How the TANF Block Grant Falls Short:
Spending, Benefits and Reaching People in Need
TANF to Poverty Ratio
Policy Brief
Cash Assistance Should Reach Millions More Families to Lessen Hardship
If TANF had maintained the same reach to families in poverty as its predecessor had in 1996, nearly 3.1 million families would have received TANF in 2019, about 2 million more than reported for that year.
TANF Spending
Report
How States Use Federal and State Funds Under the TANF Block Grant
The cash assistance safety net for the nation’s poorest families has weakened significantly under the TANF block grant.
TANF Benefit Levels
Policy Brief
States Must Continue Recent Momentum to Further Improve TANF Benefit Levels
Maximum TANF benefit levels are at or below 60 percent of the poverty line in every state.
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