< Back to Search

SSBG IM 04-2008 Time Limitations for Use of Supplemental Emergency Funds

Published: September 18, 2008
Audience:
Social Services Block Grants (SSBG)
Category:
Guidance, Policies, Procedures, Information Memorandums (IM)


SOCIAL SERVICES BLOCK
GRANT PROGRAM

Information Memorandum
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Administration for Children and Families
Office of Community Services
Division of State Assistance
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington , D.C. 20447


 

Transmittal No. 04-2008

Date:  September 18, 2008

TO:  Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) State Officials and State Program Contacts

SUBJECT:  Time Limitations for Use of SSBG Supplemental Emergency Funds

PURPOSE:  To share with States guidance regarding time limitations on the use of remaining SSBG Supplemental Emergency Funds and instructions for the return of unobligated and unexpended funds to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Background
The Department of Defense Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2006 (Public Law 109-148), was signed into law on December 30, 2005.  The Act provided $550 million in additional funds to the SSBG program to address social and health services (including mental health services) for individuals, and for repair, renovation or construction of health care facilities, (including mental health facilities) affected by the 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes.  The authorization allowed States to obligate and expend SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds in the fiscal year funds were made available, or the subsequent fiscal year.  As such, States had until September 30, 2007, to use the additional funds.

On May 25, 2007, the President signed the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veteran’s Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act (Public Law 110-28) authorizing an extension on obligating and expending SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds until September 30, 2009.  In practical terms, this means that States have until September 30, 2009 to spend funds awarded in 2005 to assist in hurricane related social and health services, and for repair, renovation or construction of health care facilities.  Any funds remaining unexpended by September 30, 2009 must be returned to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  As of August 2008, 37 States (including the District of Columbia) have drawn down $449 million of the total SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds.  The Office of Community Services (OCS) has identified 14 States that have not obligated or expended any SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds.

Obligating and Expending Remaining Funds
By September 30, 2009, States must obligate and expend SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds. Services rendered using SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds must be completed by September 30, 2009.  A State has 90 days – the time at which final reports are due to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – to pay for expenditures incurred through September 30, 2009.  As such, a State may pay for the services completed through September 30, 2009 up to December 30, 2009 when the final report is due to the HHS Office of Grants Management.  The Office of Community Services issued Information Memorandum (IM) # 05-2007 - Extended Time Limitations for Use of SSBG Supplemental Emergency Funds, which provided guidance regarding the expenditure and time limitations for use of SSBG Supplemental Emergency Funds.

Additional guidance to assist States in obligating and expending Supplemental Emergency funds can be viewed on the OCS website at https://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/resource/time-limitations-for-us...:

Information Memorandum #04-2008 - Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita SSBG Update offers guidance regarding eligibility for Supplemental Emergency funds.

Returning Unobligated or Unexpended SSBG Supplemental Emergency Funds
Unobligated or unexpended SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds must be reported on the
Federal Financial Status Report form, SF-269.  In addition to the SF-269, States must return the remaining balance of these funds to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Payment Management (DPM).  According to 45 CFR  Part 92.50(d)(2), “The grantee must immediately return to the Federal agency any balance of unobligated (unencumbered) cash advanced that is not authorized to be retained for use on other grants.”

Questions pertaining to the return of SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should be directed to:
HHS Division of Payment Management
P.O. Box 6021
Rockville, MD 20852
Telephone: (877) 614-5533

Questions regarding the SF-269 and fiscal reporting on SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds should be directed to:
Lydia Peele
Office of Mandatory Grants
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
370 L’Enfant Promenade, S.W., 6th Floor East
Washington, D.C.  20447
Telephone: (202) 401-6493
Email: lydia.peele@acf.hhs.gov

Program questions regarding SSBG Supplemental Emergency funds should be directed to:
Marsha Werner
Office of Community Services
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
370 L’Enfant Promenade, SW
Washington, DC 20447
Telephone: (202) 401-5281
Fax: (202) 401-5718
Email: marsha.werner@acf.hhs.gov

 

___________________________
Josephine B. Robinson
Director
Office of Community Services
Attachments

 

 

Last Reviewed: May 17, 2019