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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: Responses to Frequently Asked Questions

Updated January 4, 2019 (RL32760)
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Summary

15, 2019 Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: Gene Falk Responses to Frequently Asked Questions Specialist in Social Policy The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant funds a wide range of benefits and services for low-income families with children. TANF was created in the 1996 welfare reform law (P.L. 104-193). This report responds to some frequently asked questions about TANF; it does not describe TANF rules (see, instead, CRS Report RL32748, The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A Primer on TANF Financing and Federal Requirements, by [author name scrubbed]).

Gene Falk). TANF Funding and Expenditures. TANF provides fixed funding for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, the territories, and American Indian tribes. The basic block grant totalstotals $16.5 billion per year. States are also required in total to contribute, from their own funds, at least $10.3 billion annually under a maintenance-of-effort (MOE) requirement.

Though TANF is best known for funding cash assistance payments for needy families with children, the block grant and MOE funds are used for a wide variety of benefits and activities. In FY2017, expenditures on basic assistance totaled $7.1 billion—23% of total federal TANF and MOE dollars. Basic assistance is often—but not exclusively—paid as cash. In addition to funding basic assistance, TANF also contributes funds for child care and services for children who have been, or are at risk of being, abused and neglected. Some states also count expenditures in prekindergarten programs toward the MOE requirement.

The TANF Assistance Caseload. A total of 1.4 million families, composed of 3.4 million recipients, received TANF- or MOE-funded assistance in September 2017. The bulk of the "recipients"“recipients” were children—2.5 million in that month. The assistance caseload is heterogeneous. The type of family once thought of as the "typical" “typical” assistance family—one with an unemployed adult recipient—accounted for 32% of all families on the rolls in FY2016. Additionally, 31% of cash assistance families had an employed adult, while 38% of all TANF families were "child-only" and had no adult recipient. Child-only families include those with disabled adults receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), adults who are nonparents (e.g., grandparents, aunts, uncles) caring for children, and families consisting of citizen children and ineligible noncitizen parents.

Cash Assistance Benefits. TANF cash benefit amounts are set by states. In July 2016, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of three ranged from $923 in Alaska to $170 in Mississippi. In all states, the maximum TANF cash assistance amount for this sized family was less than 50% of poverty-level income.

Work Requirements. TANF's main federal work requirement is actually a performance measure that applies to the states. States determine the work rules that apply to individual recipients. TANF law requires states to engage 50% of all families and 90% of two-parent families with work-eligible individuals in work activities, though these standards can be reduced by "credits." Therefore, the effective standards states face are often less than the 50% or 90% targets, and vary by state. In FY2017, states achieved, on average, an all-family participation rate of 53.0% and a two-parent rate of 69.5%. In FY2017, two jurisdictions did not meet the all-family participation standard: Nevada and Guam. This is a reduction from FY2012, when 16 states did not meet that standard. In FY2017, nine jurisdictions did not meet the two-parent standard. States that do not meet work standards are at risk of being penalized by a reduction in their block grant.


Introduction

Congressional Research Service link to page 5 link to page 5 link to page 5 link to page 5 link to page 5 link to page 6 link to page 7 link to page 8 link to page 8 link to page 8 link to page 9 link to page 9 link to page 9 link to page 11 link to page 12 link to page 13 link to page 13 link to page 14 link to page 14 link to page 14 link to page 15 link to page 18 link to page 8 link to page 10 link to page 12 link to page 13 link to page 13 link to page 15 link to page 15 link to page 17 link to page 17 link to page 19 link to page 19 link to page 6 link to page 9 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Contents Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 1 Funding and Expenditures ............................................................................................................... 1 What is TANF’s Funding Status? .............................................................................................. 1 Is Legislation Before Congress to Fund TANF for FY2019? ................................................... 1 How Are State TANF Programs Funded? ................................................................................. 1 How Much Has the Value of the TANF Basic Block Grant Changed Over Time? ................... 2 How Have States Used TANF Funds? ...................................................................................... 3 How Much of the TANF Grant Has Gone Unspent? ................................................................ 4 The Caseload ................................................................................................................................... 4 How Many Families Receive TANF- or MOE-Funded Benefits and Services? ....................... 4 How Many Families and People Currently Receive TANF- or MOE-Funded “Assistance”? ......................................................................................................................... 5 How Does the Current Assistance Caseload Level Compare with Historical Levels? ............. 5 What Are the Characteristics of Families Receiving TANF Assistance? .................................. 7 TANF Cash Benefits: How Much Does a Family Receive in TANF Cash Per Month? .................. 8 TANF Work Participation Standards ............................................................................................... 9 What Is the TANF Work Participation Standard States Must Meet? ........................................ 9 Have There Been Changes in the Work Participation Rules Enacted Since the 1996 Welfare Reform Law? .......................................................................................................... 10 What Work Participation Rates Have the States Achieved? .................................................... 10 How Many Jurisdictions Did Not Meet the All-Families Standard? ........................................ 11 Have States Met the Two-Parent Work Participation Standard? ............................................. 14 Figures Figure 1. Uses of TANF Funds by Spending Category, FY2017 .................................................... 4 Figure 2. Number of Families Receiving Cash Assistance, July 1959-September 2017 ................. 6 Figure 3. Characteristics of Assistance Families, Selected Years FY1988 to FY2016 .................. 8 Figure 4. TANF Cash Assistance Maximum Monthly Benefit Amounts for a Single Parent Family with Two Children, 50 States and the District of Columbia, July 2016 ........................... 9 Figure 5. National Average TANF Work Participation Rate for All Families, FY2002-FY2017 ......................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 6. States that Met or Did Not Meet the TANF All-Families Work Participation Standard: FY2006-FY2017 ........................................................................................................ 13 Figure 7. Two-Parent TANF Work Participation Standard, Status by State: FY2006-FY2017 ........................................................................................................................ 15 Tables Table 1. TANF Basic Block Grant Funding in Nominal and Constant Dollars ............................... 2 Table 2. TANF Assistance Caseload: September 2017 .................................................................... 5 Congressional Research Service link to page 20 link to page 22 link to page 22 link to page 23 link to page 26 link to page 26 link to page 29 link to page 30 link to page 30 link to page 32 link to page 32 link to page 34 link to page 20 link to page 23 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Table A-1. Trends in the Cash Assistance Caseload: 1961 to 2016 ............................................... 16 Table A-2. Families Receiving AFDC/TANF Assistance by Family Category, Selected Years, FY1988 to FY2016 .......................................................................................................... 18 Table B-1. Use of FY2017 TANF and MOE Funds by Category .................................................. 19 Table B-2. Use of FY2017 TANF and MOE Funds by Category as a Percentage of Total Federal TANF and State MOE Funding ..................................................................................... 22 Table B-3. Unspent TANF Funds at the End of FY2017 ............................................................... 25 Table B-4. Number of Families, Recipients, Children, and Adults Receiving TANF Assistance by State, September 2017 ......................................................................................... 26 Table B-5. Number of Needy Families with Children Receiving Assistance by State, September of Selected Years ...................................................................................................... 28 Table B-6. TANF Assistance Families by Number of Parents by State: September 2017 ............ 30 Appendixes Appendix A. Supplementary Tables .............................................................................................. 16 Appendix B. State Tables .............................................................................................................. 19 Contacts Author Information ....................................................................................................................... 32 Congressional Research Service link to page 23 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Introduction This report provides responses to frequently asked questions about the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant. It is intended to serve as a quick reference to provide easy access to information and data. Appendix B presents a series of tables with state-level data. This report does not provide information on TANF program rules (for a discussion of TANF rules, see CRS Report RL32748, The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: A Primer on TANF Financing and Federal Requirements, by [author name scrubbed]).

Gene Falk). Funding and Expenditures

What is TANF's Funding Status?

TANF is a mandatory spending program administered by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Funding for TANF is not provided through the regular annual appropriations bill for HHS. Rather, TANF funding is directly appropriated in Section 403(a) of the Social Security Act. Most recently, provisions extending TANF funding through December 21, 2018, were contained in the FY2019 continuing resolution (P.L. 115-245, as amended by P.L. 115-298). As of the date of this report, no further extension of TANF appropriations has been enacted, resulting in a gap in TANF funding.

States received their first quarter of FY2019 TANF grants under the funding extension provisions contained in the continuing resolution. However, absent the enactment of law, the federal government cannot make its second quarter (beginning on January 1, 2019) or subsequent quarterly TANF grant awards to the states. HHS has issued guidance to the states clarifying that they may use unspent, previously awarded federal funds to continue their state TANF programs during the funding lapse. Additionally, a state may spend its own funds within the state TANF program, which, absent subsequent enactment of law to the contrary, may be counted toward the FY2019 TANF state spending requirement (the maintenance of effort, or MOE, requirement).

Is Legislation Before Congress to Fund TANF for FY2019?

On On January 14, 2019, the House passed legislation (H.R. 430) that would fund TANF through June 30, 2019. H.R. 430 is a stand-alone bill that only would extend funding for TANF and certain related programs, such as mandatory child care. The bill would permit states to receive their quarterly TANF grants for the 2nd quarter (January through March) and 3rd quarter (April through June) of FY2019. Additional legislation would be required to pay TANF grants in the final quarter (July through September) of FY2019. Earlier, on January 3, 2019, the House passed legislation (H.R. 21) that would fund federal government activities that had their funding lapse in December 2018, including TANF. H.R. 21 would fund TANF for the remainder of FY2019, as well as for FY2020. It would also require states to report on employment outcomes of TANF assistance recipients.

How Are State TANF Programs Funded?

TANF programs are funded through a combination of federal and state funds. In FY2018, TANF has two federal grants to states. The bulk of the TANF funding is in a basic block grant to the states, totaling $16.5 billion for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 1 link to page 6 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Virgin Islands, and American Indian tribes. There is also a contingency fund available that provides extra federal funds to states that meet certain conditions.

Additionally, states are required to expend a minimum amount of their own funds for TANF and TANF-related activities under what is known as the maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement. States are required to spend at least 75% of what they spent in FY1994 on TANF's predecessor programs. The minimum MOE amount, in total, is $10.3 billion per year for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the territories.

How Much Has the Value of the TANF Basic Block Grant Changed Over Time?

TANF was created in the 1996 welfare reform law, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA, P.L. 104-193). A TANF basic block grant amount—both nationally and for each state—was established in the 1996 welfare reform law. The amount established in that law for the 50 states, District of Columbia, territories, and tribes was $16.6 billion in total. From FY1997 through FY2016, that amount remained the same. It was not adjusted for changes that occur over time, such as inflation, the size of the TANF assistance caseload, or changes in the poverty population. During this period, the real (inflation-adjusted) value of the block grant declined by one-third (33.1%). Beginning with FY2017, the state family assistance grant was reduced by 0.33% from its historical levels to finance TANF-related research and technical assistance. The reduced block grant amount is $16.5 billion.

Table 1 shows the state family assistance grant, in both nominal (actual) and real (inflation-adjusted) dollars for each year, FY1997 through FY2018. In real (inflation-adjusted) terms, the FY2018 block grant was 36% below its value in FY1997.

Table 1. TANF Basic Block Grant Funding in Nominal and Constant Dollars

(In billions of $) (In billions of $)

Fiscal Year

State Family State Family Assistance Grant: 50 State Family States, DC, Tribes, and Assistance Grant Cumulative Percentage Fiscal Year Territories Constant 1997 Dollars Change 1997 $16.567 $16.567 1998 16.567 16.306 -1.6% 1999 16.567 15.991 -3.5 2000 16.567 15.498 -6.5 2001 16.567 15.020 -9.3 2002 16.567 14.792 -10.7 2003 16.567 14.456 -12.7 2004 16.567 14.124 -14.7 2005 16.567 13.680 -17.4 2006 16.567 13.190 -20.4 2007 16.567 12.893 -22.2 2008 16.567 12.345 -25.5 2009 16.567 12.382 -25.3 Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 2 link to page 8 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs State Family Assistance Grant: 50 State Family States, DC, Tribes, and Assistance Grant Cumulative Percentage Fiscal Year Territories Constant 1997 Dollars Change 2010 16.567 12.182 -26.5 2011 16.567 11.859 -28.4 2012 16.567 11.585 -30.1 2013 16.567 11.394 -31.2 2014 16.567 11.217 -32.3 2015 16.567 11.179 -32.5 2016 16.567 11.082 -33.1 2017 16.512 10.820 -34.7 2018 16.512 10.564 -36.2 States, DC, Tribes, and Territories

State Family Assistance Grant Constant 1997 Dollars

Cumulative Percentage Change

1997

$16.567

$16.567

 

1998

16.567

16.306

-1.6%

1999

16.567

15.991

-3.5

2000

16.567

15.498

-6.5

2001

16.567

15.020

-9.3

2002

16.567

14.792

-10.7

2003

16.567

14.456

-12.7

2004

16.567

14.124

-14.7

2005

16.567

13.680

-17.4

2006

16.567

13.190

-20.4

2007

16.567

12.893

-22.2

2008

16.567

12.345

-25.5

2009

16.567

12.382

-25.3

2010

16.567

12.182

-26.5

2011

16.567

11.859

-28.4

2012

16.567

11.585

-30.1

2013

16.567

11.394

-31.2

2014

16.567

11.217

-32.3

2015

16.567

11.179

-32.5

2016

16.567

11.082

-33.1

2017

16.512

10.820

-34.7

2018

16.512

10.564

-36.2

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Notes: Constant dollars were computed using the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U).

