---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 1397a"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "1397a"
heading: "Payments to States"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/1397a"
units:
  - "Chapter 7 — Social Security"
  - "Subchapter XX — Block Grants and Programs for Social Services and Elder Justice"
  - "Division A — Block Grants to States for Social Services"
---

# §1397a. Payments to States

- (a) **Amount; covered services—**
  - (1) Each [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) shall be entitled to payment under this division for each [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3) in an amount equal to its allotment for such [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3), to be used by such [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) for services directed at the goals set forth in [section 1397 of this title](/usc/42/1397.md), subject to the requirements of this division.
  - (2) For purposes of [paragraph (1)](#a-1)—
    - (A) services which are directed at the goals set forth in [section 1397 of this title](/usc/42/1397.md) include, but are not limited to, [child](/usc/42/1382c.md?p=c) care services, protective services for children and [adults](/usc/42/619.md?p=1), services for children and [adults](/usc/42/619.md?p=1) in foster care, services related to the management and maintenance of the home, day care services for [adults](/usc/42/619.md?p=1), transportation services, family planning services, training and related services, employment services, information, referral, and counseling services, the preparation and delivery of meals, health support services and appropriate combinations of services designed to meet the special needs of children, the aged, the mentally retarded, the blind, the emotionally disturbed, the physically handicapped, and alcoholics and [drug](/usc/42/11851.md?p=4) addicts; and
    - (B) expenditures for such services may include expenditures for—
      - (i) [administration](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-10) ([including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) planning and evaluation);
      - (ii) personnel training and retraining directly related to the provision of those services ([including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b) both short- and long-term training at educational institutions through [grants](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10) to such institutions or by direct financial assistance to students enrolled in such institutions); and
      - (iii) conferences or workshops, and training or retraining through [grants](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10) to [nonprofit](/usc/42/300s–3.md?p=3) organizations within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or to individuals with [social](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=20) services expertise, or through financial assistance to individuals participating in such conferences, workshops, and training or retraining (and this clause shall apply with respect to all [persons](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-3) involved in the delivery of such services).
- (b) **Funding requirements—** The [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) shall make payments in accordance with [section 6503 of title 31](/usc/31/6503.md) to each [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) from its allotment for use under this division.
- (c) **Expenditure of funds—** Payments to a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) from its allotment for any [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3) must be expended by the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) in such [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3) or in the succeeding [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3).
- (d) **Transfers of funds—** A [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) may transfer up to 10 percent of its allotment under [section 1397b of this title](/usc/42/1397b.md) for any [fiscal year](/usc/42/619.md?p=3) for its use for that year under other provisions of Federal law providing block [grants](/usc/42/1397j.md?p=10) for support of health services, health promotion and disease prevention activities, or low-income home energy assistance (or any combination of those activities). Amounts allotted to a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) under any provisions of Federal law referred to in the preceding sentence and transferred by a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) for use in carrying out the purposes of this division shall be treated as if they were paid to the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) under this division but shall not affect the computation of the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5)’s allotment under this division. The [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) shall inform the [Secretary](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-6) of any such transfer of funds.
- (e) **Use of portion of funds—** A [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) may use a portion of the amounts described in [subsection (a)](#a) for the purpose of purchasing technical assistance from public or private entities if the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) determines that such assistance is required in developing, implementing, or administering programs funded under this division.
- (f) **Authority to use vouchers—** A [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) may use funds provided under this division to provide vouchers, for services directed at the goals set forth in [section 1397 of this title](/usc/42/1397.md), to families, [including](/usc/42/1301.md?p=b)—
  - (1) families who have become ineligible for assistance under a [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) program funded under part A of subchapter IV by reason of a durational limit on the provision of such assistance; and
  - (2) families denied cash assistance under the [State](/usc/42/619.md?p=5) program funded under part A of subchapter IV for a [child](/usc/42/1382c.md?p=c) who is born to a member of the family who is—
    - (A) a recipient of assistance under the program; or
    - (B) a [person](/usc/42/1301.md?p=a-3) who received such assistance at any time during the 10-month period ending with the birth of the [child](/usc/42/1382c.md?p=c).

## Source credit

(Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XX, § 2002, as added Pub. L. 97–35, title XXIII, § 2352(a), Aug. 13, 1981, 95 Stat. 867; amended Pub. L. 98–369, div. B, title VI, § 2663(h)(1), July 18, 1984, 98 Stat. 1169; Pub. L. 99–514, § 2, Oct. 22, 1986, 100 Stat. 2095; Pub. L. 104–193, title IX, § 908(b), Aug. 22, 1996, 110 Stat. 2351; Pub. L. 111–148, title VI, § 6703(d)(1)(B), Mar. 23, 2010, 124 Stat. 803.)

