Working Paper: NBER ID: w8749
Authors: Robert A. Moffitt
Abstract: The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program was created in 1996 from what was previously named the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program. The TANF program is intended to serve low-income families, primarily those with only a single parent present, as did the AFDC program. The TANF program is distinguished from AFDC by strong work requirements, time limits on receipt, options for the provision of noncash assistance, and by a block grant financing structure. This paper reviews the rules of the TANF program and the research that has been conducted on it and on the AFDC program.
Keywords: welfare reform; TANF; AFDC; low-income families
JEL Codes: I3
Edges that are evidenced by causal inference methods are in orange, and the rest are in light blue.
| Cause | Effect |
|---|---|
| work requirements (I38) | decrease in the number of families receiving assistance (I38) |
| stricter eligibility criteria (I38) | participation rates (J22) |
| historical context of AFDC (I38) | understanding outcomes of TANF (I38) |