How Have States Used TANF Funds?

Figure 1 shows the uses of federal TANF grants to states and state MOE funds in FY2017. In FY2017, a total of $31.1 billion of both federal TANF and state MOE expenditures were either expended or transferred to other block grant programs. Basic assistance—ongoing benefits to families to meet basic needs—represented 23% ($7.1 billion) of total FY2017 TANF and MOE dollars.

TANF is a major contributor of child care funding. In FY2017, $5 billion (16% of all TANF and MOE funds) were either expended on child care or transferred to the child care block grant (the Child Care and Development Fund, or CCDF). TANF work-related activities (including education and training) were the third-largest TANF and MOE spending category at $3.3 billion, or 11% of total TANF and MOE funds. TANF also helps low-wage parents by helping to finance state refundable tax credits, such as state add-ons to the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). TANF and MOE expenditures on refundable tax credits in FY2017 totaled $2.8 billion, or 9% of total TANF and MOE spending.

TANF is also a major contributor to the child welfare system, which provides foster care, adoption assistance, and services to families with children who either have experienced or are at risk of experiencing child abuse or neglect, spending about $2.2 billion on such activities. TANF and MOE funds also help fund state prekindergarten (pre-K) programs, with total FY2017 expenditures for that category also at $2.5 billion. TANF and MOE funds are also used for short-term and emergency benefits and a wide range of other social services.

Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 3 link to page 23 link to page 26 link to page 29 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Figure 1. Uses of TANF Funds by Spending Category, FY2017

(Dollars in billions) (Dollars in billions)

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Notes: Detail may not add to totals because of rounding.

For state-specific information on the use of TANF funds, see Table B-1 andand Table B-2.

How Much of the TANF Grant Has Gone Unspent?

TANF law permits states to "reserve"“reserve” unused funds without time limit. This permits flexibility in timing of the use of TANF funds, including the ability to "save"“save” funds for unexpected occurrences that might increase costs (such as recessions or natural disasters).

At the end of FY2017 (September 30, 2017, the most recent data currently available), a total of $5.1 billion of federal TANF funding remained neither transferred nor spent. However, some of these unspent funds represent monies that states had already committed to spend later. At the end of FY2017, states had made such commitments to spend—that is, had obligated—a total of $1.8 billion. At the end of FY2017, states had $3.3 billion of "unobligated balances." These funds are available to states to make new spending commitments. Table B-3 shows unspent TANF funds by state.

by state. The Caseload

How Many Families Receive TANF- or MOE-Funded Benefits and Services?

This number is not known. Federal TANF reporting requirements focus on families receiving only ongoing assistance. There is no complete reporting on families receiving other TANF benefits and services.

Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 4 link to page 9 link to page 30 link to page 10 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Assistance is defined as benefits provided to families to meet ongoing, basic needs.11 It is most often paid in cash. However, some states use TANF or MOE funds to provide an "earnings supplement"supplement” to working parents added to monthly Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) allotments. These "earnings supplements" are paid separately from the regular TANF cash assistance program. Additionally, TANF MOE dollars are used to fund food assistance for immigrants barred from regular SNAP benefits in certain states. These forms of nutrition aid meet an ongoing need, and thus are considered TANF assistance.

As discussed in a previous section of this report, TANF basic assistance accounts for about 24% of all TANF expenditures. Therefore, the federal reporting requirements that pertain to families receiving "assistance"“assistance” are likely to undercount the number of families receiving any TANF-funded benefit or service.

How Many Families and People Currently Receive TANF- or MOE-Funded “Assistance”? Funded "Assistance"?

Table 2 provides assistance caseload information. A total of 1.4 million families, composed of 3.4 million recipients, received TANF- or MOE-funded assistance in September 2017. The bulk of the “recipients”the "recipients" were children—2.5 million in that month. (The September 2017 data exclude Puerto Rico.) For state-by-state assistance caseloads, seesee Table B-4.

Table 2. TANF Assistance Caseload: September 2017 Families 1,354,901 Recipients 3,410,086 Child Recipients 2,481,584 Adult Recipients 928,502 Table 2. TANF Assistance Caseload: September 2017

Families

1,354,901

Recipients

3,410,086

Child Recipients

2,481,584

Adult Recipients

928,502

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Notes: TANF cash assistance caseload includes families receiving assistance in state-funded programs counted toward the TANF maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement.

How Does the Current Assistance Caseload Level Compare with Historical Levels?

Figure 2 provides a long-term historical perspective on the number of families receiving assistance from TANF or its predecessor program, from July 1959 to September 2017. The shaded areas of the figure represent months when the national economy was in recession. Though the health of the national economy has affected the trend in the cash assistance caseload, the long-term trend in receipt of cash assistance does not follow a classic countercyclical pattern. Such a pattern would have the caseload rise during economic slumps, and then fall again during periods of economic growth. Factors other than the health of the economy (demographic trends, policy changes) also have influenced the caseload trend.

The figure shows two periods of sustained caseload increases: the period from the mid-1960s to the mid-1970s and a second period from 1988 to 1994. The number of families receiving 1 The definition of TANF assistance is not in statute. However, because the statutory language has most TANF requirements triggered by a family receiving “assistance,” the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations define assistance at 45 C.F.R. §260.31. Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 5 link to page 20 link to page 32 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs assistance peaked in March 1994 at 5.1 million families. The assistance caseload fell rapidly in the late 1990s (after the 1996 welfare reform law) before leveling off in 2001. In 2004, the caseload began another decline, albeit at a slower pace than in the late 1990s. During the recent 2007-2009 recession and its aftermath, the caseload began to rise from 1.7 million families in August 2008, peaking in December 2010 at close to 2.0 million families. By September 2017, the assistance caseload had declined to 1.4 million families.

Figure 2. Number of Families Receiving Cash Assistance, July 1959-September 2017

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) with data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Notes: Shaded areas denote months when the national economy was in recession. Information represents families receiving cash assistance from Aid to Dependent Children (ADC), Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), and TANF. For October 1999 through September 2017, includes families receiving assistance from Separate State Programs (SSPs) with expenditures countable toward the TANF maintenance of effort requirement. SeeSee Table A-1 for average annual data on families, recipients, adult recipients, and child recipients of ADC, AFDC, and TANF cash assistance for 1961 to 2016.

Table B-5 shows recent trends in the number of cash assistance families by state.

Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 6 link to page 12 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs What Are the Characteristics of Families Receiving TANF Assistance?

Before PRWORA, the "typical"“typical” family receiving assistance has been headed by a single parent (usually the mother) with one or two children. That single parent has also typically been unemployed. However, over the past 20 years the assistance caseload decline has occurred together with a major shift in the composition of thethe rolls. Figure 3 shows the change in the size and composition of the assistance caseload under both AFDC (1988 and 1994) and TANF. In FY1988, an estimated 84% of AFDC families were headed by an unemployed adult recipient. In FY2016, families with an unemployed adult recipient represented 32% of all cash assistance families. This decline occurred, in large part, as the number of families headed by unemployed adult recipients declined more rapidly than other components of the assistance caseload. In FY1994, a monthly average of 3.8 million families per month who received AFDC cash assistance had adult recipients who were not working. In FY2016, a monthly average of 485,000 families per month had adult recipients or work-eligible individuals, with no adult recipient or work-eligible individual working.

With the decline in families headed by unemployed adults, the share of the caseload represented by families with employed adults and "child only" families has increased. In FY2016, families with employed adult recipients represented 31% of all assistance families. This category includes families in "earnings supplement" programs separate from the regular TANF cash assistance program. "Child-only" families are those where no adult recipient receives benefits in their own right; the family receives benefits on behalf of its children. The share of the caseload that was child-only in FY2016 was 38%. In FY2016, families with a nonrecipient, nonparent relative (grandparents, aunts, uncles) represented 14% of all assistance families. Families with ineligible, noncitizen adults or adults who have not reported their citizenship status made up 11% of the assistance caseload in that year. Families where the parent received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and the children received TANF made up 9% of all assistance families in FY2016.

Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 7 link to page 13 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Figure 3. Characteristics of Assistance Families,
Selected Years FY1988 to FY2016

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) tabulations of the TANF national data files.

Notes: TANF cash assistance caseload includes families receiving assistance in state-funded programs counted toward the TANF maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement.

TANF Cash Benefits: How Much Does a Family Receive in TANF Cash Per Month?

There are no federal rules that help determine the amount of TANF cash benefits paid to a family. (There are also no federal rules that require states to use TANF to pay cash benefits, though all states do so.) Benefit amounts are determined solely by the states.

Most states base TANF cash benefit amounts on family size, paying larger cash benefits to larger families on the presumption that they have greater financial needs. The maximum monthly cash benefit is usually paid to a family that receives no other income (e.g., no earned or unearned income) and complies with program rules. Families with income other than TANF often are paid a reduced benefit. Moreover, some families are financially sanctioned for not meeting a program requirement (e.g., a work requirement), and are also paid a lower benefit.

Figure 4 shows the maximum monthly TANF cash benefit by state for a single mother caring for two children (family of three) in July 2016.22 The benefit amounts shown are those for a single-parent family with two children.33 For a family of three, the maximum TANF benefit paid in July 2016 varied from $170 per month in Mississippi to $923 per month in Alaska. The map shows a 2 States are not required to report to the federal government their cash assistance benefit amounts in either the TANF state plan (under Section 402 of the Social Security Act) or in annual program reports (under Section 411 of the Social Security Act). The benefit amounts shown are from the “Welfare Rules Database,” maintained by the Urban Institute and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). 3 Some states vary their benefit amounts for other family types such as two-parent families or “child-only” cases. States also vary their benefits by other factors such as housing costs and substate geography. Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 8 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs regional pattern to the maximum monthly benefit paid, with lower benefit amounts in the South than in other regions. In all states, the maximum TANF cash assistance amount for this sized family was less than 50% of poverty-level income.4

4 Figure 4. TANF Cash Assistance Maximum Monthly Benefit Amounts for a Single Parent Family with Two Children, 50 States and the District of Columbia, July 2016

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the Urban Institute's Welfare Rules Database. The welfare rules database has information for the 50 states and District of Columbia. It does not have information on TANF assistance programs in Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands or tribal TANF programs. programs.

TANF Work Participation Standards

TANF's main federal work requirement is actually a performance measure that applies to the states, rather than individual recipients. States determine the work rules that apply to individual recipients.

What Is the TANF Work Participation Standard States Must Meet?

The TANF statute requires states to have 50% of their caseload meet standards of participation in work or activities—that is, a family member must be in specified activities for a minimum 4 In 2016, the HHS poverty guidelines for the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia for a family of three was $1,680 per month. Higher poverty lines applied in Alaska ($2,100 per month for a family of three) and Hawaii ($1,933 per month for a family of three). Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 9 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs number of hours.5number of hours.5 There is a separate participation standard that applies to the two-parent portion of a state's caseload, requiring 90% of the state's two-parent caseload to meet participation standards.

However, the statutory work participation standards are reduced by a "caseload reduction credit." The caseload reduction credit reduces the participation standard one percentage point for each percentage point decline in a state's caseload. Additionally, under a regulatory provision, a state may get "extra"“extra” credit for caseload reduction if it spends more than required under the TANF MOE. Therefore, the effective standards states face are often less than the 50% and 90% targets, and vary by state and by year.

States that do not meet the TANF work participation standard are at risk of being penalized through a reduction in their block grant. However, penalties can be forgiven if a state claims, and the Secretary of HHS finds, that it had "reasonable cause" for not meeting the standard. Penalties can also be forgiven for states that enter into "corrective compliance plans," and subsequently meet the work standard.

Have There Been Changes in the Work Participation Rules Enacted Since the 1996 Welfare Reform Law?

