INSIGHTi
COVID-19: The Potential Role of TANF in
Addressing the Economic Effects
Updated December 4, 2020
The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant provides grants to the 50 states,
District of Columbia, American Indian tribes, and certain territories with the broad purpose of
ameliorating and addressing root causes of childhood economic disadvantage. States may use TANF
funds in any way they reasonably calculate could achieve the block grant’s statutory purpose. Some of the
flexibility the block grant affords to states, tribes, and territories was used to address the fal out from
Hurricane Katrina and the deep economic recession of 2007-2009.
Overview of TANF
TANF was created by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996
(PRWORA, P.L. 104-193) and is best known as funding for state programs that provide monthly
assistance to needy families with children. TANF assistance is need-tested, and eligibility levels and
benefit amounts are determined by the states and vary by state. The number of families receiving TANF
assistance increased by 4.4% from December 2019 to June 2020 (the latest available data). It is estimated
that the expiration of temporary relief measures (e.g., enhanced unemployment insurance) since June
resulted in further increases in the number of families eligible for TANF assistance and other forms of
need-tested aid. PRWORA placed work requirements on states and time limits on families that receive
TANF assistance.
In addition to assistance, TANF funds a wide range of benefits and services. TANF non-recurrent short-
term benefits are defined as aid that addresses a specific episode of need and does not exceed four
months. The receipt of a nonrecurrent short-term benefit does not count toward a family’s time limit, nor
other requirements such as those related to work, assigning child support to the state, and state reporting
of detailed characteristics. In crafting a response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Congress enacted special
temporary rules to permit states to tap an existing fund to pay nonrecurrent short-term benefits to families
evacuated from their homes because of Hurricane Katrina.
In terms of addressing unemployment related to a recession, TANF can also fund employment services
and subsidized employment. If an individual is in subsidized employment, the requirements of assistance
(e.g., time limits) also do not count.
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CRS INSIGHT
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TANF Funding
The basic TANF block grant provided to states was established in PRWORA in 1996 at $16.5 bil ion,
based on spending in its predecessor programs in the early 1990s. The basic block grant has not been
adjusted for inflation or changes in other circumstances (e.g., population growths and shifts among the
states). States are also required to expend from their own funds a total of $10.4 bil ion.
PRWORA also contained a $2 bil ion contingency fund for economic downturns. However, that fund was
exhausted in the last recession. In recent years, Congress has provided appropriations of $608 mil ion per
year to the TANF contingency fund.
Potential Legislation to Address the Effects of the COVID-19 Outbreak
The flexibility of states’ use of TANF make it a possible source of funding for them to address the
unknown and evolving needs of families resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. However, states may
not have funds to meet unexpected costs. Congress responded to the economic downturn of 2007-2009 by
creating a separate, temporary emergency fund. Such a fund to provide for increased benefits would be an
option to address the immediate economic needs of families resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The
emergency fund created for the 2007-2009 recession might be considered a model for such a fund.
Additional y, Congress might consider addressing TANF work participation standards and time limits that
apply to families receiving assistance. The work standards are rules for states, not individuals, and states
are penalized if they do not have a sufficient number of families participating for a minimum number of
hours per week. Thus, they do help guide how states set work requirements for individual recipients. The
U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services may, but is not required to, provide a “reasonable cause”
waiver of the penalty imposed on a state for failure to meet the TANF work requirements. The
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued guidance to states to help them respond to
the COVID-19 pandemic, noting that while it cannot waive TANF work rules, it can relieve states of
penalties for states’ failure to meet these standards and “wil exercise this authority to the maximum
extent possible.”
Similarly, the TANF time limit prohibits states from using federal funds to provide assistance beyond five
years to a family headed by an adult, though states may continue assistance through a hardship extension.
The hardship extension is limited to 20% of a state’s assistance caseload. States are penalized if more than
20% of their caseload has received assistance for more than five years.
Congress could waive TANF work rules and time limits on recipients, and ensure that no states are
penalized for failing to meet these requirements, through legislation. House-passed H.R. 925 and H.R.
6800 (both entitled the Heroes Act) would do so, for example.
Author Information
Gene Falk
Specialist in Social Policy
Congressional Research Service
3
Disclaimer
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