The Temporary Assistance for
January 9, 2024
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
Patrick A. Landers
benefits and services for low-income families with children. TANF was created in the Personal
Analyst in Social Policy
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act of 1996 (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
For a copy of the full report,
on TANF Financing and Federal Requirements, by Gene Falk).
please call 7-5700 or visit
www.crs.gov.
TANF Funding and Expenditures
TANF provides fixed funding for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, territories (Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin
Islands), and American Indian tribes. The basic block grant totals $16.5 billion per year. States are also required to contribute,
from their own funds, under a maintenance-of-effort (MOE) requirement. Both the basic block grant and the required MOE
spending are based on expenditures in pre-TANF programs in the early- to mid-1990s.
The basic block grant and required spending under the MOE are not adjusted for changes in circumstances (e.g., inflation,
population) over time. Adjusted for inflation, in FY2023, the TANF basic block grant was 47% below what its value was in
FY1997. The MOE requirements have also not been adjusted for inflation.
Though TANF is best known for funding basic assistance payments for needy families with children, the block grant and
MOE funds are used for a wide variety of benefits and activities. In FY2021, states used a total of $30.3 billion in federal
TANF and state MOE dollars. Of that FY2021 total, expenditures on basic assistance were $6.9 billion—22.6% of total
federal TANF and MOE dollars. Basic assistance is often—but not exclusively—paid as cash on a monthly basis. The
remainder of TANF and MOE funds were spent on a wide range of benefits, services, and activities: child care, employment
services (for both assistance recipients and others), state refundable tax credits for low-income families, pre-kindergarten and
Head Start programs, and services for children who have been, or are at risk of being, abused and neglected.
The TANF Assistance Caseload
A total of 1.0 million families, composed of 2.8 million recipients, received TANF- or MOE-funded assistance in September
2022. The bulk of the recipients were children—2.0 million in that month.
Assistance Benefits
TANF assistance benefit amounts are set by states. In July 2021, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of two (single
parent and one child) ranged from $871 in New Hampshire to $162 in Arkansas. Only New Hampshire (at 60% of the federal
poverty level) had a maximum TANF assistance amount for this sized family in excess of 50% of poverty guidelines.
Work Requirements
TANF’s main federal work requirement is 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 FY2022, states achieved, on average, an
all-family participation rate of 35.6% and a two-parent rate of 44.0%.
In FY2022, all jurisdictions except Oregon met their all-family participation standard. California, Florida, Guam, Hawaii,
Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, and Wyoming did not meet their two-parent participation standard.
Jurisdictions that did not meet their standards are at risk of being penalized through a reduction in their block grants, though
they may either enter into a corrective compliance plan or claim good cause to avoid the penalty.
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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 A provides additional data on families receiving TANF
assistance over time. Appendix B presents a series of tables with state-level data on TANF
expenditures and families receiving assistance.
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 Gene Falk).
Funding and Expenditures
What is TANF’s funding status?
The Further Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-22) extended
TANF funding through February 2, 2024.
How are state TANF programs funded?
TANF programs are funded through a combination of federal and state funds. 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 Virgin
Islands, and American Indian tribes.1 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 a minimum of at least 80% of what they spent in FY1994 on TANF’s
predecessor programs. The MOE spending requirement is reduced in states that met their work
participation standards to 75% of what a state spent in FY1994.
How much has the value of the TANF basic block grant changed
over time?
TANF was created by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of
1996 (PRWORA, P.L. 104-193). A TANF basic block grant amount—for both the nation and for
each state—was established in the 1996 law. That amount 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. The basic block grant 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.

1 American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands do not operate TANF programs. The
former is eligible but does not operate programs; the latter is ineligible for TANF funds.
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Table 1 shows the state family assistance grant, in both nominal (actual) and constant 1997
(inflation-adjusted) dollars for each year, FY1997 through FY2023. In inflation-adjusted terms,
the FY2023 block grant was 47% below its value in FY1997.
Table 1. TANF Basic Block Grant Funding in Nominal and Constant Dollars
(dollars in billions)
State Family
State Family
Cumulative
Assistance Grant:
Assistance
Percentage Change
50 States, DC,
Grant
Since FY1997,
Tribes, and
Constant
Constant 1997
Fiscal Year
Territories
1997 Dollars
Dollars
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
2019
16.512
10.372
-37.4
2020
16.512
10.224
-38.3
2021
16.512
9.893
-40.3
2022
16.512
9.168
-44.7
2023
16.512
8.727
-47.3
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance; and the U.S.
Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
Notes: Constant dol ars were computed using the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U).
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How have states used TANF funds?
In FY2021, states used a total of $30.3 billion in combined federal TANF and state MOE dollars
(this total includes dollars transferred to other block grant programs, but excludes expenditures in
tribal TANF programs or those operated in the territories). Basic assistance—ongoing benefits to
families to meet basic needs—represented 22.6% ($6.9 billion) of total FY2021 TANF and MOE
dollars.
TANF is a major contributor of child care funding. In FY2021, $4.9 billion (16.2% of all TANF
and MOE funds) were either expended on child care directly within TANF or transferred to the
child care block grant (the Child Care and Development Fund, or CCDF). TANF and MOE funds
also help fund state pre-kindergarten (pre-K) programs, with FY2021 expenditures for pre-K
programs totaling $2.9 billion.
TANF is also a major contributor to the child welfare system, which provides foster care,
adoption assistance, and services to families with children who have experienced, or are at risk of
experiencing, child abuse or neglect, spending about $2.7 billion on such activities.
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) or state refundable child credits. TANF and
MOE expenditures on refundable tax credits in FY2021 totaled $2.6 billion, or 8.5% of total
TANF and MOE spending.
TANF work-related activities (including education and training) were the fifth-largest TANF and
MOE spending category at $2.3 billion, or 7.6% of total TANF and MOE funds. TANF and MOE
funds are also used for short-term and emergency benefits and a wide range of other social
services.
Figure 1 shows the uses of federal TANF grants to states and state MOE funds in FY2021. Note
that the data in this figure exclude spending from the Pandemic Emergency Fund, a temporary $1
billion fund enacted in the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA, P.L. 117-2) to help meet
needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. States, tribes, and territories could use Pandemic
Emergency Fund dollars only on “non-recurring short-term benefits.”
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Figure 1. Uses of Federal TANF and MOE Funds by Spending Category, FY2021
(dollars in billions)