The 50% and 90% target standards that states face, as well as the caseload reduction credit, date back to the 1996 welfare reform law. However, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 (DRA, P.L. 109-171) made) made several changes to the work participation rules effective in FY2007:

  • The caseload reduction credit was changed to measure caseload reduction from FY2005, rather than the original law's FY1995.
  • The work participation standards were broadened to include families receiving cash aid in "separate state programs." Separate state programs are programs run with state funds, distinct from a state's "’s “TANF program," but with expenditures countable toward the TANF MOE.
  • HHS was instructed to provide definition to the allowable TANF work activities listed in law. HHS was also required to define what is meant by a "work-eligible" individual, expanding the number of families that are included in the work participation calculation.
  • States were required to develop plans and procedures to verify work activities.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA, P.L. 111-5),), a law enacted in response to the sharp economic downturn of 2007-2009, held states "harmless"“harmless” for caseload increases affecting the work participation standards for FY2009 through FY2011. It did so by allowing states to "freeze"“freeze” caseload reduction credits at pre-recession levels through the FY2011 standards.

What Work Participation Rates Have the States Achieved?

HHS computes two work participation rates for each state that are then compared with the effective (after-credit) standard to determine if it has met the TANF work standard. An "all-families"“all- 5 Families without a work-eligible individual are excluded from the participation rate calculation. It excludes families where the parent is a nonrecipient (for example, disabled receiving Supplemental Security Income or an ineligible noncitizen) or the children in the family are being cared for by a nonparent relative (e.g., grandparent, aunt, uncle) who does not receive assistance on his or her behalf. Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 10 link to page 15 link to page 17 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs families” work participation rate is computed and compared with the all-families effective standard (50% minus the state's caseload reduction credit). HHS also computes a two-parent work participation rate that is compared with the two-parent effective standard (90% minus the state'state’s caseload reduction credit).

Figure 5 shows the national average all-families work participation rate for FY2002 through FY2017. For the period FY2002 through FY2011, states achieved an average all-families work participation rate hovering around 30%. The work participation rate increased since then. In FY2016, it exceeded 50% for the first time since TANF was established. However, it is important to note that the increase in the work participation rate has not come from an increase in the number of recipients in regular TANF assistance programs who are either working or in job preparation activities. This increase stems mostly from states creating new "earnings supplement" programs that use TANF funds to aid working parents in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly food stamps) or who have left the regular TANF assistance programs for work.6 for work.6

Figure 5. National Average TANF Work Participation Rate for All Families, FY2002-FY2017

FY2002-FY2017 Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

How Many Jurisdictions Did Not Meet the All-Families Standard?

Figure 6 shows which states did not meet the TANF all-families work participation standards from FY2006 through FY2017. Before FY2007, the first year that DRA was effective, only a few jurisdictions did not meet TANF all-families work participation standards. However, in FY2007, 15 jurisdictions did not meet the all-families standard. This number declined to 9 in FY2008 and 8 in FY2009.

6 See CRS In Focus IF10856, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Work Requirements. Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 11 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs In FY2012, despite the uptick in the national average work participation rate, 16 states did not meet the all-family standard, the largest number of states that did not meet their participation standards in any one year since the enactment of TANF. FY2012 was the year that ARRA's "freeze"’s “freeze” of the caseload reduction credit expired, and states were generally required to meet higher standards than in previous years.

The number of jurisdictions that did not meet the all-families standard declined over the FY2012 to FY2017 period. In FY2017, two jurisdictions did not meet the all-family participation standard: Nevada and Guam.

Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 12 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Figure 6. States that Met or Did Not Meet the TANF All-Families Work Participation Standard: FY2006-FY2017

(Changes to TANF work participation standard rules under the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 [DRA], effective in FY2007) effective in FY2007)

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 13 link to page 19 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Have States Met the Two-Parent Work Participation Standard?

In addition to meeting a work standard for all families, TANF also imposes a second standard—90%—for the two-parent portion of its cash assistance caseload. This standard can also be lowered by caseload reduction.

Figure 7 shows whether each state met its two-parent work participation standard for FY2006 through FY2017. However, the display on the table is more complex than that for reporting whether a state met or did not meet its "all family" rate.

A substantial number of states have reported no two-parent families subject to the work participation standard. These states are denoted on the table with an "NA," indicating that the two-parent standard was not applicable to the state in that year. Before the changes made by the DRA were effective, a number of states had their two-parent families in separate state programs that were not included in the work participation calculation. When DRA brought families receiving assistance in separate state programs into the work participation rate calculations, a number of states moved these families into solely state-funded programs. These are state-funded programs with expenditures not countable toward the TANF maintenance of effort requirement, and hence are outside of TANF's rules.

For states with two-parent families in their caseloads, the table reports "Yes"“Yes” for states that met the two-parent standard, and "No"“No” for states that did not meet the two-parent standard. Of the 28 jurisdictions that had two-parent families in their FY2017 TANF work participation calculation, 19 met the standard and 9 did not.

Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 14 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Figure 7. Two-Parent TANF Work Participation Standard, Status by State: FY2006-FY2017

("Yes" FY2006-FY2017 (“Yes” indicates a state met the standard; "No"“No” indicates the state did not meet the standard; and "NA" “NA” means the standard was not applicable to the state in that year [no two-parent families in its caseload].)

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 15 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Appendix A. Services (HHS).

Appendix A. Supplementary Tables

Supplementary Tables Table A-1. Trends in the Cash Assistance Caseload: 1961 to 2016 TANF Child Recipients As a As a Percentage Percentage Families Recipients Adults Children of All of All Poor Year (millions) (millions) (millions) (millions) Children Children 1961 0.873 3.363 0.765 2.598 3.7% 14.3% 1962 0.939 3.704 0.860 2.844 4.0 15.7 1963 0.963 3.945 0.988 2.957 4.1 17.4 1964 1.010 4.195 1.050 3.145 4.3 18.6 1965 1.060 4.422 1.101 3.321 4.5 21.5 1966 1.096 4.546 1.112 3.434 4.7 26.5 1967 1.220 5.014 1.243 3.771 5.2 31.2 1968 1.410 5.702 1.429 4.274 5.9 37.8 1969 1.696 6.689 1.716 4.973 6.9 49.7 1970 2.207 8.462 2.250 6.212 8.6 57.7 1971 2.763 10.242 2.808 7.435 10.4 68.5 1972 3.048 10.944 3.039 7.905 11.1 74.9 1973 3.148 10.949 3.046 7.903 11.2 79.9 1974 3.219 10.847 3.041 7.805 11.2 75.0 1975 3.481 11.319 3.248 8.071 11.8 71.2 1976 3.565 11.284 3.302 7.982 11.8 76.2 1977 3.568 11.015 3.273 7.743 11.6 73.9 1978 3.517 10.551 3.188 7.363 11.2 72.8 1979 3.509 10.312 3.130 7.181 11.0 68.0 1980 3.712 10.774 3.355 7.419 11.5 63.2 1981 3.835 11.079 3.552 7.527 11.7 59.2 1982 3.542 10.358 3.455 6.903 10.8 49.6 1983 3.686 10.761 3.663 7.098 11.1 50.1 1984 3.714 10.831 3.687 7.144 11.2 52.3 1985 3.701 10.855 3.658 7.198 11.3 54.4 1986 3.763 11.038 3.704 7.334 11.5 56.0 1987 3.776 11.027 3.661 7.366 11.5 56.4 1988 3.749 10.915 3.586 7.329 11.4 57.8 1989 3.798 10.992 3.573 7.419 11.5 57.9 1990 4.057 11.695 3.784 7.911 12.1 57.9 1991 4.497 12.930 4.216 8.715 13.2 59.8 Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 16 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs TANF Child Recipients As a As a Percentage Percentage Families Recipients Adults Children of All of All Poor Year (millions) (millions) (millions) (millions) Children Children 1992 4.829 13.773 4.470 9.303 13.9 59.9 1993 5.012 14.205 4.631 9.574 14.1 60.0 1994 5.033 14.161 4.593 9.568 13.9 61.7 1995 4.791 13.418 4.284 9.135 13.1 61.5 1996 4.434 12.321 3.928 8.600 12.3 58.7 1997 3.740 10.376 NA NA 10.0 50.1 1998 3.050 8.347 NA NA 8.1 42.9 1999 2.578 6.924 NA NA 6.7 39.4 2000 2.303 6.143 1.655 4.479 6.1 38.1 2001 2.192 5.717 1.514 4.195 5.7 35.3 2002 2.187 5.609 1.479 4.119 5.6 33.6 2003 2.180 5.490 1.416 4.063 5.5 31.3 2004 2.153 5.342 1.362 3.969 5.4 30.2 2005 2.061 5.028 1.261 3.756 5.1 28.9 2006 1.906 4.582 1.120 3.453 4.6 26.7 2007 1.730 4.075 0.956 3.119 4.2 23.2 2008 1.701 4.005 0.946 3.059 4.1 21.6 2009 1.838 4.371 1.074 3.296 4.4 21.2 2010 1.919 4.598 1.163 3.435 4.6 20.9 2011 1.907 4.557 1.149 3.408 4.6 20.9 2012 1.852 4.402 1.104 3.298 4.4 20.3 2013 1.726 4.042 0.993 3.050 4.1 19.1 2014 1.650 3.957 1.007 2.950 4.0 18.9 2015 1.609 4.126 1.155 2.971 4.0 20.4 2016 1.488 3.785 1.044 2.741 3.7 20.6 Table A-1. Trends in the Cash Assistance Caseload: 1961 to 2016

 

 

 

 

 

TANF Child Recipients

Year

Families (millions)

Recipients (millions)

Adults (millions)

Children (millions)

As a Percentage of All Children

As a Percentage of All Poor Children

1961

0.873

3.363

0.765

2.598

3.7%

14.3%

1962

0.939

3.704

0.860

2.844

4.0

15.7

1963

0.963

3.945

0.988

2.957

4.1

17.4

1964

1.010

4.195

1.050

3.145

4.3

18.6

1965

1.060

4.422

1.101

3.321

4.5

21.5

1966

1.096

4.546

1.112

3.434

4.7

26.5

1967

1.220

5.014

1.243

3.771

5.2

31.2

1968

1.410

5.702

1.429

4.274

5.9

37.8

1969

1.696

6.689

1.716

4.973

6.9

49.7

1970

2.207

8.462

2.250

6.212

8.6

57.7

1971

2.763

10.242

2.808

7.435

10.4

68.5

1972

3.048

10.944

3.039

7.905

11.1

74.9

1973

3.148

10.949

3.046

7.903

11.2

79.9

1974

3.219

10.847

3.041

7.805

11.2

75.0

1975

3.481

11.319

3.248

8.071

11.8

71.2

1976

3.565

11.284

3.302

7.982

11.8

76.2

1977

3.568

11.015

3.273

7.743

11.6

73.9

1978

3.517

10.551

3.188

7.363

11.2

72.8

1979

3.509

10.312

3.130

7.181

11.0

68.0

1980

3.712

10.774

3.355

7.419

11.5

63.2

1981

3.835

11.079

3.552

7.527

11.7

59.2

1982

3.542

10.358

3.455

6.903

10.8

49.6

1983

3.686

10.761

3.663

7.098

11.1

50.1

1984

3.714

10.831

3.687

7.144

11.2

52.3

1985

3.701

10.855

3.658

7.198

11.3

54.4

1986

3.763

11.038

3.704

7.334

11.5

56.0

1987

3.776

11.027

3.661

7.366

11.5

56.4

1988

3.749

10.915

3.586

7.329

11.4

57.8

1989

3.798

10.992

3.573

7.419

11.5

57.9

1990

4.057

11.695

3.784

7.911

12.1

57.9

1991

4.497

12.930

4.216

8.715

13.2

59.8

1992

4.829

13.773

4.470

9.303

13.9

59.9

1993

5.012

14.205

4.631

9.574

14.1

60.0

1994

5.033

14.161

4.593

9.568

13.9

61.7

1995

4.791

13.418

4.284

9.135

13.1

61.5

1996

4.434

12.321

3.928

8.600

12.3

58.7

1997

3.740

10.376

NA

NA

10.0

50.1

1998

3.050

8.347

NA

NA

8.1

42.9

1999

2.578

6.924

NA

NA

6.7

39.4

2000

2.303

6.143

1.655

4.479

6.1

38.1

2001

2.192

5.717

1.514

4.195

5.7

35.3

2002

2.187

5.609

1.479

4.119

5.6

33.6

2003

2.180

5.490

1.416

4.063

5.5

31.3

2004

2.153

5.342

1.362

3.969

5.4

30.2

2005

2.061

5.028

1.261

3.756

5.1

28.9

2006

1.906

4.582

1.120

3.453

4.6

26.7

2007

1.730

4.075

0.956

3.119

4.2

23.2

2008

1.701

4.005

0.946

3.059

4.1

21.6

2009

1.838

4.371

1.074

3.296

4.4

21.2

2010

1.919

4.598

1.163

3.435

4.6

20.9

2011

1.907

4.557

1.149

3.408

4.6

20.9

2012

1.852

4.402

1.104

3.298

4.4

20.3

2013

1.726

4.042

0.993

3.050

4.1

19.1

2014

1.650

3.957

1.007

2.950

4.0

18.9

2015

1.609

4.126

1.155

2.971

4.0

20.4

2016

1.488

3.785

1.044

2.741

3.7

20.6

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Notes: NA denotes not available. During transition reporting from AFDC to TANF, caseload statistics on adult and child recipients were not collected. For those years, TANF children as a percent of all children and percent of all poor children were estimated by HHS and published in Welfare Indicators and Risk Factors, Annual Report to Congress, Table TANF 2, p. A-7. See http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/14/indicators/rpt_indicators.pdf.

. Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 17 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Table A-2. Families Receiving AFDC/TANF Assistance by Family Category, Selected Years, FY1988 to FY2016 AFDC TANF 1988 1994 2001 2006 2016 Number of Families Receiving Assistance Adult Recipient or Work-Eligible Parent/Not Working 3,136,566 3,798,997 992,445 825,490 484,959 Adult Recipient or Work-Eligible Parent/Working 243,573 378,620 420,794 259,001 465,199 Child-Only/SSI Parent 59,988 171,391 171,951 176,670 132,338 Child-Only/Noncitizen Parent 47,566 184,397 125,900 153,445 153,717 Child-Only/Other Ineligible Parent 51,764 146,227 91,447 158,113 4,775 Child-Only/Caretaker Relative 188,598 328,290 255,984 261,944 208,202 Child-Only/Unknown 19,897 38,341 143,834 122,738 74,410 Totals 3,747,952 5,046,263 2,202,356 1,957,402 1,523,600 Percentage of All Families Receiving Assistance Adult Recipient or Work-Eligible Parent/Not Working 83.7% 75.3% 45.1% 42.2% 31.8% Adult Recipient or Work-Eligible Parent/Working 6.5 7.5 19.1 13.2 30.5 Child-Only/SSI Parent 1.6 3.4 7.8 9.0 8.7 Child-Only/Noncitizen Parent 1.3 3.7 5.7 7.8 10.1 Child-Only/Other Ineligible Parent 1.4 2.9 4.2 8.1 0.3 Child-Only/Caretaker Relative 5.0 6.5 11.6 13.4 13.7 Child-Only/Unknown 0.5 0.8 6.5 6.3 4.9 Totals 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 Years, FY1988 to FY2016

 

AFDC

TANF

 

1988

1994

2001

2006

2016

Number of Families Receiving Assistance

Adult Recipient or Work-Eligible Parent/Not Working

3,136,566

3,798,997

992,445

825,490

484,959

Adult Recipient or Work-Eligible Parent/Working

243,573

378,620

420,794

259,001

465,199

Child-Only/SSI Parent

59,988

171,391

171,951

176,670

132,338

Child-Only/Noncitizen Parent

47,566

184,397

125,900

153,445

153,717

Child-Only/Other Ineligible Parent

51,764

146,227

91,447

158,113

4,775

Child-Only/Caretaker Relative

188,598

328,290

255,984

261,944

208,202

Child-Only/Unknown

19,897

38,341

143,834

122,738

74,410

Totals

3,747,952

5,046,263

2,202,356

1,957,402

1,523,600

Percentage of All Families Receiving Assistance

Adult Recipient or Work-Eligible Parent/Not Working

83.7%

75.3%

45.1%

42.2%

31.8%

Adult Recipient or Work-Eligible Parent/Working

6.5

7.5

19.1

13.2

30.5

Child-Only/SSI Parent

1.6

3.4

7.8

9.0

8.7

Child-Only/Noncitizen Parent

1.3

3.7

5.7

7.8

10.1

Child-Only/Other Ineligible Parent

1.4

2.9

4.2

8.1

0.3

Child-Only/Caretaker Relative

5.0

6.5

11.6

13.4

13.7

Child-Only/Unknown

0.5

0.8

6.5

6.3

4.9

Totals

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

100.0

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS) tabulations of the FY1988 and FY1994 AFDC Quality Control (QC) data files and the FY2001, FY2006, and FY2016 TANF National Data Files.

Notes: FY2001 through FY2016 data include families receiving assistance from separate state programs (SSPs) with expenditures countable toward the TANF maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement. For FY2016, TANF families with an adult recipient include those families with "work-eligible" nonrecipient parents. These include nonrecipient parents who have been time-limited or sanctioned off the rolls, but the family continues to receive a reduced benefit. For FY2001 and FY2006, such families cannot be identified and are classified as "“child-only” families. Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 18 Appendix B. child-only" families.

Appendix B. State Tables

State Tables Table B-1. Use of FY2017 TANF and MOE Funds by Category

(Dollars in millions) Work, Education, Emergency and Pre- Basic Administrative and Refundable Short-Term Child K/Head State Assistance Costs Training Child Care Tax Credit Benefits Welfare Start Other Totals Alabama $22.318 $26.710 $5.349 $5.679 $0.000 $36.833 $32.240 $41.648 $40.208 $210.984 Alaska 58.114 6.024 8.397 8.879 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 4.985 86.399 Arizona 37.732 43.656 1.443 0.000 0.000 10.369 147.105 0.000 119.624 359.929 Arkansas 5.948 18.829 13.920 8.032 0.000 5.368 0.231 105.196 4.811 162.335 California 2539.250 573.786 1620.135 615.700 0.000 237.887 0.000 0.000 1010.169 6596.928 Colorado 89.927 23.474 10.687 11.929 77.489 31.389 46.532 74.851 43.716 409.995 Connecticut 52.352 46.885 12.037 41.764 0.000 18.646 61.273 83.561 171.132 487.651 Delaware 17.421 4.736 7.063 67.490 0.000 2.724 0.000 0.000 15.160 114.595 District of 121.650 8.398 37.991 59.532 28.928 51.110 0.000 0.000 9.299 316.909 Columbia Florida 163.180 83.371 46.314 318.206 0.000 0.934 242.113 0.000 80.542 934.661 Georgia 86.540 20.570 11.265 22.183 0.000 0.085 257.554 0.000 90.828 489.024 Hawaii 39.957 16.540 52.170 4.972 0.000 0.425 1.294 0.000 84.876 200.233 Idaho 7.871 7.519 2.549 15.025 0.000 11.750 1.327 1.475 1.713 49.229 Illinois 43.419 0.184 18.685 596.459 47.254 0.916 221.080 58.586 79.217 1065.801 Indiana 16.714 23.452 182.300 112.404 28.904 0.546 15.520 0.000 131.405 511.244 Iowa 37.166 8.206 11.799 58.254 26.505 0.253 62.264 0.000 22.299 226.746 Kansas 13.920 14.568 1.594 6.673 48.347 0.071 22.980 14.437 50.495 173.086 Kentucky 170.762 14.601 29.380 38.815 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 15.474 269.032 CRS-19 Work, Education, Emergency and Pre- Basic Administrative and Refundable Short-Term Child K/Head State Assistance Costs Training Child Care Tax Credit Benefits Welfare Start Other Totals Louisiana 19.191 18.079 26.153 10.214 14.671 9.471 33.144 45.991 35.029 211.945 Maine 25.693 3.138 0.310 14.888 7.561 4.162 7.683 0.415 28.130 91.980 Maryland 115.787 31.019 31.450 8.397 152.582 26.370 20.035 55.962 55.808 497.410 Massachusetts 207.063 36.557 174.674 327.404 174.125 103.873 8.311 0.000 66.263 1,098.270 Michigan 133.132 53.908 5.417 26.586 45.440 66.929 81.665 186.193 649.995 1,249.266 Minnesota 98.144 46.341 57.751 173.904 160.076 27.478 0.000 5.700 19.524 588.918 Mississippi 8.585 4.572 33.655 27.660 0.000 0.000 12.859 0.000 43.971 131.302 Missouri 42.341 7.317 19.813 64.380 0.000 59.191 102.816 0.000 60.586 356.444 Montana 26.080 7.451 6.282 10.495 0.000 2.195 3.187 0.000 9.708 65.397 Nebraska 26.603 5.383 14.079 23.489 35.062 0.000 2.836 0.000 0.290 107.742 Nevada 39.108 9.559 1.362 17.887 0.000 0.000 0.000 0.000 34.465 102.382 New 18.987 11.041 5.403 15.118 0.000 2.213 3.662 0.000 17.081 73.505 Hampshire New Jersey 99.529 52.403 77.142 159.671 354.819 16.630 0.000 560.009 58.912 1,379.114 New Mexico 55.422 5.073 18.259 30.528 74.623 0.000 0.895 17.600 84.412 286.811 New York 1,455.625 389.219 147.068 355.940 1,410.980 219.797 290.559 467.685 361.475 5,098.348 North Carolina 41.570 43.356 4.785 194.900 0.000 5.077 125.782 115.709 44.926 576.104 North Dakota 4.070 4.422 4.070 1.102 0.000 0.019 17.270 0.000 1.274 32.226 Ohio 246.989 117.873 87.008 424.009 0.000 53.852 11.099 0.000 191.421 1,132.250 Oklahoma 42.603 11.274 10.776 48.668 0.000 3.536 15.999 12.079 29.282 174.217 Oregon 89.263 39.235 16.558 12.911 1.467 32.130 12.811 12.001 87.605 303.981 Pennsylvania 186.912 79.850 98.385 488.909 0.000 15.459 0.000 154.677 169.790 1,193.982 Rhode Island 24.435 5.434 10.869 41.679 19.129 26.237 27.334 0.800 10.171 166.088 CRS-20 Work, Education, Emergency and Pre- Basic Administrative and Refundable Short-Term Child K/Head State Assistance Costs Training Child Care Tax Credit Benefits Welfare Start Other Totals South Carolina 38.231 24.983 14.782 4.085 0.000 0.000 0.000 26.794 54.010 162.886 South Dakota 13.813 2.581 3.866 0.803 0.000 3.174 1.958 0.000 3.057 29.254 Tennessee 62.597 22.152 9.618 18.976 0.000 0.000 0.000 61.668 1.377 176.387 Texas 50.837 77.601 82.284 0.000 0.000 32.166 284.108 342.674 59.966 929.636 Utah 25.289 8.863 26.555 21.438 0.000 4.419 3.676 5.501 33.702 129.443 Vermont 15.230 6.631 2.696 30.996 19.013 1.360 5.508 0.000 15.842 97.276 Virginia 68.485 31.387 38.944 32.558 0.371 5.269 0.000 0.000 84.885 261.900 Washington 143.608 88.021 145.004 222.086 0.000 56.731 0.000 61.125 315.382 1,031.957 West Virginia 26.753 15.010 0.461 15.321 0.000 19.584 35.656 0.000 26.644 139.428 Wisconsin 85.911 24.187 27.486 208.262 69.700 38.553 4.484 0.000 122.860 581.443 Wyoming 6.706 6.481 3.508 1.554 0.000 3.399 0.000 1.016 4.952 27.615 Totals 7,068.836 2,231.910 3,279.551 5,026.817 2,797.046 1,248.578 2,224.848 2,513.354 4,758.747 31,149.686 (Dollars in millions)

