Child Recipients of
Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
Updated: December 2015
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
The number of children receiving welfare benefits in 2014 was less than
one-third of what it was in 1996, a year that saw major reforms to the
welfare system.
Importance
In 1996, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program succeeded the Aid to
Families with Dependent Children Program (AFDC) program, as part of federal welfare reform.
Among other changes, welfare is no longer an entitlement, and adult recipients in most cases
are required to work at least part-time to continue receiving benefits. Additionally, federal
funds can be used to provide adult recipients with benefits for up to five years, although some
states set a shorter cap.1 States set TANF benefit levels, and they vary widely from state to
state. Additional information on current state policies is available at
http://anfdata.urban.org/wrd/databook.cfm.
In 2013, children made up three-quarters of TANF recipients.2 Of families receiving TANF, half
had one child (50 percent), and a bit more than one-quarter (28 percent) had two children.3 In
many cases, the child is the only beneficiary in the household, because the parent is ineligible
or the child does not live with a parent; these cases accounted for 50 percent of all TANF
cases in the 2013 fiscal year.4 As of fiscal year 2013, of adult TANF recipients, five percent
were younger than 20, and another 29 percent between 20 and 24.5
The average monthly cash payment to a family with one child was $378 per month,6 but most
TANF families receive other, non-cash, assistance. In the 2011 fiscal year, 97 percent of TANF
families received medical assistance, and 83 percent received SNAP (food stamps), 12 percent
had subsidized housing, and eight percent had subsidized childcare.7
In rigorous studies of TANF’s effects on children, results have been mixed. One experimental
evaluation focusing on children who received TANF while they were in preschool found no
longitudinal impacts at middle school.8 In contrast, positive impacts of enhanced welfare-towork programs in the area of school achievement have been found for younger children.9 Such
impacts have been found to occur when programs improve a family’s economic status or a
mother’s education. For example, the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills Training Program
(JOBS) had positive impacts on cognitive development and academic achievement, compared
with results among recipients of AFDC. This program provided access to work supports not
2
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
covered by AFDC, such as job training and education, or rapid job placement for those
receiving welfare.
In contrast, a recent study found mothers’ TANF receipt associated with negative effects on
children’s early cognitive development, and identified maternal stress as a possible mediator,
raising concerns about the potential burdens imposed by participation in the program.10 In
another study, negative effects on school engagement and externalizing behavior were
evident only in families where the head-of-household was deemed “hard-to-employ” due to
drug use, low education or work experience, or depression.11
School-achievement impacts for adolescents, from both enhanced and traditional welfare
policies, have mostly been negative.12
Trends
After rising from 6.1 million in 1970 to 9.5 million in 1993, the number of children receiving
AFDC/TANF payments fell to 2.9 million in 2008. (Figure 1) Similarly, the percentage of all
children receiving AFDC/TANF steadily decreased from 14 percent in 1993 to four percent in
2008. Among children living in families below the poverty threshold, the proportion receiving
AFDC/TANF decreased from 62 percent in 1995 to 21 percent in 2008.13 (Figure 2) Following
the recession that began in late 2007, the number of children receiving TANF payments rose
to 3.3 million in 2010 and 2011, then fell to 2.6 million in 2014 (preliminary estimates), the
lowest number in recent recordkeeping. (Figure 1) The percentage of children receiving
benefits also increased slightly, to five percent in 2010, before decreasing to four percent in
2014. However, as a proportion of all children living in poverty, the percentage receiving TANF
has declined over this period; in 2014, the proportion was 17 percent. (Figure 2)
3
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
Figure 1
Child Recipients of AFDC/TANF (in thousands): 1970-2014*
10,000
9,460
9,013
7,928
8,000
Children (in thousands)
7,201
6,000
6,767
6,104
4,260
4,000
3,307
2,922
2,601
2,000
0
1968
1971
1974
1977
1980
1983
1986
1989
1992
1995
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
2013
*2010-2013 data are preliminary
Sources: 2007-2014 data: TANF Caseload Data, Administration for Children & Families, Office of Family
Assistance. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/index.htm Prior years' data: Indicators of
Welfare Dependence Annual Report to the Congress 2008. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Table TANF2. http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/indicators08/apa.shtml
Figure 2
Child Recipients of AFDC/TANF as a Percentage of Total
Child Population and of Children in Poverty: 1970-2014*
100
as a Percentage of Total Child Population
80.5
75.5
69.2
as a Percentage of Children in Poverty
76.4
80
68.0
71.4
61.8
Percent
60
54.4
59.2
58.5
57.8
50.1
49.6
39.4
40
34.0
24.8
20
11.8
11.7
1968
1971
1974
1977
1980
19.4
16.7
3.9 4.5
11.4
8.7
0
1965
20.4
14.0
1983
1986
1989
3.5
1992
1995
1998
2001
2004
2007
2010
2013
*2010-2014 data are preliminary
Sources: 2000-14 data: TANF Caseload Data, Administration for Children & Families, Office of Family
Assistance. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/index.htm
Years prior to 2000: Indicators of Welfare Dependence Annual Report to the Congress 2008. U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services. Table TANF2. http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/indicators08/apa.shtml
4
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
Differences by Age
Younger children are more likely to be recipients of TANF benefits. In fiscal year 2013, 14
percent of children receiving TANF funds were under age two, and another 29 percent were
between two and five. Only eight percent were between the ages of 16 and 19. A
disproportionate share of TANF recipients, relative to the general child population, are under
six. (Figure 3)
Figure 3
50
Percentage of Children by Age, Recipients of TANF
and Total Population: FY 2013*
Total Population under age 20
40
TANF recipients
32.2
28.7
Percent
30
29.9
16.4
14.3
10
20.5
20.2
19.7
20
9.6
8.4
0
0 to 1
2 to 5
6 to 11
12 to 15
16 to 19
*Fiscal year begins in October of the previous year
Sources: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. (2013). Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF
Recipients, Fiscal Year 2013. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance.
Available at http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/characteristics-and-financial-circumstances-of-tanf-recipients-fiscal-year-2013.
For general population: CPS Table Creator, Current Population Survey. Available at:
http://ww w.census.gov/cps/data/cpstablecreator.html
5
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
Differences by Race/Hispanic Origin14
In fiscal year 2013, approximately four in ten (39 percent) child TANF recipients were Hispanic,
and three in ten (31 percent) were black. Hispanic children were 37 percent of children in
poverty, while black children were 26 percent of children in poverty. Whites were 30 percent
of children in poverty, and 25 percent of child TANF recipients. (Figure 4)
Figure 4
100
Percentage of Children by Race and Hispanic Origin,
Recipients of TANF, Children in Poverty, and Total
Population Under Age 18: FY 2013
Total Population under age 18
Children in Poverty
TANF recipients
80
Percent
60
52.7
37.0 38.5
40
30.1
23.9
26.1
25.5
20
30.5
15.1
4.9
3.1
1.8
0
Hispanic
Non-Hispanic white
black
Asian
*Fiscal year begins in October of the previous year
Sources: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. (2012). Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF
Recipients, Fiscal Year 2012: Appendix. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/characteristics-and-financial-circumstances-appendix-fy2012.
Data for total population and children in poverty: US Census Bureau online. Historical poverty tables - table 3.
Poverty status by age, race, and Hispanic Origin.
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/data/historical/people.html
State and Local Estimates
State estimates are available from the Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children & Families, Office of Family Support, at
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/.
6
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
International Estimates
None available.
National Goals
None.
Related Indicators

