Getting Started
The TANF Data Portal (TDP) is a new, secure, web-based data reporting system designed to improve the federal reporting experience for TANF grantees and federal staff.
TDP will allow grantees to easily submit accurate data and be confident that they have fulfilled their reporting requirements. This will reduce the burden on all users, improve data quality, inform better policy and programs, and ultimately help low-income families.
This knowledge center will guide you through setting up an account to access TDP, submitting data, and managing your account. It will continue to be updated as new improvements are added.
What's new in TDP
June 5th 2024 (v 3.4.3)
Added:
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Error reports are out of beta
Error reports are generated for each file you submit when the TDP system detects potential data quality issues in your file. Error reports will help you to understand and correct a wide variety of data issues and are designed with easier-to-understand language than the errors you may have received from the (now retired) legacy transmission report system. While these reports are new and improved, they don't capture every possible data quality issue. The OFA TANF data team may reach out to you via email with additional feedback. Read more about error reports.
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More detailed insights into your files in Submission History
Submission History includes new details about the processing status of your files. These details are designed to give you a broad understanding of the completeness of your file and provide some insight into the type of errors you can expect to see in the error report if TDP has identified data quality issues. Read more about Submission History and file statuses.
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New FAQ guidance for file format and update indicator requirements
The FAQ page has been updated to assist you in preparing data files meeting all of TDP's submission requirements. This includes:
- How to correct "Invalid Extension" errors.
- Guidance on setting the update indicator in data files.
Changed / Fixed:
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Improved the usability of TDP's request access form
First-time users to TDP provide their first name, last name, and associated state, tribe, or territory to help TDP administrators confirm access to the system. We've made revisions to the form by adding the jurisdiction type (state, tribe, or territory). After selecting the jurisdiction type, the user can more quickly locate and select the appropriate jurisdiction from the dropdown menu. the eliminate confusion about whether tribes need to select the name of their tribal program or the name of the state it's located in.
October 10th 2023 (v 3.1.6)
Added:
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Additions to knowledge center FAQs
The knowledge center now offers new guidance including where to go for help if you encounter an unexpectedly high volume of errors in your data, how to proceed in a situation where you cannot correct a certain type of error, and how to utilize resubmission to improve your data quality and completeness throughout a fiscal quarter.
Changed / Fixed:
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Increased actionability of file upload error messages
In cases where a user attempts to upload an incompatible file type to TDP we're now triggering a more descriptive error message that describes which file types are accepted and compatible with TDP; acceptable file types can end in: .txt, .ms##, .ts##, or .ts###. The filename of the incompatible file also now stays onscreen so that it can be more easily compared to the list of accepted file types.
In Development:
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Expanded file processing and submission history features
Building on work that began in v 3.1, TDP will soon feature more advanced submission file processing able to serve up detailed information about the data quality of newly uploaded files. This includes comparison of TANF cases within the file with errors to cases with no errors detected by the system. Additionally, each file receives an overall status describing different levels of data quality on the road to being fully accepted. We will keep you updated on the progress of these features and communicate when it will become available for use and benefit.
May 19th 2023 (v 3.1)
Added:
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Knowledge center video tutorials
The knowledge center now offers video tutorials to assist users in setting up a Login.gov account, requesting access, and submitting quarterly TANF data. Head over to the guides on Creating a New Login.gov Account, Using an Existing Login.gov Account, and Submitting Data to TDP to take a look!
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Enhanced knowledge center FAQs
The knowledge center's FAQ page has been updated with enhanced navigation, allowing you to quickly find the specific question you're looking for. Additionally, it now provides guidance on how to offboard team members from TDP when they no longer require access to TANF data.
In Development:
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TDP error reporting
If you've recently visited a TDP submission history page, you may have noticed a new table column for error reports. These reports will provide near-instant plain-language feedback on your submitted data files, replacing the emailed transmission reports you may have previously received. While this functionality is not yet ready for rollout, it is one of our primary focuses for the next few months. We will keep you updated on its progress and let you know when it becomes available for use and benefit.
February 7th 2023 (v 3.0)
Added:
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Data Files Submission History
TDP now includes a submission history for each program, section, and quarter. This logs the time and date each file was submitted, the user who submitted it, and allows past submissions to be downloaded. Read more about Submission History.
Changed / Fixed:
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Improved our data upload processes to reduce 'Network Errors'
In our v 2.2 some users encountered 'Network Errors' when Submitting larger data files to TDP. While this error didn't prevent successful submission, it did appear to. Users uploading large files should see 'Network Error' less frequently and much more of the 'Successfully Submitted Data' message (Note: It may still take about 30 seconds for the success message to appear).
November 8th 2022 (v 2.1 & 2.2)
Added:
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Support for SSP Submission & Resubmission
Users from TANF programs that submit SSP-MOE data now have access to a new field on the Data Files page allowing for quarterly SSP data to be submitted as well as TANF data.
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Email notifications
TDP now sends out email notifications for key events to keep you informed about the status of your account during the account creation process and the status of your submitted data files.
Changed / Fixed:
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Improved visibility of success & error messages
In v 2.0 the banner highlighting whether data files were submitted successfully or failed to submit often appeared off-screen. This change ensures that the message gets highlighted more prominently when it appears.
August 8th 2022 (v 2.0)
Version 2.0 is our first public-facing launch of TDP and contains foundational functionality to allow the first pilot group of users to create accounts, gain access, and submit their quarterly TANF data to ACF.
Added:
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Account creation
Users can now link or create a login.gov account and request access to TDP.
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TANF submission & resubmission
Data files for all four sections of TANF data can be submitted to a given quarter and fiscal year. Previously submitted files can also be resubmitted to enable corrections & updates to be made.
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Production environment
Prior to 2.0 TDP existed in a number of internal development environments aimed at making it easy to test new and in-progress functionality. The production environment is all about ensuring a secure, and highly stable place for TDP to be accessed by users.
