As an eligibility condition, every Cash Assistance budget group that meets a Semiannual Reporting (SAR) criterion must submit certain information semiannually. Department of Human Services (DHS) must give the client a Semiannual Reporting form to report this information. The budget group must also verify the reported information.
NOTE: The SAR form (PA 564) is prepopulated with data from the Electronic Client Information System (eCIS). See Appendix B.
Information from the SAR form is used to prospectively determine eligibility and benefit amount for six months or until the next renewal, whichever is sooner.
NOTE: If a SAR form and a renewal are due in the same month, a SAR review is not necessary and a form is not generated. The renewal serves as the six-month review.
Enrollment in Semiannual Reporting does not change the client’s responsibility to report changes that affect continued eligibility by the 10th of the month that follows the month of the change. See Chapter 170.2, Types of Changes to Be Reported.
The CAO must act on all reported income changes whether, or not the client was required to report the change. See Section 170.5.
A reported change must also appear on the next SAR form submitted. The CAO must take timely action on the information provided, regardless of the reporting method. For SAR purposes, the CAO must not consider information reported on a LIHEAP application as a means of reporting (official report).
NOTE: The SAR form is available in English and Spanish. The CAO must data enter the appropriate language code:
1—English
2—Spanish
The system will terminate the budget if the client fails to comply with Semiannual Reporting requirements.
If benefits are discontinued for failure to comply with Semiannual Reporting requirements and the recipient wants to reapply for benefits, they must complete a new application, unless good cause is established.
Pa. TANF State Plan 2008, 38 Pa. B. 6342
All TANF budgets are enrolled in SAR.
Semiannual Reporting is required even if:
No payment is issued because the case does not meet minimum payment requirement;
There is a zero payment;
The budget is terminated; or
The budget is in recoupment.
Updated September 23, 2026, replacing November 2, 2018