SSBG funds, respectively. The proposed changes will clarify what data to include, which will increase accuracy in reporting and assessment for grant recipients and federal staff.

The latest form for Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) Post-Expenditure Report, Pre-Expenditure and Intended Use Plan expires 2027-03-31 and can be found here.

Pre-Expenditure Report Form

Federal Enterprise Architecture: Community and Social Services - Social Services

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