State

Basic Assistance

Administrative Costs

Work, Education, and Training

Child Care

Refundable Tax Credit

Emergency and Short-Term Benefits

Child Welfare

Pre-K/Head Start

Other

Totals

Alabama

$22.318

$26.710

$5.349

$5.679

$0.000

$36.833

$32.240

$41.648

$40.208

$210.984

Alaska

58.114

6.024

8.397

8.879

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

4.985

86.399

Arizona

37.732

43.656

1.443

0.000

0.000

10.369

147.105

0.000

119.624

359.929

Arkansas

5.948

18.829

13.920

8.032

0.000

5.368

0.231

105.196

4.811

162.335

California

2539.250

573.786

1620.135

615.700

0.000

237.887

0.000

0.000

1010.169

6596.928

Colorado

89.927

23.474

10.687

11.929

77.489

31.389

46.532

74.851

43.716

409.995

Connecticut

52.352

46.885

12.037

41.764

0.000

18.646

61.273

83.561

171.132

487.651

Delaware

17.421

4.736

7.063

67.490

0.000

2.724

0.000

0.000

15.160

114.595

District of Columbia

121.650

8.398

37.991

59.532

28.928

51.110

0.000

0.000

9.299

316.909

Florida

163.180

83.371

46.314

318.206

0.000

0.934

242.113

0.000

80.542

934.661

Georgia

86.540

20.570

11.265

22.183

0.000

0.085

257.554

0.000

90.828

489.024

Hawaii

39.957

16.540

52.170

4.972

0.000

0.425

1.294

0.000

84.876

200.233

Idaho

7.871

7.519

2.549

15.025

0.000

11.750

1.327

1.475

1.713

49.229

Illinois

43.419

0.184

18.685

596.459

47.254

0.916

221.080

58.586

79.217

1065.801

Indiana

16.714

23.452

182.300

112.404

28.904

0.546

15.520

0.000

131.405

511.244

Iowa

37.166

8.206

11.799

58.254

26.505

0.253

62.264

0.000

22.299

226.746

Kansas

13.920

14.568

1.594

6.673

48.347

0.071

22.980

14.437

50.495

173.086

Kentucky

170.762

14.601

29.380

38.815

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

15.474

269.032

Louisiana

19.191

18.079

26.153

10.214

14.671

9.471

33.144

45.991

35.029

211.945

Maine

25.693

3.138

0.310

14.888

7.561

4.162

7.683

0.415

28.130

91.980

Maryland

115.787

31.019

31.450

8.397

152.582

26.370

20.035

55.962

55.808

497.410

Massachusetts

207.063

36.557

174.674

327.404

174.125

103.873

8.311

0.000

66.263

1,098.270

Michigan

133.132

53.908

5.417

26.586

45.440

66.929

81.665

186.193

649.995

1,249.266

Minnesota

98.144

46.341

57.751

173.904

160.076

27.478

0.000

5.700

19.524

588.918

Mississippi

8.585

4.572

33.655

27.660

0.000

0.000

12.859

0.000

43.971

131.302

Missouri

42.341

7.317

19.813

64.380

0.000

59.191

102.816

0.000

60.586

356.444

Montana

26.080

7.451

6.282

10.495

0.000

2.195

3.187

0.000

9.708

65.397

Nebraska

26.603

5.383

14.079

23.489

35.062

0.000

2.836

0.000

0.290

107.742

Nevada

39.108

9.559

1.362

17.887

0.000

0.000

0.000

0.000

34.465

102.382

New Hampshire

18.987

11.041

5.403

15.118

0.000

2.213

3.662

0.000

17.081

73.505

New Jersey

99.529

52.403

77.142

159.671

354.819

16.630

0.000

560.009

58.912

1,379.114

New Mexico

55.422

5.073

18.259

30.528

74.623

0.000

0.895

17.600

84.412

286.811

New York

1,455.625

389.219

147.068

355.940

1,410.980

219.797

290.559

467.685

361.475

5,098.348

North Carolina

41.570

43.356

4.785

194.900

0.000

5.077

125.782

115.709

44.926

576.104

North Dakota

4.070

4.422

4.070

1.102

0.000

0.019

17.270

0.000

1.274

32.226

Ohio

246.989

117.873

87.008

424.009

0.000

53.852

11.099

0.000

191.421

1,132.250

Oklahoma

42.603

11.274

10.776

48.668

0.000

3.536

15.999

12.079

29.282

174.217

Oregon

89.263

39.235

16.558

12.911

1.467

32.130

12.811

12.001

87.605

303.981

Pennsylvania

186.912

79.850

98.385

488.909

0.000

15.459

0.000

154.677

169.790

1,193.982

Rhode Island

24.435

5.434

10.869

41.679

19.129

26.237

27.334

0.800

10.171

166.088

South Carolina

38.231

24.983

14.782

4.085

0.000

0.000

0.000

26.794

54.010

162.886

South Dakota

13.813

2.581

3.866

0.803

0.000

3.174

1.958

0.000

3.057

29.254

Tennessee

62.597

22.152

9.618

18.976

0.000

0.000

0.000

61.668

1.377

176.387

Texas

50.837

77.601

82.284

0.000

0.000

32.166

284.108

342.674

59.966

929.636

Utah

25.289

8.863

26.555

21.438

0.000

4.419

3.676

5.501

33.702

129.443

Vermont

15.230

6.631

2.696

30.996

19.013

1.360

5.508

0.000

15.842

97.276

Virginia

68.485

31.387

38.944

32.558

0.371

5.269

0.000

0.000

84.885

261.900

Washington

143.608

88.021

145.004

222.086

0.000

56.731

0.000

61.125

315.382

1,031.957

West Virginia

26.753

15.010

0.461

15.321

0.000

19.584

35.656

0.000

26.644

139.428

Wisconsin

85.911

24.187

27.486

208.262

69.700

38.553

4.484

0.000

122.860

581.443

Wyoming

6.706

6.481

3.508

1.554

0.000

3.399

0.000

1.016

4.952

27.615

Totals

7,068.836

2,231.910

3,279.551

5,026.817

2,797.046

1,248.578

2,224.848

2,513.354

4,758.747

31,149.686

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). CRS-21 Table B-2. Use of FY2017 TANF and MOE Funds by Category as a Percentage of Total Federal TANF and State MOE Funding Emergency and Short- Pre- Basic Administrative Work, Education, Child Refundable Term Child K/Head State Assistance Costs and Training Care Tax Credit Benefits Welfare Start Other Totals Alabama 10.6% 12.7% 2.5% 2.7% 0.0% 17.5% 15.3% 19.7% 19.1% 100.0% Alaska 67.3 7.0 9.7 10.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.8 100.0 Arizona 10.5 12.1 0.4 0.0 0.0 2.9 40.9 0.0 33.2 100.0 Arkansas 3.7 11.6 8.6 4.9 0.0 3.3 0.1 64.8 3.0 100.0 California 38.5 8.7 24.6 9.3 0.0 3.6 0.0 0.0 15.3 100.0 Colorado 21.9 5.7 2.6 2.9 18.9 7.7 11.3 18.3 10.7 100.0 Connecticut 10.7 9.6 2.5 8.6 0.0 3.8 12.6 17.1 35.1 100.0 Delaware 15.2 4.1 6.2 58.9 0.0 2.4 0.0 0.0 13.2 100.0 District of 38.4 2.6 12.0 18.8 9.1 16.1 0.0 0.0 2.9 100.0 Columbia Florida 17.5 8.9 5.0 34.0 0.0 0.1 25.9 0.0 8.6 100.0 Georgia 17.7 4.2 2.3 4.5 0.0 0.0 52.7 0.0 18.6 100.0 Hawaii 20.0 8.3 26.1 2.5 0.0 0.2 0.6 0.0 42.4 100.0 Idaho 16.0 15.3 5.2 30.5 0.0 23.9 2.7 3.0 3.5 100.0 Illinois 4.1 0.0 1.8 56.0 4.4 0.1 20.7 5.5 7.4 100.0 Indiana 3.3 4.6 35.7 22.0 5.7 0.1 3.0 0.0 25.7 100.0 Iowa 16.4 3.6 5.2 25.7 11.7 0.1 27.5 0.0 9.8 100.0 Kansas 8.0 8.4 0.9 3.9 27.9 0.0 13.3 8.3 29.2 100.0 Kentucky 63.5 5.4 10.9 14.4 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 5.8 100.0 Louisiana 9.1 8.5 12.3 4.8 6.9 4.5 15.6 21.7 16.5 100.0 Maine 27.9 3.4 0.3 16.2 8.2 4.5 8.4 0.5 30.6 100.0 Maryland 23.3 6.2 6.3 1.7 30.7 5.3 4.0 11.3 11.2 100.0 CRS-22 Emergency and Short- Pre- Basic Administrative Work, Education, Child Refundable Term Child K/Head State Assistance Costs and Training Care Tax Credit Benefits Welfare Start Other Totals Massachusetts 18.9 3.3 15.9 29.8 15.9 9.5 0.8 0.0 6.0 100.0 Michigan 10.7 4.3 0.4 2.1 3.6 5.4 6.5 14.9 52.0 100.0 Minnesota 16.7 7.9 9.8 29.5 27.2 4.7 0.0 1.0 3.3 100.0 Mississippi 6.5 3.5 25.6 21.1 0.0 0.0 9.8 0.0 33.5 100.0 Missouri 11.9 2.1 5.6 18.1 0.0 16.6 28.8 0.0 17.0 100.0 Montana 39.9 11.4 9.6 16.0 0.0 3.4 4.9 0.0 14.8 100.0 Nebraska 24.7 5.0 13.1 21.8 32.5 0.0 2.6 0.0 0.3 100.0 Nevada 38.2 9.3 1.3 17.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 33.7 100.0 New Hampshire 25.8 15.0 7.4 20.6 0.0 3.0 5.0 0.0 23.2 100.0 New Jersey 7.2 3.8 5.6 11.6 25.7 1.2 0.0 40.6 4.3 100.0 New Mexico 19.3 1.8 6.4 10.6 26.0 0.0 0.3 6.1 29.4 100.0 New York 28.6 7.6 2.9 7.0 27.7 4.3 5.7 9.2 7.1 100.0 North Carolina 7.2 7.5 0.8 33.8 0.0 0.9 21.8 20.1 7.8 100.0 North Dakota 12.6 13.7 12.6 3.4 0.0 0.1 53.6 0.0 4.0 100.0 Ohio 21.8 10.4 7.7 37.4 0.0 4.8 1.0 0.0 16.9 100.0 Oklahoma 24.5 6.5 6.2 27.9 0.0 2.0 9.2 6.9 16.8 100.0 Oregon 29.4 12.9 5.4 4.2 0.5 10.6 4.2 3.9 28.8 100.0 Pennsylvania 15.7 6.7 8.2 40.9 0.0 1.3 0.0 13.0 14.2 100.0 Rhode Island 14.7 3.3 6.5 25.1 11.5 15.8 16.5 0.5 6.1 100.0 South Carolina 23.5 15.3 9.1 2.5 0.0 0.0 0.0 16.4 33.2 100.0 South Dakota 47.2 8.8 13.2 2.7 0.0 10.9 6.7 0.0 10.5 100.0 Tennessee 35.5 12.6 5.5 10.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 35.0 0.8 100.0 Texas 5.5 8.3 8.9 0.0 0.0 3.5 30.6 36.9 6.5 100.0 CRS-23 Emergency and Short- Pre- Basic Administrative Work, Education, Child Refundable Term Child K/Head State Assistance Costs and Training Care Tax Credit Benefits Welfare Start Other Totals Utah 19.5 6.8 20.5 16.6 0.0 3.4 2.8 4.3 26.0 100.0 Vermont 15.7 6.8 2.8 31.9 19.5 1.4 5.7 0.0 16.3 100.0 Virginia 26.1 12.0 14.9 12.4 0.1 2.0 0.0 0.0 32.4 100.0 Washington 13.9 8.5 14.1 21.5 0.0 5.5 0.0 5.9 30.6 100.0 West Virginia 19.2 10.8 0.3 11.0 0.0 14.0 25.6 0.0 19.1 100.0 Wisconsin 14.8 4.2 4.7 35.8 12.0 6.6 0.8 0.0 21.1 100.0 Wyoming 24.3 23.5 12.7 5.6 0.0 12.3 0.0 3.7 17.9 100.0 Totals 22.7 7.2 10.5 16.1 9.0 4.0 7.1 8.1 15.3 100.0 Table B-2. Use of FY2017 TANF and MOE Funds by Category as a Percentage of Total Federal TANF and State MOE Funding

