Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)Connor BlandfordJacob BlumbergJacklyn BodeMaggie Arnold

Replaced Welfare as We Knew It

• Replaced Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

• AFDC was criticized for giving incentives for women to have children

• Also criticized for discouraging women from joining the work force

• In 1996 TANF replaced AFDC

Why TANF Was Needed• 71% of poor families with children did not have

married parents• Less than 60% of children are born to married

parents• Statistics show that children who are born while

their parents are out of wedlock are more likely to live in poverty

Legislation• Bill Clinton signed into law the Personal

Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996, enacting TANF

Four Goals of TANF• 1. To provide assistance to needy families so that

children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives

• 2. To end the dependency of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage

• 3. To prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies

• 4. To encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families

Wisconsin• Wisconsin was the first state to submit a state

plan for TANF• The state received a block grant on September

30, 1996• To continue to receive funding from TANF funding

Wisconsin continued submitting new plans

Government Agency• TANF is overseen by The Administration of

Children and Families• The Administration of Children and Families is

overseen by the United States Department of Health and Human Services

Was TANF Controversial?• Yes• Conservatives emphasized the seeking work

aspect of welfare-reform• Liberals were more concerned about the benefits

and income those who receive welfare would receiving through the reform

Is it Controversial Today?• Yes• Today, most Americans believe that people should

be looking or training for a job to receive a welfare check

• Other requirements people have disagreements on

• If the government should be allowed to request a drug test from people wanting to receive a welfare check

Modification• February 17, 2009 the Obama Administration

passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 that provided up to $5 billion

• In March of 2013 the House of Representatives passed a bill that would have blocked the Administration from granting TANF waivers

State Participation • All States participate in the program• The federal government gives grants to states• The states then use the money to go towards the

four main goals of TANF however they see fit

Cost

• The federal government contributes about $16.5 billion (per state)

• The state governments contribute about $10-11 billion in the form of a Maintenance of Effort (MOE)

Grants• TANF Block Grant – $16.5 billion• Supplemental Grants – $319 billion• TANF Contingency - $1.3 • TANF Emergency - $5 billion

Pros• Encourages families to train and aspire to get a

job as opposed to just collecting a welfare-check• Encourages people to be married before having

children• Allows states to allocate funds based on what the

state believe is neccessary

Cons• Some people can still abuse welfare• Can’t be sure that people use welfare funds for

bettering their lives (buying non-necessities)• Not all funds are necessarily spent equally among

the four goals

How many main Goals does TANF Have?

• A) 1• B) 2• C) 3• D) 4

D) 4

Where does the funding come from?• A) States qualify for grants• B) States are given a flat rate• C) Private Businesses• D) Private Investments

•A) States qualify for Grants

Who was President when TANF was enacted?

• A) Ronald Reagan• B) George H. W. Bush• C) Bill Clinton• D) George W. Bush

•C) Bill Clinton

Which is not one of the four goals?• A) To provide assistance to needy families so that

children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives

• B) To supply needy families with benefits until their kids become of age to get a job

• C) To prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies and establish annual numerical goals for preventing and reducing the incidence of these pregnancies

• D) To encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families

•B) To supply needy families with benefits until their kids become of age to get a job

What program did TANF replace

• A) Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

• B) Social Services Block Grant (SSBG)• C) Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

(LIHEAP)• D) Child Care Bureau (CCB)

•A) Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)

Sources• http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/programs/ta

nf• http

://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2001/01/01poverty-haskins02/cms/?fa=view&id=3808

• http://www.cbpp.org• http://www.hhs.gov/