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance.
Notes: Excludes TANF funds used in the territories and in tribal TANF programs. Excludes spending from the
Pandemic Emergency Assistance fund, which is reported separately.
For state-specific information on the use of TANF funds, see Table B-1 and Table B-2.
How much of the TANF grant has gone unspent?
TANF law permits states to “reserve” unused funds without time limit. This permits flexibility in
timing of the use of TANF funds, including the ability to “save” funds for unexpected
occurrences that might increase costs (such as recessions or natural disasters).
At the end of FY2021 (September 30, 2021), a total of $8.0 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. Of this amount, states had made such
commitments to spend—that is, had obligated—a total of approximately $1.9 billion. At the end
of FY2021, states had approximately $6.2 billion of “unobligated balances.” These funds are
available to states to make new spending commitments. Table B-3 shows unspent TANF funds
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.
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“Assistance” is defined as benefits provided to families to meet ongoing, basic needs.2 It is most
often paid in cash. However, some states use TANF or MOE funds to provide an “earnings
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 21%
of all TANF expenditures. Therefore, the federal reporting requirements that pertain to families
receiving assistance are likely to undercount the number of families receiving any TANF-funded
benefit or service.
How many families and individuals currently receive TANF- or
MOE-funded assistance?
Table 2 provides assistance caseload information. A total of approximately 1.0 million families,
composed of 2.8 million individual recipients, received TANF- or MOE-funded assistance in
September 2022. The bulk of the recipients were children—2.0 million in that month. For state-
by-state assistance caseloads, see Table B-4.
Table 2. Families and Recipients of TANF and MOE-Funded Assistance,
September 2022
Total Families
1,019,898
Total Recipients
2,820,773
Total Child Recipients
2,015,874
Total Adult Recipients
804,899
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS). Data as of December 27, 2022, and subject to revision.
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 2022. 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
assistance peaked in March 1994 at 5.1 million families. The assistance caseload fell rapidly in

2 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. Section 260.31.
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the late 1990s, after PRWORA, before leveling off in 2001. In 2004, the caseload began another
decline, albeit at a slower pace than in the late 1990s. During the 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. The number of families receiving assistance
declined by almost half (to a little over 1 million families) during the long economic expansion of
2010 through 2019.
During 2020, a year when the economy was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, there was a
brief uptick in the number of families receiving assistance. That response to the pandemic was
short-lived.3 The number of families receiving assistance declined until late 2021, but has recently
been rising.
The number of families receiving assistance increased by 113,000 nationwide from September
2021 to September 2022. From September 2021 to September 2022, 24 jurisdictions had
increases in the number of families receiving assistance, while 30 jurisdictions had decreases. The
increase in families receiving assistance is concentrated in a small number of larger-population
states (California, Massachusetts, and New York). Table B-5 shows recent trends in the number
of cash assistance families by state.
Figure 2. Number of Families Receiving Assistance, July 1959 to September 2022

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), with data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS). Data as of December 27, 2022, and subject to revision.

3 In 2020 and 2021, Congress enacted expansions to other programs—in particular, unemployment insurance—that
might have lessened the need for need-tested cash from TANF. See CRS Report R46687, Unemployment Insurance
(UI) Benefits: Permanent-Law Programs and the COVID-19 Pandemic Response. For estimates of the impact of the
poverty interventions in response to the economic downturn associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, see Laura
Wheaton, Linda Giannarelli, and Ilham Dehry, 2021 Poverty Projections: Assessing the Impact of Benefits and
Stimulus Measures, Urban Institute, July 2021.
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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 3 shows the maximum monthly TANF cash benefit by state for a single parent caring for
one child (family of two) in July 2021.4 For a family of two, the maximum TANF benefit paid in
July 2021 varied from $871 per month in New Hampshire to $162 per month in Arkansas. The
map shows a regional pattern to the maximum monthly benefit paid, with lower benefit amounts
in general in the South compared to other regions. Only New Hampshire (at 60% of the federal
poverty guidelines) had a maximum TANF cash assistance amount for this sized family in excess
of 50% of the HHS poverty guidelines.

4 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). 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.
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Figure 3. TANF Cash Assistance Maximum Monthly Benefit Amounts for a Single-
Parent Family with One Child, 50 States and the District of Columbia, July 2021

Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the Welfare Rules Database, funded by the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and maintained by the Urban Institute. 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 U.S. Virgin Islands or tribal TANF programs.

Table B-6 shows these benefit amounts by state in dollars and as a percentage of the HHS
poverty guidelines.
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
number of hours.5 There is a separate participation standard that applies to the two-parent portion

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.
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of a state’s caseload, requiring 90% of the state’s two-parent caseload to meet participation
standards.
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” 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.
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” 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’s caseload reduction credit).
Figure 4 shows the national average all-families work participation rate for FY2002 through
FY2022. For the period FY2002 through FY2011, states achieved an average all-families work
participation rate hovering around 30%. Subsequently, the work participation rate increased. In
FY2016, it exceeded 50% for the first time since TANF was established. However, the increase in
the work participation rate did not come from an increase in the number of recipients in regular
TANF assistance programs who were either working or in job preparation activities. This increase
stemmed 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.
The national average TANF work participation rate for all families declined from FY2018
through FY2021. In FY2021, a year affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic
fallout, the national average all-families rate was 33.6%. In 2022, the national average all-
families rate had increased to 35.6% In FY2022, all jurisdictions except Oregon met their all-
families standard.
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Figure 4. National Average TANF Work Participation Rate for All Families,
FY2002-FY2022

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

In FY2022, 9 jurisdictions (California, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, North Carolina, Oregon,
Rhode Island, and Wyoming) did not meet the separate, higher two-parent standard. Table B-7
provides information for each jurisdiction on the TANF work standard, caseload reduction credit,
and work participation rate for all families for FY2022. Table B-8 provides that information for
two-parent families. The table shows that 26 jurisdictions did not have two-parent families
receiving assistance funded by TANF or MOE funds (denoted with an “NA” in the table).
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has the ability to reduce or waive the
penalty on states for failing to meet the TANF work participation standard. In response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, HHS, under the Trump Administration, said that it would exercise its
authority to provide states with relief from the penalty for not meeting participation standards “to
the maximum extent possible.”6 HHS has not revised this statement under the Biden
Administration.