State

Basic Assistance

Administrative Costs

Work, Education, and Training

Child Care

Refundable Tax Credit

Emergency and Short-Term Benefits

Child Welfare

Pre-K/Head Start

Other

Totals

Alabama

10.6%

12.7%

2.5%

2.7%

0.0%

17.5%

15.3%

19.7%

19.1%

100.0%

Alaska

67.3

7.0

9.7

10.3

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

5.8

100.0

Arizona

10.5

12.1

0.4

0.0

0.0

2.9

40.9

0.0

33.2

100.0

Arkansas

3.7

11.6

8.6

4.9

0.0

3.3

0.1

64.8

3.0

100.0

California

38.5

8.7

24.6

9.3

0.0

3.6

0.0

0.0

15.3

100.0

Colorado

21.9

5.7

2.6

2.9

18.9

7.7

11.3

18.3

10.7

100.0

Connecticut

10.7

9.6

2.5

8.6

0.0

3.8

12.6

17.1

35.1

100.0

Delaware

15.2

4.1

6.2

58.9

0.0

2.4

0.0

0.0

13.2

100.0

District of Columbia

38.4

2.6

12.0

18.8

9.1

16.1

0.0

0.0

2.9

100.0

Florida

17.5

8.9

5.0

34.0

0.0

0.1

25.9

0.0

8.6

100.0

Georgia

17.7

4.2

2.3

4.5

0.0

0.0

52.7

0.0

18.6

100.0

Hawaii

20.0

8.3

26.1

2.5

0.0

0.2

0.6

0.0

42.4

100.0

Idaho

16.0

15.3

5.2

30.5

0.0

23.9

2.7

3.0

3.5

100.0

Illinois

4.1

0.0

1.8

56.0

4.4

0.1

20.7

5.5

7.4

100.0

Indiana

3.3

4.6

35.7

22.0

5.7

0.1

3.0

0.0

25.7

100.0

Iowa

16.4

3.6

5.2

25.7

11.7

0.1

27.5

0.0

9.8

100.0

Kansas

8.0

8.4

0.9

3.9

27.9

0.0

13.3

8.3

29.2

100.0

Kentucky

63.5

5.4

10.9

14.4

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

5.8

100.0

Louisiana

9.1

8.5

12.3

4.8

6.9

4.5

15.6

21.7

16.5

100.0

Maine

27.9

3.4

0.3

16.2

8.2

4.5

8.4

0.5

30.6

100.0

Maryland

23.3

6.2

6.3

1.7

30.7

5.3

4.0

11.3

11.2

100.0

Massachusetts

18.9

3.3

15.9

29.8

15.9

9.5

0.8

0.0

6.0

100.0

Michigan

10.7

4.3

0.4

2.1

3.6

5.4

6.5

14.9

52.0

100.0

Minnesota

16.7

7.9

9.8

29.5

27.2

4.7

0.0

1.0

3.3

100.0

Mississippi

6.5

3.5

25.6

21.1

0.0

0.0

9.8

0.0

33.5

100.0

Missouri

11.9

2.1

5.6

18.1

0.0

16.6

28.8

0.0

17.0

100.0

Montana

39.9

11.4

9.6

16.0

0.0

3.4

4.9

0.0

14.8

100.0

Nebraska

24.7

5.0

13.1

21.8

32.5

0.0

2.6

0.0

0.3

100.0

Nevada

38.2

9.3

1.3

17.5

0.0

0.0

0.0

0.0

33.7

100.0

New Hampshire

25.8

15.0

7.4

20.6

0.0

3.0

5.0

0.0

23.2

100.0

New Jersey

7.2

3.8

5.6

11.6

25.7

1.2

0.0

40.6

4.3

100.0

New Mexico

19.3

1.8

6.4

10.6

26.0

0.0

0.3

6.1

29.4

100.0

New York

28.6

7.6

2.9

7.0

27.7

4.3

5.7

9.2

7.1

100.0

North Carolina

7.2

7.5

0.8

33.8

0.0

0.9

21.8

20.1

7.8

100.0

North Dakota

12.6

13.7

12.6

3.4

0.0

0.1

53.6

0.0

4.0

100.0

Ohio

21.8

10.4

7.7

37.4

0.0

4.8

1.0

0.0

16.9

100.0

Oklahoma

24.5

6.5

6.2

27.9

0.0

2.0

9.2

6.9

16.8

100.0

Oregon

29.4

12.9

5.4

4.2

0.5

10.6

4.2

3.9

28.8

100.0

Pennsylvania

15.7

6.7

8.2

40.9

0.0

1.3

0.0

13.0

14.2

100.0

Rhode Island

14.7

3.3

6.5

25.1

11.5

15.8

16.5

0.5

6.1

100.0

South Carolina

23.5

15.3

9.1

2.5

0.0

0.0

0.0

16.4

33.2

100.0

South Dakota

47.2

8.8

13.2

2.7

0.0

10.9

6.7

0.0

10.5

100.0

Tennessee

35.5

12.6

5.5

10.8

0.0

0.0

0.0

35.0

0.8

100.0

Texas

5.5

8.3

8.9

0.0

0.0

3.5

30.6

36.9

6.5

100.0

Utah

19.5

6.8

20.5

16.6

0.0

3.4

2.8

4.3

26.0

100.0

Vermont

15.7

6.8

2.8

31.9

19.5

1.4

5.7

0.0

16.3

100.0

Virginia

26.1

12.0

14.9

12.4

0.1

2.0

0.0

0.0

32.4

100.0

Washington

13.9

8.5

14.1

21.5

0.0

5.5

0.0

5.9

30.6

100.0

West Virginia

19.2

10.8

0.3

11.0

0.0

14.0

25.6

0.0

19.1

100.0

Wisconsin

14.8

4.2

4.7

35.8

12.0

6.6

0.8

0.0

21.1

100.0

Wyoming

24.3

23.5

12.7

5.6

0.0

12.3

0.0

3.7

17.9

100.0

Totals

22.7

7.2

10.5

16.1

9.0

4.0

7.1

8.1

15.3

100.0

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Notes: Detail may not add to totals because of rounding.

CRS-24 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Table B-3. Unspent TANF Funds at the End of FY2017

(September 30, 2017, in millions of dollars) Obligated but Not Unobligated State Spent Balances Alabama $19.0 $55.2 Alaska 48.1 0.0 Arizona 0.0 30.7 Arkansas 32.7 31.0 California 307.2 0.0 Colorado 0.0 96.4 Connecticut 0.0 0.8 Delaware 0.6 7.8 District of 0.2 32.8 Columbia Florida 17.1 0.0 Georgia 23.8 40.9 Hawaii 15.6 225.8 Idaho 0.0 20.0 Illinois 0.0 0.0 Indiana 46.3 109.5 Iowa 3.8 0.5 Kansas 0.4 67.9 Kentucky 0.0 66.5 Louisiana 7.9 0.0 Maine 5.6 141.1 Maryland 0.0 0.0 Massachusetts 0.0 0.0 Michigan 0.0 116.8 Minnesota 0.0 59.3 Mississippi 0.0 23.6 Missouri 0.0 0.3 Montana 10.3 13.1 Nebraska 0.0 64.2 Nevada 23.7 0.0 New 0.0 57.5 Hampshire New Jersey 22.7 35.0 New Mexico 52.9 38.3 Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 25 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Obligated but Not Unobligated State Spent Balances New York 121.4 519.5 North 41.7 0.0 Carolina North 0.0 9.7 Dakota Ohio 462.7 29.4 Oklahoma 76.3 0.0 Oregon 0.0 50.3 Pennsylvania 63.3 427.0 Rhode Island 0.0 11.1 South 0.0 0.0 Carolina South Dakota 0.0 22.5 Tennessee 0.0 517.8 Texas 190.0 1.3 Utah 0.0 79.2 Vermont 0.0 0.0 Virginia 8.0 122.0 Washington 0.0 65.1 West Virginia 0.0 57.4 Wisconsin 167.1 33.2 Wyoming 2.6 22.8 Total 1,771.0 3,303.1 (September 30, 2017, in millions of dollars)

State

Obligated but Not Spent

Unobligated Balances

Alabama

$19.0

$55.2

Alaska

48.1

0.0

Arizona

0.0

30.7

Arkansas

32.7

31.0

California

307.2

0.0

Colorado

0.0

96.4

Connecticut

0.0

0.8

Delaware

0.6

7.8

District of Columbia

0.2

32.8

Florida

17.1

0.0

Georgia

23.8

40.9

Hawaii

15.6

225.8

Idaho

0.0

20.0

Illinois

0.0

0.0

Indiana

46.3

109.5

Iowa

3.8

0.5

Kansas

0.4

67.9

Kentucky

0.0

66.5

Louisiana

7.9

0.0

Maine

5.6

141.1

Maryland

0.0

0.0

Massachusetts

0.0

0.0

Michigan

0.0

116.8

Minnesota

0.0

59.3

Mississippi

0.0

23.6

Missouri

0.0

0.3

Montana

10.3

13.1

Nebraska

0.0

64.2

Nevada

23.7

0.0

New Hampshire

0.0

57.5

New Jersey

22.7

35.0

New Mexico

52.9

38.3

New York

121.4

519.5

North Carolina

41.7

0.0

North Dakota

0.0

9.7

Ohio

462.7

29.4

Oklahoma

76.3

0.0

Oregon

0.0

50.3

Pennsylvania

63.3

427.0

Rhode Island

0.0

11.1

South Carolina

0.0

0.0

South Dakota

0.0

22.5

Tennessee

0.0

517.8

Texas

190.0

1.3

Utah

0.0

79.2

Vermont

0.0

0.0

Virginia

8.0

122.0

Washington

0.0

65.1

West Virginia

0.0

57.4

Wisconsin

167.1

33.2

Wyoming

2.6

22.8

Total

1,771.0

3,303.1

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Table B-4. Number of Families, Recipients, Children, and Adults Receiving TANF Assistance by State, September 2017 Recipients State Families Total Recipients Children Adults Alabama 9,326 21,188 17,042 4,146 Alaska 3,093 8,388 5,726 2,662 Arizona 8,222 17,255 13,693 3,562 Arkansas 3,072 6,879 5,215 1,664 California 511,311 1,485,521 1,046,866 438,655 Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 26 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Recipients State Families Total Recipients Children Adults Colorado 16,646 43,906 31,116 12,790 Connecticut 9,798 19,315 14,062 5,253 Delaware 3,873 10,760 6,486 4,274 District of Columbia 3,124 7,678 5,965 1,713 Florida 45,027 72,840 61,895 10,945 Georgia 12,245 14,818 11,840 2,978 Guam 541 1,161 967 194 Hawaii 4,937 13,577 9,549 4,028 Idaho 1,928 2,833 2,783 50 Illinois 12,613 27,018 23,723 3,295 Indiana 6,963 14,008 12,684 1,324 Iowa 10,694 26,261 19,568 6,693 Kansas 4,134 9,420 7,185 2,235 Kentucky 20,785 55,729 34,218 21,511 Louisiana 5,521 13,515 11,243 2,272 Maine 18,452 60,391 36,750 23,641 Maryland 18,611 46,232 34,308 11,924 Massachusetts 51,196 125,310 86,051 39,259 Michigan 13,846 33,706 27,370 6,336 Minnesota 18,519 44,087 34,171 9,916 Mississippi 4,891 10,210 8,037 2,173 Missouri 12,452 28,598 21,698 6,900 Montana 4,517 11,421 8,342 3,079 Nebraska 5,262 12,984 10,682 2,302 Nevada 9,828 25,330 18,852 6,478 New Hampshire 4,884 11,811 8,440 3,371 New Jersey 12,640 28,603 21,970 6,633 New Mexico 11,066 28,047 21,081 6,966 New York 132,675 339,719 239,780 99,939 North Carolina 11,144 18,122 17,040 1,082 North Dakota 1,105 2,777 2,333 444 Ohio 54,161 99,843 89,070 10,773 Oklahoma 6,797 15,246 13,089 2,157 Oregon 43,754 130,642 83,570 47,072 Pennsylvania 50,615 125,892 92,886 33,006 Puerto Rico NA NA NA NA Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 27 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Recipients State Families Total Recipients Children Adults Rhode Island 4,468 10,517 7,760 2,757 South Carolina 8,672 18,924 15,929 2,995 South Dakota 3,030 6,011 5,515 496 Tennessee 24,562 54,192 42,509 11,683 Texas 28,839 63,920 55,448 8,472 Utah 4,013 9,760 7,177 2,583 Vermont 3,371 7,858 5,528 2,330 Virgin Islands 197 603 404 199 Virginia 38,253 37,157 28,283 8,874 Washington 35,284 79,332 54,059 25,273 West Virginia 7,113 14,353 11,580 2,773 Wisconsin 16,318 35,263 29,160 6,103 Wyoming 513 1,155 886 269 Totals 1,354,901 3,410,086 2,481,584 928,502 Assistance by State, September 2017

 

 

 

Recipients

State

Families

Total Recipients

Children

Adults

Alabama

9,326

21,188

17,042

4,146

Alaska

3,093

8,388

5,726

2,662

Arizona

8,222

17,255

13,693

3,562

Arkansas

3,072

6,879

5,215

1,664

California

511,311

1,485,521

1,046,866

438,655

Colorado

16,646

43,906

31,116

12,790

Connecticut

9,798

19,315

14,062

5,253

Delaware

3,873

10,760

6,486

4,274

District of Columbia

3,124

7,678

5,965

1,713

Florida

45,027

72,840

61,895

10,945

Georgia

12,245

14,818

11,840

2,978

Guam

541

1,161

967

194

Hawaii

4,937

13,577

9,549

4,028

Idaho

1,928

2,833

2,783

50

Illinois

12,613

27,018

23,723

3,295

Indiana

6,963

14,008

12,684

1,324

Iowa

10,694

26,261

19,568

6,693

Kansas

4,134

9,420

7,185

2,235

Kentucky

20,785

55,729

34,218

21,511

Louisiana

5,521

13,515

11,243

2,272

Maine

18,452

60,391

36,750

23,641

Maryland

18,611

46,232

34,308

11,924

Massachusetts

51,196

125,310

86,051

39,259

Michigan

13,846

33,706

27,370

6,336

Minnesota

18,519

44,087

34,171

9,916

Mississippi

4,891

10,210

8,037

2,173

Missouri

12,452

28,598

21,698

6,900

Montana

4,517

11,421

8,342

3,079

Nebraska

5,262

12,984

10,682

2,302

Nevada

9,828

25,330

18,852

6,478

New Hampshire

4,884

11,811

8,440

3,371

New Jersey

12,640

28,603

21,970

6,633

New Mexico

11,066

28,047

21,081

6,966

New York

132,675

339,719

239,780

99,939

North Carolina

11,144

18,122

17,040

1,082

North Dakota

1,105

2,777

2,333

444

Ohio

54,161

99,843

89,070

10,773

Oklahoma

6,797

15,246

13,089

2,157

Oregon

43,754

130,642

83,570

47,072

Pennsylvania

50,615

125,892

92,886

33,006

Puerto Rico

NA

NA

NA

NA

Rhode Island

4,468

10,517

7,760

2,757

South Carolina

8,672

18,924

15,929

2,995

South Dakota

3,030

6,011

5,515

496

Tennessee

24,562

54,192

42,509

11,683

Texas

28,839

63,920

55,448

8,472

Utah

4,013

9,760

7,177

2,583

Vermont

3,371

7,858

5,528

2,330

Virgin Islands

197

603

404

199

Virginia

38,253

37,157

28,283

8,874

Washington

35,284

79,332

54,059

25,273

West Virginia

7,113

14,353

11,580

2,773

Wisconsin

16,318

35,263

29,160

6,103

Wyoming

513

1,155

886

269

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

1,354,901

3,410,086

2,481,584

928,502

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Notes: Data for Puerto Rico are unavailable for September 2017. TANF cash assistance caseload includes families receiving assistance in state-funded programs counted toward the TANF maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement. requirement.