## Notes

### Editorial Notes

### References in Text

Section 501 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iii), is classified to section 501 of Title 26, Internal Revenue Code.

### Prior Provisions

A prior section 1397a, acts Aug. 14, 1935, ch. 531, title XX, § 2002, as added Jan. 4, 1975, Pub. L. 93–647, § 2, 88 Stat. 2337; amended Oct. 21, 1975, Pub. L. 94–120, § 4(b), 89 Stat. 609; Sept. 7, 1976, Pub. L. 94–401, §§ 1(a)–(c), 5(a), 90 Stat. 1215, 1218; June 30, 1977, Pub. L. 95–59, § 5, 91 Stat. 255; Oct. 25, 1977, Pub. L. 95–142, §§ 3(d)(2), 8(d), 91 Stat. 1179, 1195; Nov. 6, 1978, Pub. L. 95–600, title VIII, § 801(a), 92 Stat. 2944; Oct. 17, 1979, Pub. L. 96–88, title V, § 509(b), 93 Stat. 695; Jan. 2, 1980, Pub. L. 96–178, § 4(a), (c), 93 Stat. 1296, 1297; June 17, 1980, Pub. L. 96–272, title I, § 103(e), title II, §§ 201–204(a), 205(a), 206(e), 207(a), 94 Stat. 521–525; Dec. 5, 1980, Pub. L. 96–499, title X, § 1001(a), 94 Stat. 2655, related to payments to States and computation of amounts, prior to the general revision of this subchapter by section 2352(a) of Pub. L. 97–35.

### Amendments

2010—Pub. L. 111–148, which directed substitution of “this division” for “this subchapter” wherever appearing in subtitle 1 of title XX of act Aug. 14, 1935, was executed by making the substitution wherever appearing in this section, which is in subtitle A of title XX of act Aug. 14, 1935, to reflect the probable intent of Congress.

1996—Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 104–193 added subsec. (f).

1986—Subsec. (a)(2)(B)(iii). Pub. L. 99–514 substituted “Internal Revenue Code of 1986” for “Internal Revenue Code of 1954”.

1984—Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 98–369 substituted “section 6503 of title 31” for “section 203 of the Intergovernmental Cooperation Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 4213)”.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1984 Amendment

Amendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective July 18, 1984, but not to be construed as changing or affecting any right, liability, status, or interpretation which existed (under the provisions of law involved) before that date, see section 2664(b) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as a note under section 401 of this title.

### Temporary Suspension of Child Day Care Services Requirements

Pub. L. 96–499, title X, § 1001(b), Dec. 5, 1980, 94 Stat. 2655, provided that the provisions of Pub. L. 93–647, § 3(f), Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2349, set out as a note below, not apply with respect to child day care services provided after June 30, 1980, and prior to July 1, 1981, which met applicable standards of State and local law.

### Reimbursement of Expenditures for Social Services Provided by States Prior to October 1, 1975; Authorization of Appropriations; Procedures Applicable to Payment of Unpaid Claims of States

Pub. L. 95–291, June 12, 1978, 92 Stat. 304, authorized appropriations for payments to States in settlement of unpaid claims of States against the United States for reimbursement of expenditures made by States prior to Oct. 1, 1975, for services and administrative costs under a State plan pursuant to specific subchapters of this chapter, provided schedules for payment of a claim asserted prior to the ninety-first day after June 12, 1978, depending on when the claim was asserted, barred other claims and certain claims of the United States for recovery, provided for review of determinations, barred judicial review, and provided for allotment of appropriations for claims.

### Payments to States for Fiscal Period Beginning July 1, 1976, and Ending September 30, 1976, and Fiscal Years Ending September 30, 1977, 1978, and 1979, Computation Amounts, Limitations, Etc.

Pub. L. 94–401, § 3, Sept. 7, 1976, 90 Stat. 1215, as amended by Pub. L. 95–171, § 1(a), Nov. 12, 1977, 91 Stat. 1353; Pub. L. 95–600, title VIII, § 801(b), Nov. 6, 1978, 92 Stat. 2944; Pub. L. 96–178, § 3(b)–(f), Jan. 2, 1980, 93 Stat. 1296, provided for computation of amounts of payments to States under this subchapter for the fiscal period beginning July 1, 1976, and ending Sept. 30, 1976, and fiscal years ending Sept. 30, 1977, 1978, and 1979, limitations on such amounts, and a limit on the total amount of Federal payments made to States in any such fiscal year under this subchapter.

### Requirements of Child Day Care Services

Pub. L. 93–647, § 3(f), Jan. 4, 1975, 88 Stat. 2349, which provided for requirements of child day care services, was repealed by Pub. L. 97–35, title XXIII, § 2353(s), Aug. 13, 1981, 97 Stat. 874.