6 U.S. Department of Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance,
Questions and answers about TANF and the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, TANF-ACF-Pi-2020-
01, https://www.acf.hhs.gov/ofa/resource/tanf-acf-pi-2020-01.
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Appendix A. Supplementary Tables
Table A-1. Trends in the Cash Assistance Caseload: 1961-2022

TANF Child Recipients
As a
As a
Percentage Percentage
Calendar
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

11

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

TANF Child Recipients
As a
As a
Percentage Percentage
Calendar
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
1.479
3.780
1.037
2.743
3.7
20.7
2017
1.358
3.516
0.930
2.577
3.5
20.1
2018
1.196
3.150
0.833
2.317
3.2
19.5
2019
1.093
2.866
0.747
2.199
2.9
20.2
2020
1.052
2.757
0.728
2.029
2.8
17.2
2021
0.931
2.450
0.661
1.788
2.5
16.0
2022
0.974
2.652
0.747
1.905
2.7
17.7
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 col ected. For those years, TANF children as a percentage of all children and
Congressional Research Service

12

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

percentage 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 https://aspe.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/private/pdf/116161/
FINAL%20Fourteenth%20Report%20-%20FINAL%209%2022%2015.pdf. For 2019, the ratio of TANF recipient
children to all children in poverty might be overstated. This is because child poverty might have been
underestimated, as responses to the survey used to estimate poverty were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
See Jonathan Rothbaum and Adam Bee, Coronavirus Infects Surveys, Too: Nonresponse Bias During the Pandemic in
the CPS ASEC, U.S. Census Bureau, SEHSD Working Paper no. 2020-10, September 15, 2020.

Congressional Research Service

13

Appendix B. State Tables
Table B-1. Use of FY2021 TANF and MOE Funds by Category
(dollars in millions)
Work
Emergency
Pre-K
Education
and Short-
Basic
Child
Head-
Child
Refundable
and
Term
State
Assistance
Care
Start
Welfare
Tax Credits
Training
Administration
Benefits
Other
Totals
Alabama
$14.408
$22.106
$31.327
$44.142
$0.000
$6.520
$10.955
$40.860
$34.685
$205.003
Alaska
38.742
12.147
0.000
0.000
0.000
10.890
6.524
0.318
11.711
80.331
Arizona
38.245
0.000
0.000
227.877
0.000
0.545
16.444
7.033
47.904
338.049
Arkansas
3.554
5.250
29.998
3.711
0.000
11.028
13.107
4.377
17.122
88.145
California
2,279.025
989.279
0.148
0.002
0.000
894.773
604.394
386.003
948.366
6,101.990
Colorado
57.199
13.946
85.909
58.450
79.530
6.050
57.673
3.832
61.740
424.328
Connecticut
26.847
54.791
68.593
72.973
52.700
10.179
37.444
14.534
137.849
475.909
Delaware
5.636
30.228
0.000
0.000
0.000
13.126
3.081
1.314
44.634
98.018
District of Columbia
200.126
53.056
0.000
0.000
21.476
32.943
13.756
96.951
10.951
429.260
Florida
168.261
306.439
0.000
258.744
0.000
42.024
52.455
2.038
65.812
895.773
Georgia
94.950
0.000
0.000
265.337
0.000
6.618
18.223
4.678
61.420
451.225
Hawaii
49.215
7.406
0.000
7.032
0.000
36.510
19.975
11.720
76.431
208.289
Idaho
6.910
8.980
1.477
1.727
0.000
2.506
5.069
13.834
0.334
40.838
Il inois
45.137
535.329
113.153
229.756
103.349
17.842
0.000
0.919
104.027
1,149.513
Indiana
19.941
91.865
0.000
2.161
19.082
1.494
22.685
0.346
130.046
287.620
Iowa
27.115
45.422
0.000
54.292
22.486
5.736
6.999
0.183
20.420
182.652
Kansas
9.941
6.673
15.997
35.340
38.294
0.813
10.360
0.000
44.118
161.535
CRS-14