Table B-5. Number of Needy Families with Children Receiving Assistance by  State, September of Selected Years % Change to 2017 from ... State 1994 2007 2010 2016 2017 1994 2010 2016 Alabama 48,752 18,104 23,052 10,564 9,326 -80.9 -59.5 -11.7 Alaska 12,450 3,127 3,507 3,097 3,093 -75.2 -11.8 -0.1 Arizona 72,728 36,934 18,774 9,107 8,222 -88.7 -56.2 -9.7 Arkansas 25,298 8,472 8,469 3,478 3,072 -87.9 -63.7 -11.7 California 916,795 470,502 590,121 564,179 511,311 -44.2 -13.4 -9.4 Colorado 40,544 9,355 11,707 16,814 16,646 -58.9 42.2 -1.0 Connecticut 60,336 20,322 16,848 10,683 9,798 -83.8 -41.8 -8.3 Delaware 11,408 4,034 5,508 4,216 3,873 -66.1 -29.7 -8.1 District of Columbia 27,320 6,231 8,547 4,432 3,124 -88.6 -63.4 -29.5 Florida 239,702 46,864 57,742 47,034 45,027 -81.2 -22.0 -4.3 Georgia 141,596 23,600 20,133 12,570 12,245 -91.4 -39.2 -2.6 Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 28 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs % Change to 2017 from ... State 1994 2007 2010 2016 2017 1994 2010 2016 Guam 2,089 936 1,276 764 541 -74.1 -57.6 -29.2 Hawaii 21,312 6,426 9,953 5,901 4,937 -76.8 -50.4 -16.3 Idaho 8,635 1,506 1,820 1,957 1,928 -77.7 5.9 -1.5 Illinois 241,290 26,222 24,337 14,205 12,613 -94.8 -48.2 -11.2 Indiana 72,654 42,058 36,062 7,836 6,963 -90.4 -80.7 -11.1 Iowa 39,137 19,872 21,548 11,777 10,694 -72.7 -50.4 -9.2 Kansas 29,524 13,892 15,554 5,262 4,134 -86.0 -73.4 -21.4 Kentucky 78,720 29,492 30,875 23,242 20,785 -73.6 -32.7 -10.6 Louisiana 84,162 11,023 10,849 5,772 5,521 -93.4 -49.1 -4.3 Maine 22,322 12,352 15,377 19,951 18,452 -17.3 20.0 -7.5 Maryland 80,266 19,630 25,110 20,592 18,611 -76.8 -25.9 -9.6 Massachusetts 108,985 46,483 49,836 53,453 51,196 -53.0 2.7 -4.2 Michigan 215,873 71,892 67,241 15,417 13,846 -93.6 -79.4 -10.2 Minnesota 59,987 26,642 24,574 19,256 18,519 -69.1 -24.6 -3.8 Mississippi 55,232 11,658 11,895 5,759 4,891 -91.1 -58.9 -15.1 Missouri 91,875 39,544 39,262 14,904 12,452 -86.4 -68.3 -16.5 Montana 11,416 3,217 3,686 3,388 4,517 -60.4 22.5 33.3 Nebraska 15,435 6,913 8,702 5,366 5,262 -65.9 -39.5 -1.9 Nevada 14,620 7,411 10,612 9,525 9,828 -32.8 -7.4 3.2 New Hampshire 11,398 4,733 6,175 4,826 4,884 -57.2 -20.9 1.2 New Jersey 122,376 34,123 34,516 15,941 12,640 -89.7 -63.4 -20.7 New Mexico 34,535 12,503 21,223 11,821 11,066 -68.0 -47.9 -6.4 New York 461,751 156,420 154,936 141,428 132,675 -71.3 -14.4 -6.2 North Carolina 129,258 24,537 23,705 16,859 11,144 -91.4 -53.0 -33.9 North Dakota 5,410 2,156 1,996 1,124 1,105 -79.6 -44.6 -1.7 Ohio 244,099 78,129 105,140 57,184 54,161 -77.8 -48.5 -5.3 Oklahoma 46,572 9,002 9,388 7,147 6,797 -85.4 -27.6 -4.9 Oregon 40,504 18,645 31,751 49,132 43,754 8.0 37.8 -10.9 Pennsylvania 212,457 60,167 53,274 53,678 50,615 -76.2 -5.0 -5.7 Puerto Rico 57,337 12,617 13,371 8,051 NA NA NA NA Rhode Island 22,776 8,107 6,758 3,794 4,468 -80.4 -33.9 17.8 South Carolina 50,430 14,936 19,347 9,396 8,672 -82.8 -55.2 -7.7 South Dakota 6,601 2,842 3,291 3,100 3,030 -54.1 -7.9 -2.3 Tennessee 109,678 58,244 62,714 29,123 24,562 -77.6 -60.8 -15.7 Texas 284,973 59,972 51,931 30,074 28,839 -89.9 -44.5 -4.1 Utah 17,505 5,069 6,646 3,961 4,013 -77.1 -39.6 1.3 Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 29 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs % Change to 2017 from ... State 1994 2007 2010 2016 2017 1994 2010 2016 Vermont 9,761 4,503 3,256 3,359 3,371 -65.5 3.5 0.4 Virgin Islands 1,146 395 537 251 197 -82.8 -63.3 -21.5 Virginia 74,257 31,563 37,448 22,345 38,253 -48.5 2.1 71.2 Washington 101,542 49,076 70,200 39,709 35,284 -65.3 -49.7 -11.1 West Virginia 40,279 9,699 10,496 7,362 7,113 -82.3 -32.2 -3.4 Wisconsin 75,086 17,824 24,746 17,520 16,318 -78.3 -34.1 -6.9 Wyoming 5,351 255 318 485 513 -90.4 61.3 5.8 Totals 5,015,545 1,720,231 1,926,140 1,468,171 1,354,901 -72.7 -29.2 -7.20619 September of Selected Years

 

 

 

 

 

 

% Change to 2017 from ...

State

1994

2007

2010

2016

2017

1994

2010

2016

Alabama

48,752

18,104

23,052

10,564

9,326

-80.9

-59.5

-11.7

Alaska

12,450

3,127

3,507

3,097

3,093

-75.2

-11.8

-0.1

Arizona

72,728

36,934

18,774

9,107

8,222

-88.7

-56.2

-9.7

Arkansas

25,298

8,472

8,469

3,478

3,072

-87.9

-63.7

-11.7

California

916,795

470,502

590,121

564,179

511,311

-44.2

-13.4

-9.4

Colorado

40,544

9,355

11,707

16,814

16,646

-58.9

42.2

-1.0

Connecticut

60,336

20,322

16,848

10,683

9,798

-83.8

-41.8

-8.3

Delaware

11,408

4,034

5,508

4,216

3,873

-66.1

-29.7

-8.1

District of Columbia

27,320

6,231

8,547

4,432

3,124

-88.6

-63.4

-29.5

Florida

239,702

46,864

57,742

47,034

45,027

-81.2

-22.0

-4.3

Georgia

141,596

23,600

20,133

12,570

12,245

-91.4

-39.2

-2.6

Guam

2,089

936

1,276

764

541

-74.1

-57.6

-29.2

Hawaii

21,312

6,426

9,953

5,901

4,937

-76.8

-50.4

-16.3

Idaho

8,635

1,506

1,820

1,957

1,928

-77.7

5.9

-1.5

Illinois

241,290

26,222

24,337

14,205

12,613

-94.8

-48.2

-11.2

Indiana

72,654

42,058

36,062

7,836

6,963

-90.4

-80.7

-11.1

Iowa

39,137

19,872

21,548

11,777

10,694

-72.7

-50.4

-9.2

Kansas

29,524

13,892

15,554

5,262

4,134

-86.0

-73.4

-21.4

Kentucky

78,720

29,492

30,875

23,242

20,785

-73.6

-32.7

-10.6

Louisiana

84,162

11,023

10,849

5,772

5,521

-93.4

-49.1

-4.3

Maine

22,322

12,352

15,377

19,951

18,452

-17.3

20.0

-7.5

Maryland

80,266

19,630

25,110

20,592

18,611

-76.8

-25.9

-9.6

Massachusetts

108,985

46,483

49,836

53,453

51,196

-53.0

2.7

-4.2

Michigan

215,873

71,892

67,241

15,417

13,846

-93.6

-79.4

-10.2

Minnesota

59,987

26,642

24,574

19,256

18,519

-69.1

-24.6

-3.8

Mississippi

55,232

11,658

11,895

5,759

4,891

-91.1

-58.9

-15.1

Missouri

91,875

39,544

39,262

14,904

12,452

-86.4

-68.3

-16.5

Montana

11,416

3,217

3,686

3,388

4,517

-60.4

22.5

33.3

Nebraska

15,435

6,913

8,702

5,366

5,262

-65.9

-39.5

-1.9

Nevada

14,620

7,411

10,612

9,525

9,828

-32.8

-7.4

3.2

New Hampshire

11,398

4,733

6,175

4,826

4,884

-57.2

-20.9

1.2

New Jersey

122,376

34,123

34,516

15,941

12,640

-89.7

-63.4

-20.7

New Mexico

34,535

12,503

21,223

11,821

11,066

-68.0

-47.9

-6.4

New York

461,751

156,420

154,936

141,428

132,675

-71.3

-14.4

-6.2

North Carolina

129,258

24,537

23,705

16,859

11,144

-91.4

-53.0

-33.9

North Dakota

5,410

2,156

1,996

1,124

1,105

-79.6

-44.6

-1.7

Ohio

244,099

78,129

105,140

57,184

54,161

-77.8

-48.5

-5.3

Oklahoma

46,572

9,002

9,388

7,147

6,797

-85.4

-27.6

-4.9

Oregon

40,504

18,645

31,751

49,132

43,754

8.0

37.8

-10.9

Pennsylvania

212,457

60,167

53,274

53,678

50,615

-76.2

-5.0

-5.7

Puerto Rico

57,337

12,617

13,371

8,051

NA

NA

NA

NA

Rhode Island

22,776

8,107

6,758

3,794

4,468

-80.4

-33.9

17.8

South Carolina

50,430

14,936

19,347

9,396

8,672

-82.8

-55.2

-7.7

South Dakota

6,601

2,842

3,291

3,100

3,030

-54.1

-7.9

-2.3

Tennessee

109,678

58,244

62,714

29,123

24,562

-77.6

-60.8

-15.7

Texas

284,973

59,972

51,931

30,074

28,839

-89.9

-44.5

-4.1

Utah

17,505

5,069

6,646

3,961

4,013

-77.1

-39.6

1.3

Vermont

9,761

4,503

3,256

3,359

3,371

-65.5

3.5

0.4

Virgin Islands

1,146

395

537

251

197

-82.8

-63.3

-21.5

Virginia

74,257

31,563

37,448

22,345

38,253

-48.5

2.1

71.2

Washington

101,542

49,076

70,200

39,709

35,284

-65.3

-49.7

-11.1

West Virginia

40,279

9,699

10,496

7,362

7,113

-82.3

-32.2

-3.4

Wisconsin

75,086

17,824

24,746

17,520

16,318

-78.3

-34.1

-6.9

Wyoming

5,351

255

318

485

513

-90.4

61.3

5.8

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

5,015,545

1,720,231

1,926,140

1,468,171

1,354,901

-72.7

-29.2

-7.20619

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Notes: Data for Puerto Rico are unavailable for September 2017. Total change excludes data for Puerto Rico for all years. Caseload data for 2000 through 2017 include those families in Separate State Programs with expenditures countable toward the TANF maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement.

