7/28/2019 States Could Reduce Extreme Child Poverty Sharply By Enrolling in TANF the Millions of TANF-Eligible Children Wh

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States

By Enr

Childre

The eligible family enrolwas enacted, to 32.3% in 2009, tthat the enrollment rate has not ffamilies with about 7 million chiMost of these families are extreas in every state TANF financial

SNAP, unlike TANF, enfor eligible families with childre

declined, the share of SNAP recideclined, falling from 58% in 19

In an average month in 2children had no income from TAfor TANF. Approximately 1.7children had an income less thanfamilies were also eligible for T

These numbers show thaby enrolling in TANF all TANF-grant financing disincentivizesfunding a state receives for its TTANF caseload. As far as we cofacilitate the enrollment in TANTANF. States are unlikely to estthem to do so.

(June 2013. Contact Timothy C

1 See Legal Momentum, TANF Receipthttp://www.legalmomentum.org/our-w

2 $19,530 is the current poverty guideli3 U.S. Department of Agriculture, TrenFiscal Year 2002 to Fiscal Year 2009.4 U.S. Department of Agriculture, ChaCharacteristics of Supplemental Nutriti

ould Reduce Extreme Child Poverty

lling in TANF the Millions of TANF-

Who Are Enrolled in SNAP but not i

ment rate has fallen in TANF from 78.9% in 1he most recent year for which data are availableallen even further since 2009, there are now aboldren who are financially eligible for TANF butely poor, meaning with an income less 50% ofeligibility standards are below 50% of poverty.

olls most eligible children, achieving an 85% ein 2009.

3As the TANF eligible family enroll

pient families with children also receiving TA97 to 16% in 2011.4

11, 1.2 million SNAP recipient families with aNF or any other source. These families were alillion additional SNAP recipient families with50% of poverty and did not receive TANF. MNF even though not receiving it.

states could significantly reduce extreme childeligible SNAP-recipient children. However, The enrollment of eligible families, as the amouNF program is the same regardless of the size

uld determine, no state has established a prograof TANF-eligible families who are receiving

ablish such programs unless federal law is ame

sey, tcasey@legalmomentum.org, for further i

Falls To Less Than One Third Of Eligible Families (Aprrk/women-and-poverty/resources--publications/tanf-rec

ne for a family of 3.ds in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Partici

acteristics of Food Stamp Households: Fiscal Year 199

on Assistance Program Households: Fiscal Year 2011.

harply

ligible

TANF

96 when TANF.1

Assumingut 3.7 millionnot receiving it.the poverty line,2

rollment rateent rate has

F has likewise

bout 2.4 millionl income eligiblebout 3.4 million

any of these

poverty simplyNFs blockt of federalof the statesm specifically toNAP but notded to require

formation.)

il 2013),ipt-falls-to-less.pdf.

pation Rates:

, and