Work
Emergency
Pre-K
Education
and Short-
Basic
Child
Head-
Child
Refundable
and
Term
State
Assistance
Care
Start
Welfare
Tax Credits
Training
Administration
Benefits
Other
Totals
Kentucky
164.292
19.299
0.000
0.000
0.000
21.021
12.522
0.000
3.383
220.516
Louisiana
12.362
0.000
56.043
33.290
17.421
47.759
17.802
8.408
30.192
223.276
Maine
39.638
21.470
0.533
10.880
15.821
14.098
3.940
6.064
26.272
138.717
Maryland
170.394
5.442
58.021
30.070
202.029
27.898
23.550
37.056
48.229
602.689
Massachusetts
213.480
334.376
0.000
11.374
174.413
166.427
32.466
91.807
78.756
1,103.098
Michigan
103.219
26.423
157.550
73.918
30.914
3.314
55.456
21.443
772.126
1,244.361
Minnesota
123.948
124.236
5.700
0.000
109.977
58.388
45.379
14.045
25.247
506.919
Mississippi
3.531
1.715
0.000
15.210
0.000
19.532
6.779
0.000
10.569
57.336
Missouri
20.803
23.306
0.000
120.352
0.000
70.706
6.621
83.549
47.934
373.271
Montana
12.656
6.774
0.000
1.813
0.000
2.601
5.554
1.034
7.809
38.241
Nebraska
20.948
7.157
0.000
6.351
29.122
9.795
3.100
0.167
2.660
79.301
Nevada
36.031
10.087
0.000
30.990
0.000
0.523
8.544
7.920
21.327
115.422
New Hampshire
29.215
4.582
0.000
3.257
0.000
5.730
9.623
1.796
14.827
69.030
New Jersey
81.789
148.714
608.583
0.000
396.587
60.559
53.955
15.939
69.315
1,435.440
New Mexico
50.212
42.868
55.013
0.724
135.270
13.938
5.926
8.957
16.446
329.354
New York
1,633.424
375.680
818.713
361.021
1,026.718
140.863
438.496
194.668
314.213
5,303.796
North Carolina
30.908
217.901
76.713
150.227
0.000
4.610
45.942
3.841
47.833
577.974
North Dakota
4.553
0.000
0.000
15.452
0.000
3.575
5.279
0.022
1.819
30.699
Ohio
219.054
420.171
0.574
18.438
0.000
84.446
102.226
67.749
240.531
1,153.188
Oklahoma
21.070
43.340
0.000
8.787
0.000
14.979
8.065
0.514
28.941
125.697
Oregon
67.058
20.439
14.129
3.914
3.381
18.780
12.086
10.673
22.573
173.033
CRS-15

Work
Emergency
Pre-K
Education
and Short-
Basic
Child
Head-
Child
Refundable
and
Term
State
Assistance
Care
Start
Welfare
Tax Credits
Training
Administration
Benefits
Other
Totals
Pennsylvania
105.679
373.782
221.517
0.000
0.000
101.555
55.402
5.484
99.923
963.342
Rhode Island
15.203
26.400
1.190
19.668
16.084
9.340
6.761
9.697
27.779
132.123
South Carolina
29.027
4.085
25.976
3.902
0.000
7.102
18.605
0.000
67.642
156.339
South Dakota
11.854
0.803
0.000
4.067
0.000
3.208
2.003
4.189
3.107
29.231
Tennessee
110.039
7.622
83.443
14.690
0.049
19.987
30.478
0.000
4.243
270.549
Texas
35.040
0.000
325.879
383.887
0.000
78.075
82.961
1.481
51.322
958.645
Utah
16.062
22.200
1.878
0.960
0.000
16.386
7.604
1.543
16.794
83.428
Vermont
11.321
30.079
0.000
7.263
17.684
0.312
5.107
0.475
13.068
85.308
Virginia
78.325
23.348
5.981
57.771
0.186
34.706
48.320
6.875
59.357
314.868
Washington
157.890
173.437
63.678
35.422
0.000
119.464
45.277
46.811
438.749
1,080.728
West Virginia
46.486
21.096
0.000
26.214
0.000
0.315
13.841
1.552
26.007
135.511
Wisconsin
82.274
187.509
0.000
9.258
69.700
30.876
28.134
26.105
128.300
562.157
Wyoming
13.736
1.554
1.606
0.000
0.000
4.275
2.635
3.539
2.548
29.892

Totals
6,856.770
4,908.814
2,929.319
2,720.713
2,582.272
2,314.738
2,149.582
1,272.343
4,587.410
30,321.961
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families
(ACF), Office of Family Assistance.
Notes: Detail may not add to total because of rounding. Excludes TANF funds used in the territories and in tribal TANF programs. Also excludes spending from the
Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund.

CRS-16

Table B-2. Uses of FY2021 TANF and MOE Funds by Category as a Percentage of Total Federal TANF and
State MOE Spending
Work
Emergency
Refund-
Education
and Short-
Basic
Pre-K
Child
able Tax
and
Term
State
Assistance
Child Care
Head Start
Welfare
Credits
Training
Administration
Benefits
Other
Totals
Alabama
7.0%
10.8%
15.3%
21.5%
0.0%
3.2%
5.3%
19.9%
16.9%
100.0%
Alaska
48.2
15.1
0.0
0.0
0.0
13.6
8.1
0.4
14.6
100.0
Arizona
11.3
0.0
0.0
67.4
0.0
0.2
4.9
2.1
14.2
100.0
Arkansas
4.0
6.0
34.0
4.2
0.0
12.5
14.9
5.0
19.4
100.0
California
37.3
16.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
14.7
9.9
6.3
15.5
100.0
Colorado
13.5
3.3
20.2
13.8
18.7
1.4
13.6
0.9
14.5
100.0
Connecticut
5.6
11.5
14.4
15.3
11.1
2.1
7.9
3.1
29.0
100.0
Delaware
5.7
30.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
13.4
3.1
1.3
45.5
100.0
District of Columbia
46.6
12.4
0.0
0.0
5.0
7.7
3.2
22.6
2.6
100.0
Florida
18.8
34.2
0.0
28.9
0.0
4.7
5.9
0.2
7.3
100.0
Georgia
21.0
0.0
0.0
58.8
0.0
1.5
4.0
1.0
13.6
100.0
Hawaii
23.6
3.6
0.0
3.4
0.0
17.5
9.6
5.6
36.7
100.0
Idaho
16.9
22.0
3.6
4.2
0.0
6.1
12.4
33.9
0.8
100.0
Il inois
3.9
46.6
9.8
20.0
9.0
1.6
0.0
0.1
9.0
100.0
Indiana
6.9
31.9
0.0
0.8
6.6
0.5
7.9
0.1
45.2
100.0
Iowa
14.8
24.9
0.0
29.7
12.3
3.1
3.8
0.1
11.2
100.0
Kansas
6.2
4.1
9.9
21.9
23.7
0.5
6.4
0.0
27.3
100.0
Kentucky
74.5
8.8
0.0
0.0
0.0
9.5
5.7
0.0
1.5
100.0
Louisiana
5.5
0.0
25.1
14.9
7.8
21.4
8.0
3.8
13.5
100.0
CRS-17