Table B-6. TANF Assistance Families by Number of Parents by State: September 2017 Percentage of All Families Receiving Assistance Single Two No Single Two No State Parent Parent Parent Totals Parent Parent Parent Totals Alabama 4,013 51 5,262 9,326 43.0 0.5 56.4 100.0 Alaska 1,891 347 855 3,093 61.1 11.2 27.6 100.0 Arizona 3,104 183 4,935 8,222 37.8 2.2 60.0 100.0 Arkansas 1,543 65 1,464 3,072 50.2 2.1 47.7 100.0 California 276,833 93,664 140,814 511,311 54.1 18.3 27.5 100.0 Colorado 9,702 1,132 5,812 16,646 58.3 6.8 34.9 100.0 Connecticut 3,308 2 6,488 9,798 33.8 0.0 66.2 100.0 Delaware 1,031 12 2,830 3,873 26.6 0.3 73.1 100.0 District of 1,713 0 1,411 3,124 54.8 0.0 45.2 100.0 Columbia Florida 6,694 374 37,959 45,027 14.9 0.8 84.3 100.0 Georgia 3,504 93 8,648 12,245 28.6 0.8 70.6 100.0 Guam 119 27 395 541 22.0 5.0 73.0 100.0 Hawaii 2,958 779 1,200 4,937 59.9 15.8 24.3 100.0 Idaho 50 0 1,878 1,928 2.6 0.0 97.4 100.0 Illinois 2,688 0 9,925 12,613 21.3 0.0 78.7 100.0 Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 30 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Percentage of All Families Receiving Assistance Single Two No Single Two No State Parent Parent Parent Totals Parent Parent Parent Totals Indiana 1,621 61 5,281 6,963 23.3 0.9 75.8 100.0 Iowa 5,456 562 4,676 10,694 51.0 5.3 43.7 100.0 Kansas 1,666 262 2,206 4,134 40.3 6.3 53.4 100.0 Kentucky 5,140 504 15,141 20,785 24.7 2.4 72.8 100.0 Louisiana 2,257 0 3,264 5,521 40.9 0.0 59.1 100.0 Maine 9,841 6,929 1,682 18,452 53.3 37.6 9.1 100.0 Maryland 11,504 368 6,739 18,611 61.8 2.0 36.2 100.0 Massachusetts 34,382 3,282 13,532 51,196 67.2 6.4 26.4 100.0 Michigan 5,417 0 8,429 13,846 39.1 0.0 60.9 100.0 Minnesota 10,006 0 8,513 18,519 54.0 0.0 46.0 100.0 Mississippi 1,930 0 2,961 4,891 39.5 0.0 60.5 100.0 Missouri 7,508 0 4,944 12,452 60.3 0.0 39.7 100.0 Montana 2,386 506 1,625 4,517 52.8 11.2 36.0 100.0 Nebraska 2,422 0 2,840 5,262 46.0 0.0 54.0 100.0 Nevada 4,620 852 4,356 9,828 47.0 8.7 44.3 100.0 New 3,262 25 1,597 4,884 66.8 0.5 32.7 100.0 Hampshire New Jersey 7,352 0 5,288 12,640 58.2 0.0 41.8 100.0 New Mexico 5,308 829 4,929 11,066 48.0 7.5 44.5 100.0 New York 85,882 2,815 43,978 132,675 64.7 2.1 33.1 100.0 North 1,001 38 10,105 11,144 9.0 0.3 90.7 100.0 Carolina North 444 0 661 1,105 40.2 0.0 59.8 100.0 Dakota Ohio 8,976 695 44,490 54,161 16.6 1.3 82.1 100.0 Oklahoma 2,157 0 4,640 6,797 31.7 0.0 68.3 100.0 Oregon 29,730 7,414 6,610 43,754 67.9 16.9 15.1 100.0 Pennsylvania 32,023 618 17,974 50,615 63.3 1.2 35.5 100.0 Puerto Rico NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA Rhode Island 3,113 222 1,133 4,468 69.7 5.0 25.4 100.0 South 2,995 0 5,677 8,672 34.5 0.0 65.5 100.0 Carolina South Dakota 496 0 2,534 3,030 16.4 0.0 83.6 100.0 Tennessee 10,441 316 13,805 24,562 42.5 1.3 56.2 100.0 Texas 8,473 0 20,366 28,839 29.4 0.0 70.6 100.0 Utah 1,911 0 2,102 4,013 47.6 0.0 52.4 100.0 Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 31 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs Percentage of All Families Receiving Assistance Single Two No Single Two No State Parent Parent Parent Totals Parent Parent Parent Totals Vermont 1,671 318 1,382 3,371 49.6 9.4 41.0 100.0 Virgin Islands 167 0 30 197 84.8 0.0 15.2 100.0 Virginia 14,185 0 24,068 38,253 37.1 0.0 62.9 100.0 Washington 16,314 6,046 12,924 35,284 46.2 17.1 36.6 100.0 West Virginia 2,054 0 5,059 7,113 28.9 0.0 71.1 100.0 Wisconsin 5,091 229 10,998 16,318 31.2 1.4 67.4 100.0 Wyoming 229 20 264 513 44.6 3.9 51.5 100.0 Totals 668,582 129,640 556,679 1,354,901 49.3 9.6 41.1 100.0 Table B-6. TANF Assistance Families by Number of Parents by State: September 2017

 

 

 

 

 

Percentage of All Families Receiving Assistance

State

Single Parent

Two Parent

No Parent

Totals

Single Parent

Two Parent

No Parent

Totals

Alabama

4,013

51

5,262

9,326

43.0

0.5

56.4

100.0

Alaska

1,891

347

855

3,093

61.1

11.2

27.6

100.0

Arizona

3,104

183

4,935

8,222

37.8

2.2

60.0

100.0

Arkansas

1,543

65

1,464

3,072

50.2

2.1

47.7

100.0

California

276,833

93,664

140,814

511,311

54.1

18.3

27.5

100.0

Colorado

9,702

1,132

5,812

16,646

58.3

6.8

34.9

100.0

Connecticut

3,308

2

6,488

9,798

33.8

0.0

66.2

100.0

Delaware

1,031

12

2,830

3,873

26.6

0.3

73.1

100.0

District of Columbia

1,713

0

1,411

3,124

54.8

0.0

45.2

100.0

Florida

6,694

374

37,959

45,027

14.9

0.8

84.3

100.0

Georgia

3,504

93

8,648

12,245

28.6

0.8

70.6

100.0

Guam

119

27

395

541

22.0

5.0

73.0

100.0

Hawaii

2,958

779

1,200

4,937

59.9

15.8

24.3

100.0

Idaho

50

0

1,878

1,928

2.6

0.0

97.4

100.0

Illinois

2,688

0

9,925

12,613

21.3

0.0

78.7

100.0

Indiana

1,621

61

5,281

6,963

23.3

0.9

75.8

100.0

Iowa

5,456

562

4,676

10,694

51.0

5.3

43.7

100.0

Kansas

1,666

262

2,206

4,134

40.3

6.3

53.4

100.0

Kentucky

5,140

504

15,141

20,785

24.7

2.4

72.8

100.0

Louisiana

2,257

0

3,264

5,521

40.9

0.0

59.1

100.0

Maine

9,841

6,929

1,682

18,452

53.3

37.6

9.1

100.0

Maryland

11,504

368

6,739

18,611

61.8

2.0

36.2

100.0

Massachusetts

34,382

3,282

13,532

51,196

67.2

6.4

26.4

100.0

Michigan

5,417

0

8,429

13,846

39.1

0.0

60.9

100.0

Minnesota

10,006

0

8,513

18,519

54.0

0.0

46.0

100.0

Mississippi

1,930

0

2,961

4,891

39.5

0.0

60.5

100.0

Missouri

7,508

0

4,944

12,452

60.3

0.0

39.7

100.0

Montana

2,386

506

1,625

4,517

52.8

11.2

36.0

100.0

Nebraska

2,422

0

2,840

5,262

46.0

0.0

54.0

100.0

Nevada

4,620

852

4,356

9,828

47.0

8.7

44.3

100.0

New Hampshire

3,262

25

1,597

4,884

66.8

0.5

32.7

100.0

New Jersey

7,352

0

5,288

12,640

58.2

0.0

41.8

100.0

New Mexico

5,308

829

4,929

11,066

48.0

7.5

44.5

100.0

New York

85,882

2,815

43,978

132,675

64.7

2.1

33.1

100.0

North Carolina

1,001

38

10,105

11,144

9.0

0.3

90.7

100.0

North Dakota

444

0

661

1,105

40.2

0.0

59.8

100.0

Ohio

8,976

695

44,490

54,161

16.6

1.3

82.1

100.0

Oklahoma

2,157

0

4,640

6,797

31.7

0.0

68.3

100.0

Oregon

29,730

7,414

6,610

43,754

67.9

16.9

15.1

100.0

Pennsylvania

32,023

618

17,974

50,615

63.3

1.2

35.5

100.0

Puerto Rico

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

NA

Rhode Island

3,113

222

1,133

4,468

69.7

5.0

25.4

100.0

South Carolina

2,995

0

5,677

8,672

34.5

0.0

65.5

100.0

South Dakota

496

0

2,534

3,030

16.4

0.0

83.6

100.0

Tennessee

10,441

316

13,805

24,562

42.5

1.3

56.2

100.0

Texas

8,473

0

20,366

28,839

29.4

0.0

70.6

100.0

Utah

1,911

0

2,102

4,013

47.6

0.0

52.4

100.0

Vermont

1,671

318

1,382

3,371

49.6

9.4

41.0

100.0

Virgin Islands

167

0

30

197

84.8

0.0

15.2

100.0

Virginia

14,185

0

24,068

38,253

37.1

0.0

62.9

100.0

Washington

16,314

6,046

12,924

35,284

46.2

17.1

36.6

100.0

West Virginia

2,054

0

5,059

7,113

28.9

0.0

71.1

100.0

Wisconsin

5,091

229

10,998

16,318

31.2

1.4

67.4

100.0

Wyoming

229

20

264

513

44.6

3.9

51.5

100.0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Totals

668,582

129,640

556,679

1,354,901

49.3

9.6

41.1

100.0

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Notes: Data for Puerto Rico are unavailable for September 2017. TANF cash assistance caseload includes families receiving assistance in state-funded programs counted toward the TANF maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement. Author Information Gene Falk Specialist in Social Policy Acknowledgments requirement.

Author Contact Information

[author name scrubbed], Specialist in Social Policy ([email address scrubbed], [phone number scrubbed])

Acknowledgments

Jameson Carter and Mariam Ghavalyan updated the information in this report. Amber Wilhelm produced this report'’s data visualizations. Disclaimer This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress. Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material. Congressional Research Service RL32760 · VERSION 164 · UPDATED 32 s data visualizations.

Footnotes

1.

The definition of TANF assistance is not in statute. However, because the statutory language has most TANF requirements triggered by a family receiving "assistance," the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) regulations define assistance at 45 C.F.R. §260.31.

2.

States are not required to report to the federal government their cash assistance benefit amounts in either the TANF state plan (under Section 402 of the Social Security Act) or in annual program reports (under Section 411 of the Social Security Act). The benefit amounts shown are from the "Welfare Rules Database," maintained by the Urban Institute and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

3.

Some states vary their benefit amounts for other family types such as two-parent families or "child-only" cases. States also vary their benefits by other factors such as housing costs and substate geography.

4.

In 2016, the HHS poverty guidelines for the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia for a family of three was $1,680 per month. Higher poverty lines applied in Alaska ($2,100 per month for a family of three) and Hawaii ($1,933 per month for a family of three).

5.

Families without a work-eligible individual are excluded from the participation rate calculation. It excludes families where the parent is a nonrecipient (for example, disabled receiving Supplemental Security Income or an ineligible noncitizen) or the children in the family are being cared for by a nonparent relative (e.g., grandparent, aunt, uncle) who does not receive assistance on his or her behalf.

6.

See CRS In Focus IF10856, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families: Work Requirements.