45 CFR § 261.13 - May an individual be penalized for not following an individual responsibility plan?

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t45/s261.13"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "45 CFR § 261.13 - May an individual be penalized for not following an individual responsibility plan?"
title_number: 45
title_name: "Public Welfare"
section_number: "261.13"
section_name: "May an individual be penalized for not following an individual responsibility plan?"
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF FAMILY ASSISTANCE (ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS), ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES"
part_number: "261"
part_name: "ENSURING THAT RECIPIENTS WORK"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-03-24"
last_updated: "2026-03-24"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "42 U.S.C. 601, 602, 607, and 609; Pub. L. 109-171."
regulatory_source: "64 FR 17884, Apr. 12, 1999, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "261"
---


# 261.13 May an individual be penalized for not following an individual responsibility plan?

Yes. If an individual fails without good cause to comply with an individual responsibility plan that he or she has signed, the State may reduce the amount of assistance otherwise payable to the family, by whatever amount it considers appropriate. This penalty is in addition to any other penalties under the State's TANF program.