Work
Emergency
Refund-
Education
and Short-
Basic
Pre-K
Child
able Tax
and
Term
State
Assistance
Child Care
Head Start
Welfare
Credits
Training
Administration
Benefits
Other
Totals
Maine
28.6
15.5
0.4
7.8
11.4
10.2
2.8
4.4
18.9
100.0
Maryland
28.3
0.9
9.6
5.0
33.5
4.6
3.9
6.1
8.0
100.0
Massachusetts
19.4
30.3
0.0
1.0
15.8
15.1
2.9
8.3
7.1
100.0
Michigan
8.3
2.1
12.7
5.9
2.5
0.3
4.5
1.7
62.0
100.0
Minnesota
24.5
24.5
1.1
0.0
21.7
11.5
9.0
2.8
5.0
100.0
Mississippi
6.2
3.0
0.0
26.5
0.0
34.1
11.8
0.0
18.4
100.0
Missouri
5.6
6.2
0.0
32.2
0.0
18.9
1.8
22.4
12.8
100.0
Montana
33.1
17.7
0.0
4.7
0.0
6.8
14.5
2.7
20.4
100.0
Nebraska
26.4
9.0
0.0
8.0
36.7
12.4
3.9
0.2
3.4
100.0
Nevada
31.2
8.7
0.0
26.8
0.0
0.5
7.4
6.9
18.5
100.0
New Hampshire
42.3
6.6
0.0
4.7
0.0
8.3
13.9
2.6
21.5
100.0
New Jersey
5.7
10.4
42.4
0.0
27.6
4.2
3.8
1.1
4.8
100.0
New Mexico
15.2
13.0
16.7
0.2
41.1
4.2
1.8
2.7
5.0
100.0
New York
30.8
7.1
15.4
6.8
19.4
2.7
8.3
3.7
5.9
100.0
North Carolina
5.3
37.7
13.3
26.0
0.0
0.8
7.9
0.7
8.3
100.0
North Dakota
14.8
0.0
0.0
50.3
0.0
11.6
17.2
0.1
5.9
100.0
Ohio
19.0
36.4
0.0
1.6
0.0
7.3
8.9
5.9
20.9
100.0
Oklahoma
16.8
34.5
0.0
7.0
0.0
11.9
6.4
0.4
23.0
100.0
Oregon
38.8
11.8
8.2
2.3
2.0
10.9
7.0
6.2
13.0
100.0
Pennsylvania
11.0
38.8
23.0
0.0
0.0
10.5
5.8
0.6
10.4
100.0
Rhode Island
11.5
20.0
0.9
14.9
12.2
7.1
5.1
7.3
21.0
100.0
CRS-18

Work
Emergency
Refund-
Education
and Short-
Basic
Pre-K
Child
able Tax
and
Term
State
Assistance
Child Care
Head Start
Welfare
Credits
Training
Administration
Benefits
Other
Totals
South Carolina
18.6
2.6
16.6
2.5
0.0
4.5
11.9
0.0
43.3
100.0
South Dakota
40.6
2.7
0.0
13.9
0.0
11.0
6.9
14.3
10.6
100.0
Tennessee
40.7
2.8
30.8
5.4
0.0
7.4
11.3
0.0
1.6
100.0
Texas
3.7
0.0
34.0
40.0
0.0
8.1
8.7
0.2
5.4
100.0
Utah
19.3
26.6
2.3
1.2
0.0
19.6
9.1
1.8
20.1
100.0
Vermont
13.3
35.3
0.0
8.5
20.7
0.4
6.0
0.6
15.3
100.0
Virginia
24.9
7.4
1.9
18.3
0.1
11.0
15.3
2.2
18.9
100.0
Washington
14.6
16.0
5.9
3.3
0.0
11.1
4.2
4.3
40.6
100.0
West Virginia
34.3
15.6
0.0
19.3
0.0
0.2
10.2
1.1
19.2
100.0
Wisconsin
14.6
33.4
0.0
1.6
12.4
5.5
5.0
4.6
22.8
100.0
Wyoming
46.0
5.2
5.4
0.0
0.0
14.3
8.8
11.8
8.5
100.0

Percentage of Total
22.6
16.2
9.7
9.0
8.5
7.6
7.1
4.2
15.1
100.0
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families
(ACF), Office of Family Assistance.
Notes: Excludes TANF funds used in the territories and in tribal TANF programs. Also excludes spending from the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund.

CRS-19

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

Table B-3. Unspent TANF Funds at the End of FY2021
(September 30, 2021, dollars in millions)
State
Unliquidated Obligations
Unobligated Balance
Alabama
$10.000
$103.338
Alaska
22.434
0.000
Arizona
0.000
52.910
Arkansas
30.757
81.927
California
544.053
0.000
Colorado
0.000
100.116
Connecticut
0.000
0.000
Delaware
3.038
41.844
District of Columbia
0.000
15.151
Florida
0.000
100.689
Georgia
39.196
119.452
Hawaii
26.939
378.498
Idaho
0.000
10.763
Il inois
0.000
0.000
Indiana
10.799
54.338
Iowa
0.000
27.199
Kansas
3.870
58.384
Kentucky
0.000
71.791
Louisiana
0.000
71.546
Maine
35.681
56.365
Maryland
0.000
15.827
Massachusetts
0.000
0.000
Michigan
0.000
115.981
Minnesota
0.000
141.295
Mississippi
0.000
97.906
Missouri
0.000
0.000
Montana
0.000
41.651
Nebraska
65.682
55.541
Nevada
0.646
38.839
New Hampshire
0.000
52.564
New Jersey
141.402
0.000
New Mexico
48.103
7.139
New York
39.745
1,216.600
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

State
Unliquidated Obligations
Unobligated Balance
North Carolina
44.146
0.046
North Dakota
0.000
6.183
Ohio
608.572
10.393
Oklahoma
0.000
333.671
Oregon
0.000
135.508
Pennsylvania
128.096
669.260
Rhode Island
0.000
51.701
South Carolina
0.000
8.379
South Dakota
0.000
23.311
Tennessee
0.000
798.337
Texas
0.000
363.598
Utah
0.000
76.594
Vermont
0.000
0.000
Virginia
7.808
104.563
Washington
43.648
98.034
West Virginia
0.000
110.193
Wisconsin
0.000
213.669
Wyoming
0.000
25.430

Totals
1,854.618
6,156.520
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of Family Assistance.
Notes: Excludes TANF funds used in the territories and in tribal TANF programs. Also excludes spending from
the Pandemic Emergency Assistance Fund.

