A State-by-State Look at TANF

This interactive map provides a wealth of information on state Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs, which — as CBPP analyses have documented — have weakened significantly as a safety net since TANF’s creation in the 1996 welfare law.

Not only does TANF reach many fewer needy families than it used to, but TANF benefits have lost a fifth of their value since 1996 in most states and leave families far below the poverty line, making it extremely difficult for them to meet basic needs.

The map gives state-specific data on these issues (click on one of the three gray boxes at the top to choose which version of the map to display) and links to fact sheets with more details on each state’s caseload and spending.