The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program provides cash assistance to needy American families and was established in 1997 by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act under President Bill Clinton on July 1st. It costs approximately $17.28 billion annually, administered by states but funded 80% by the federal government. States must meet work requirements to receive block grants and can only provide cash assistance for up to 6 months to encourage employment and reduce long-term dependency. The program has faced political controversy but not major modifications since inception.

1. Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF)
Chet Barger, Hope Barth, Sarah Ashbrook, Casey Battle

2. Purpose
-To provide cash assistance to indigent
American families with dependent children.
-Often referred to as “welfare”

3. It was established by the Personal
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act
The Program was established under president
Bill Clinton on July 1, 1997

4. How much?
-TANF annually costs approximately 17.28
billion dollars.
-However, the costs are decreasing from when
the program was originally founded.
-In summary, it is less than what they
anticipated.

5. Who participates?
-All states participate in TANF.
-However, some recieve 1-10% of TANF aid
because of the relatively low poverty rate of
the state.

6. Who pays?
-The federal government pays for 80% of the
cost (80% of 17.28 billion dollars!)
-The respective state government pays for 20%
based on the different poverty rate of each
individual state.

7. How it’s administered?
- state administered
-primarily responsible for administrations of
programs authorized under titles IV-A and XVI
of the Social Security Act

8. how is money distributed? what type
of grant is provided?
-the TANF program is funded by the federal
government
-money distribution is based on the level of
federal contributions to the states for the
AFDC program in 1994
-provides a fixed block grant for each state

9. what requirements are imposed to
the states to receive funds?
-they must meet 2 separate work rates
-families have to get a job within a certain
time period
-states can’t provide cash assistance from
TANF for more than 6 months

10. Was there political controversy?
-Yes there was political controversy

11. Federal government agency that
oversees Tanf
- The U.S department of health and human
services oversees tanf.
- What the U.S department of health and
human service’s does is they strive to
protecting the health of all americans and
providing essential service.

12. Has your program been modified?
- No it has not been modified since its
inception
- Tanf was set for reauthorization in 2002.
However congress was unable to reach an
agreement for the next, several years and as a
result extensions were granted to continue
funding the program.

13. Article: The End of Welfare as I Knew
It
http://www.thenation.com/article/165163/end-welfare-i-knew-it#