Table B-4. Number of Families, Recipients, Children, and Adults Receiving TANF
Assistance by Jurisdiction, September 2022
State
Families
Recipients
Children
Adults
Alabama
5,821
13,422
11,070
2,352
Alaska
1,319
3,511
2,476
1,035
Arizona
5,531
11,095
9,331
1,764
Arkansas
939
2,131
1,711
420
California
382,605
1,288,339
891,993
396,346
Colorado
12,195
29,805
21,801
8,004
Connecticut
4,971
11,074
8,127
2,947
Delaware
2,945
8,297
4,947
3,350
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

State
Families
Recipients
Children
Adults
District of Columbia
6,779
21,125
15,852
5,273
Florida
30,686
55,035
40,046
14,989
Georgia
5,734
10,608
9,936
672
Guam
343
934
689
245
Hawaii
3,681
10,608
7,248
3,360
Idaho
1,522
2,118
2,079
39
Il inois
10,058
20,273
17,871
2,402
Indiana
4,117
8,663
7,469
1,194
Iowa
5,108
12,394
9,593
2,801
Kansas
2,940
2,940
1,540
1,400
Kentucky
11,359
23,089
19,739
3,350
Louisiana
4,259
10,743
8,776
1,967
Maine
12,735
43,279
27,155
16,124
Maryland
16,773
45,401
32,688
12,713
Massachusetts
55,310
150,160
105,089
45,071
Michigan
8,751
23,617
18,534
5,083
Minnesota
13,697
32,321
24,402
7,919
Mississippi
1,687
2,315
2,085
230
Missouri
6,047
13,981
10,915
3,066
Montana
1,854
4,216
3,467
749
Nebraska
3,072
7,198
6,232
966
Nevada
6,245
16,270
11,814
4,456
New Hampshire
3,746
8,949
6,748
2,201
New Jersey
9,568
23,846
17,019
6,827
New Mexico
9,540
24,044
17,664
6,380
New York
115,984
298,197
200,273
97,924
North Carolina
11,907
21,868
19,082
2,786
North Dakota
596
1,415
1,253
162
Ohio
41,983
74,653
68,538
6,115
Oklahoma
3,542
7,611
6,835
776
Oregon
38,116
113,153
73,874
39,279
Pennsylvania
29,470
73,730
55,843
17,887
Puerto Rico
3,158
8,687
5,413
3,274
Rhode Island
3,150
8,350
5,937
2,413
South Carolina
6,233
14,308
11,774
2,534
South Dakota
2,393
4,679
4,383
296
Tennessee
13,852
29,286
23,761
5,525
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

State
Families
Recipients
Children
Adults
Texas
10,879
20,782
18,438
2,344
Utah
1,924
4,338
3,260
1,078
Vermont
2,085
4,714
3,448
1,266
Virgin Islands
61
211
150
61
Virginia
20,419
42,644
31,939
10,705
Washington
44,355
112,885
74,229
38,656
West Virginia
5,257
10,217
8,610
1,607
Wisconsin
12,156
26,201
21,916
4,285
Wyoming
441
1,043
812
231

Totals
1,019,898
2,820,773
2,015,874
804,899
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS). Data as of December 27, 2022, and subject to revision.
Notes: TANF cash assistance caseload includes families receiving assistance in state-funded programs counted
toward the TANF maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement.

Table B-5. Number of Needy Families with Children Receiving Assistance
by Jurisdiction, September of Selected Years

Percentage Change
1994-
2021-
State
1994
2019
2021
2022
2022
2022
Alabama
48,752
7,687
5,678
5,821
-88.1%
2.5%
Alaska
12,450
2,245
1,573
1,319
-89.4
-16.1
Arizona
72,728
7,010
6,113
5,531
-92.4
-9.5
Arkansas
25,298
2,357
1,365
939
-96.3
-31.2
California
916,795
367,313
301,515
382,605
-58.3
26.9
Colorado
40,544
14,226
10,373
12,195
-69.9
17.6
Connecticut
60,336
7,724
4,723
4,971
-91.8
5.3
Delaware
11,408
3,249
2,695
2,945
-74.2
9.3
District of Columbia
27,320
7,745
7,383
6,779
-75.2
-8.2
Florida
239,702
38,093
31,956
30,686
-87.2
-4.0
Georgia
141,596
8,837
7,286
5,734
-96.0
-21.3
Guam
2,089
439
333
343
-83.6
3.0
Hawaii
21,312
4,029
5,553
3,681
-82.7
-33.7
Idaho
8,635
2,043
1,615
1,522
-82.4
-5.8
Il inois
241,290
10,874
9,673
10,058
-95.8
4.0
Indiana
72,654
5,164
6,637
4,117
-94.3
-38.0
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

