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Submitting Data to TDP

Once your request for access is approved by a TDP admin, your account will have access to the ‘TANF Data Files’ page where you’ll be able to submit your quarterly transmission files.

TANF Data Files page with annotation emphasizing its location in the main navigation bar

How to submit data

  1. Choose which data you’ll be submitting


    On the Data Files page you’ll be able to fill out the search fields for ‘File Type’ (visible only if your program submits both TANF & SSP data), ‘Fiscal Year (October - September)’ , and ‘Quarter’ to identify which data you’ll be uploading. After searching for the appropriate reporting period, a new area of the page will appear below your selections.

    The records within your data files are organized by calendar quarter period, which runs from January 1 to December 31. However, these files must be reported based on the fiscal quarter period, which runs from October 1 to September 30. For example, files that cover Calendar Year 2024 Quarter 4 are to be reported for Fiscal Year 2025 Quarter 1. The accompanying table next to selections is there to help you map the calendar period content within the file to the reporting fiscal period.

    Search form with emphasis on File Type, Fiscal Year and Fiscal Quarter fields

  2. Upload your files


    You can either drag each file into their appropriate sections (Active, Closed, Aggregate, and Stratum) or click ‘Choose from folder’ on a section to browse your computer for the file.

    Upload components for Fiscal Year 2021 — Quarter 1 (October-December) including 'buckets' for Active, Closed, Aggregate, and Stratum sections

    Note: Section 4 is only required for grantees who have elected to submit a stratified sample of families served in their jurisdiction rather than data for all families.


  3. Submit your files


    After uploading the files you want to submit, click the ‘Submit Data Files’ button. You'll see a confirmation that your files were submitted and data fill the Submissions & Error Reports table as your file is processed.

    The submissions & error reports table processing as a newly submitted file is processed by TDP

    Upon successful submission of your data files you will also receive an email confirmation from no-reply@tanfdata.acf.hhs.gov (example below).

    Email example of the successfully submitted data files by section

How to retrieve your submitted data

In addition to downloading error reports about your file you can retrieve the original file you submitted from the Submissions & Error Reports table by clicking on the name of your submitted file in the "File" colunm. Note: TDP will auto-rename files to specify the fiscal period and section (e.g. 2021.Q1.Active Case Data), so depending on your original file-naming conventions, the files you download may have a different name upon re-download.

Check out the page Viewing Submission History to learn more about how to access your past data files, error reports, and interpret other data in the table.

How to resubmit your data

If you need to replace or revise any file submitted to TDP, you can do so by dragging a new file into the section(s) you’d like to resubmit. Once the new file(s) are selected, make sure to click the ‘Submit Data Files’ button again to submit them. TDP will always look to the most recently submitted version of a file as the source of truth for your most up to date data.