Although many states requested and received waivers under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program, no section 1115 waivers of TANF requirements have been granted by HHS since TANF’s creation in 1996. Since 2000, several states have expressed interest in the availability of waivers. For example, in 2001, one state asked HHS about waiving various requirements including the work participation requirement, due to an emergency situation caused by a terrorist attack. The Assistant Secretary for Children and Families or TANF program staff have generally responded that the requested waiver authority was not available. Between when HHS issued its July 12, 2012 Information Memorandum and September 6, 2012, eight states expressed interest in pursuing waivers, but no state had officially requested one.