Percentage Change
1994-
2021-
State
1994
2019
2021
2022
2022
2022
Iowa
39,137
8,922
5,894
5,108
-86.9
-13.3
Kansas
29,524
4,039
2,845
2,940
-90.0
3.3
Kentucky
78,720
16,586
11,866
11,359
-85.6
-4.3
Louisiana
84,162
4,726
2,667
4,259
-94.9
59.7
Maine
22,322
14,634
11,184
12,735
-42.9
13.9
Maryland
80,266
16,469
20,949
16,773
-79.1
-19.9
Massachusetts
108,985
50,166
41,924
55,310
-49.2
31.9
Michigan
215,873
10,788
7,795
8,751
-95.9
12.3
Minnesota
59,987
15,399
17,511
13,697
-77.2
-21.8
Mississippi
55,232
3,083
1,605
1,687
-96.9
5.1
Missouri
91,875
9,760
6,679
6,047
-93.4
-9.5
Montana
11,416
3,236
1,957
1,854
-83.8
-5.3
Nebraska
15,435
4,364
3,348
3,072
-80.1
-8.2
Nevada
14,620
8,042
5,592
6,245
-57.3
11.7
New Hampshire
11,398
5,206
4,004
3,746
-67.1
-6.4
New Jersey
122,376
8,857
8,083
9,568
-92.2
18.4
New Mexico
34,535
10,087
11,665
9,540
-72.4
-18.2
New York
461,751
113,971
101,625
115,984
-74.9
14.1
North Carolina
129,258
13,064
12,550
11,907
-90.8
-5.1
North Dakota
5,410
957
1,026
596
-89.0
-41.9
Ohio
244,099
51,140
43,396
41,983
-82.8
-3.3
Oklahoma
46,572
5,949
3,972
3,542
-92.4
-10.8
Oregon
40,504
36,971
28,291
38,116
-5.9
34.7
Pennsylvania
212,457
39,746
25,073
29,470
-86.1
17.5
Puerto Rico
57,337
4,475
4,326
3,158
-94.5
-27.0
Rhode Island
22,776
4,002
2,267
3,150
-86.2
39.0
South Carolina
50,430
7,649
6,869
6,233
-87.6
-9.3
South Dakota
6,601
2,923
2,352
2,393
-63.7
1.7
Tennessee
109,678
19,221
13,402
13,852
-87.4
3.4
Texas
284,973
22,821
14,626
10,879
-96.2
-25.6
Utah
17,505
3,170
2,196
1,924
-89.0
-12.4
Vermont
9,761
2,669
1,938
2,085
-78.6
7.6
Virgin Islands
1,146
96
74
61
-94.7
-17.6
Virginia
74,257
16,649
17,922
20,419
-72.5
13.9
Washington
101,542
36,023
35,223
44,355
-56.3
25.9
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

Percentage Change
1994-
2021-
State
1994
2019
2021
2022
2022
2022
West Virginia
40,279
6,331
5,550
5,257
-86.9
-5.3
Wisconsin
75,086
15,122
13,881
12,156
-83.8
-12.4
Wyoming
5,351
504
450
441
-91.8
-2.0

Totals
5,015,545
1,086,852
907,048
1,019,898
-79.7
12.4
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS). Data as of December 27, 2022, and subject to revision.
Notes: TANF cash assistance caseload includes families receiving assistance in state-funded programs counted
toward the TANF maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement.

Table B-6. TANF Cash Assistance Maximum Monthly Benefit Amounts for a Single-
Parent Family with One Child, By Jurisdiction, July 2021
Monthly Dollar Amount and as a Percentage of the HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2021
Maximum Benefit for
a Family of Two as a
Percentage of the
Maximum Benefit for
HHS Poverty
Jurisdiction
a Family of Two
Guidelines
Alabama
$190
13.1%
Alaska
821
45.3
Arizona
220
15.2
Arkansas
162
11.2
California
696
47.9
Colorado
400
27.6
Connecticut
495
34.1
Delaware
270
18.6
District of Columbia.
515
35.5
Florida
241
16.6
Georgia
235
16.2
Hawaii
485
29.0
Idaho
309
21.3
Il inois
431
29.7
Indiana
229
15.8
Iowa
361
24.9
Kansas
352
24.2
Kentucky
225
15.5
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

Maximum Benefit for
a Family of Two as a
Percentage of the
Maximum Benefit for
HHS Poverty
Jurisdiction
a Family of Two
Guidelines
Louisiana
188
13.0
Maine
463
31.9
Maryland
575
39.6
Massachusetts
629
43.3
Michigan
403
27.8
Minnesota
537
37.0
Mississippi
236
16.3
Missouri
234
16.1
Montana
467
32.2
Nebraska
408
28.1
Nevada
320
22.0
New Hampshire
871
60.0
New Jersey
425
29.3
New Mexico
357
24.6
New York
574
39.5
North Carolina
236
16.3
North Dakota
385
26.5
Ohio
417
28.7
Oklahoma
225
15.5
Oregon
432
29.8
Pennsylvania
316
21.8
Rhode Island
584
40.2
South Carolina
242
16.7
South Dakota
563
38.8
Tennessee
343
23.6
Texas
267
18.4
Utah
399
27.5
Vermont
580
40.0
Virginia
465
32.0
Washington
528
36.4
West Virginia
480
33.1
Wisconsin
653
45.0
Wyoming
682
47.0
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the Welfare Rules Database, funded by the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and maintained at the Urban Institute. The Welfare Rules
Congressional Research Service

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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

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 U.S. Virgin Islands or tribal TANF programs. Federal poverty
level is from HHS at https://aspe.hhs.gov/2021-poverty-guidelines.

Table B-7. TANF Work Participation Standard and Rate, By Jurisdiction for All
Families: FY2022
Caseload
Reduction
Effective
Credit
After
Work
Statutory
(percentage
Credit
Participation
Met
State
Standard
points)
Standard
Rate
Standard?
Alabama
50.0%
50.0
0.0%
44.9%
Yes
Alaska
50.0
50.0
0.0
31.1
Yes
Arizona
50.0
50.0
0.0
12.9
Yes
Arkansas
50.0
50.0
0.0
14.6
Yes
California
50.0
40.8
9.2
47.6
Yes
Colorado
50.0
50.0
0.0
43.1
Yes
Connecticut
50.0
50.0
0.0
3.7
Yes
Delaware
50.0
50.0
0.0
17.8
Yes
District of Col.
50.0
39.3
10.7
20.5
Yes
Florida
50.0
37.7
12.3
12.4
Yes
Georgia
50.0
50.0
0.0
7.0
Yes
Guam
50.0
50.0
0.0
1.9
Yes
Hawaii
50.0
50.0
0.0
13.2
Yes
Idaho
50.0
0.0
50.0
64.2
Yes
Il inois
50.0
33.8
16.2
48.4
Yes
Indiana
50.0
50.0
0.0
14.0
Yes
Iowa
50.0
50.0
0.0
17.3
Yes
Kansas
50.0
50.0
0.0
30.2
Yes
Kentucky
50.0
50.0
0.0
20.1
Yes
Louisiana
50.0
50.0
0.0
4.7
Yes
Maine
50.0
0.0
50.0
78.0
Yes
Maryland
50.0
38.2
11.8
12.0
Yes
Massachusetts
50.0
36.4
13.6
50.4
Yes
Michigan
50.0
50.0
0.0
44.7
Yes
Minnesota
50.0
39.9
10.1
20.4
Yes
Mississippi
50.0
50.0
0.0
43.3
Yes
Missouri
50.0
50.0
0.0
17.5
Yes
Montana
50.0
50.0
0.0
34.4
Yes
Nebraska
50.0
50.0
0.0
10.3
Yes
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

