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
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant is designed to provide temporary cash assistance to families in poverty — primarily those with no other means to meet basic needs — but its reach has shrunk considerably over time.
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
Report
Increases in TANF Cash Benefit Levels Are Critical to Help Families Meet Rising Costs
States, which have total flexibility to set benefit levels, have kept them too small to meet families’ basic needs and maintain their financial stability.