Caseload
Reduction
Effective
Credit
After
Work
Statutory
(percentage
Credit
Participation
Met
State
Standard
points)
Standard
Rate
Standard?
Nevada
50.0
50.0
0.0
23.5
Yes
New Hampshire
50.0
0.0
50.0
61.7
Yes
New Jersey
50.0
50.0
0.0
5.5
Yes
New Mexico
50.0
50.0
0.0
7.5
Yes
New York
50.0
50.0
0.0
11.5
Yes
North Carolina
50.0
49.1
0.9
5.4
Yes
North Dakota
50.0
50.0
0.0
40.6
Yes
Ohio
50.0
45.2
4.8
35.5
Yes
Oklahoma
50.0
50.0
0.0
15.5
Yes
Oregon
50.0
0.0
50.0
47.6
No
Pennsylvania
50.0
50.0
0.0
17.9
Yes
Puerto Rico
50.0
50.0
0.0
6.8
Yes
Rhode Island
50.0
50.0
0.0
7.6
Yes
South Carolina
50.0
50.0
0.0
6.4
Yes
South Dakota
50.0
0.0
50.0
54.5
Yes
Tennessee
50.0
50.0
0.0
32.5
Yes
Texas
50.0
50.0
0.0
16.1
Yes
Utah
50.0
50.0
0.0
11.8
Yes
Vermont
50.0
47.1
2.9
32.6
Yes
Virgin Islands
50.0
50.0
0.0
2.5
Yes
Virginia
50.0
50.0
0.0
13.5
Yes
Washington
50.0
50.0
0.0
33.9
Yes
West Virginia
50.0
50.0
0.0
23.8
Yes
Wisconsin
50.0
37.7
12.3
57.0
Yes
Wyoming
50.0
0.0
50.0
74.5
Yes
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).

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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

Table B-8. TANF Work Participation Standard and Rate, By Jurisdiction, for
Two-Parent Families: FY2022
(NA denotes that the jurisdiction did not have two-parent families receiving TANF or
MOE-funded assistance)
Caseload
Reduction
Effective
Credit
After
Work
Statutory
(percentage
Credit
Participation
Met
State
Standard
points)
Standard
Rate
Standard?
Alabama
90.0%
90.0
0.0%
40.1%
Yes
Alaska
90.0
61.6
28.4
38.7
Yes
Arizona
90.0
79.1
10.9
20.0
Yes
Arkansas
90.0
83.6
6.4
32.2
Yes
California
90.0
49.4
40.6
24.0
No
Colorado
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Connecticut
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Delaware
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
District of Col.
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Florida
90.0
37.7
52.3
10.5
No
Georgia
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Guam
90.0
61.2
28.8
0.4
No
Hawaii
90.0
57.8
32.2
18.4
No
Idaho
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Il inois
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Indiana
90.0
80.8
9.2
9.7
Yes
Iowa
90.0
85.6
4.4
12.0
Yes
Kansas
90.0
72.8
17.2
32.8
Yes
Kentucky
90.0
76.3
13.7
25.1
Yes
Louisiana
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Maine
90.0
0.0
90.0
91.6
Yes
Maryland
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Massachusetts
90.0
36.4
53.6
94.8
Yes
Michigan
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Minnesota
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Mississippi
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Missouri
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Montana
90.0
83.2
6.8
36.3
Yes
Nebraska
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Nevada
90.0
59.5
30.5
29.5
No
New Hampshire
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

Caseload
Reduction
Effective
Credit
After
Work
Statutory
(percentage
Credit
Participation
Met
State
Standard
points)
Standard
Rate
Standard?
New Jersey
90.0
86.5
3.5
93.7
Yes
New Mexico
90.0
72.8
17.2
17.8
Yes
New York
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
North Carolina
90.0
49.1
40.9
13.2
No
North Dakota
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Ohio
90.0
85.7
4.3
31.5
Yes
Oklahoma
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Oregon
90.0
0.0
90.0
88.3
No
Pennsylvania
90.0
90.0
0.0
32.9
Yes
Puerto Rico
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Rhode Island
90.0
74.8
15.2
8.9
No
South Carolina
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
South Dakota
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Tennessee
90.0
79.9
10.1
37.7
Yes
Texas
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Utah
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Vermont
90.0
55.1
34.9
44.1
Yes
Virgin Islands
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Virginia
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Washington
90.0
55.0
35.0
55.7
Yes
West Virginia
NA
NA
NA
NA
NA
Wisconsin
90.0
55.7
34.3
51.0
Yes
Wyoming
90.0
0.0
90.0
74.5
No
Source: Congressional Research Service (CRS), based on data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS).

Author Information

Gene Falk
Patrick A. Landers
Specialist in Social Policy
Analyst in Social Policy

Acknowledgments
CRS Graphics Specialist Amber Wilhelm produced this report’s data visualizations.
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The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block Grant: FAQs

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Congressional Research Service
RL32760 · VERSION 217 · UPDATED
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