Long-Term Welfare Dependence: http://www.childtrends.org/?indicators=long-termwelfare-dependence

Receipt of SNAP Benefits (food stamps): www.childtrends.org/?indicators=foodstamp-receipt

Children in Poverty: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=children-in-poverty

Children in Working Poor Families: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=children-inworking-poor-families

Food Insecurity: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=food-insecurity

Homeless Children and Youth: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=homeless-childrenand-youth

Secure Parental Employment: www.childtrends.org/?indicators=secure-parentalemployment

Long-Term Poverty (archived): www.childtrends.org/?indicators=8282-2
Definition
In August 1996, the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (Public
Law 104-193) repealed the Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) program and
created the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program in its place. The
purposes of TANF are to: (1) provide assistance to needy families so that children may be
cared for either in their own homes or in the homes of relatives; (2) end welfare dependence
7
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
by promoting preparation for jobs, work, and marriage; (3) prevent and reduce non-marital
pregnancies; and (4) encourage the formation and preservation of two-parent families.15
Figures for this report are based on state-reported administrative data on participants in the
program who received cash grants. Yearly totals are based on the average monthly number of
participants.
Data Sources

Total caseload data for 2000-2014: TANF Caseload Data, Administration for Children &
Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/programs/tanf/data-reports.

Other data for FY 2013: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family
Assistance. (2015). Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF Recipients,
Fiscal Year 2013: Appendix. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/characteristics-and-financialcircumstances-of-tanf-recipients-fiscal-year-2013.

Other data for FY 2012: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family
Assistance. (2014). Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF Recipients,
Fiscal Year 2012: Appendix. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/characteristics-and-financialcircumstances-appendix-fy2012.

Other data for FY 2011: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family
Assistance. (2013). Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF Recipients,
Fiscal Year 2011: Appendix. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/characteristics-financialcircumstances-appendix-fy2011.

Other data for FY 2010: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family
Assistance. (2012). X. characteristics and financial circumstances of TANF recipients:
Appendix. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and
Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at:
http://archive.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/character/index.html.
8
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015

Data for FY 2007-2009: Department of Health and Human Services. (2012). Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program: Ninth report to Congress. Department of
Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family
Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/annualreport9/ar9index.htm.

Data for FY 2004-2006: Department of Health and Human Services. (2009).
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program: Eighth annual report to Congress.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/annualreport8/ar8index.htm.

Data for FY 2003: Department of Health and Human Services. (2006). Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program: Seventh annual report to Congress.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/annualreport7/ar7index.htm

Data for FY 2002: Department of Health and Human Services. (2004). Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program: Sixth annual report to Congress. Department
of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/annualreport6/ar6index.htm.

Data for FY 2001: Department of Health and Human Services. (2003). Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program: Fifth annual report to Congress. Department
of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/annualreport5/index.htm.

Data for FY 2000: Department of Health and Human Services. (2002). Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program: Fourth annual report to Congress. Department
of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of
Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/ar2001/indexar.htm.

Data for FY 1999: Department of Health and Human Services. (2000). Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program: Third annual report to Congress. Department
of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of
9
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/annual3/annual3.pdf.

Data for FY 1998: Department of Health and Human Services. (1999). Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program: Second annual report to Congress.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/annual2/tan19995.pdf.

All other data: Indicators of Welfare Dependence Annual Report to the Congress 2008.
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Table TANF2. Available at:
http://aspe.hhs.gov/hsp/indicators08/apa.shtml
Raw Data Source
Caseload numbers are administrative data compiled by the U.S. Department of Health and
Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance.
Poverty data are from the Current Population Survey: http://www.bls.gov/cps/home.htm
10
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
Appendix 1 - Child Recipients of AFDC/TANF: Selected Years, 1970-2014*
Child Recipients in the States
and DC (in thousands)
1970
1975
1980
1985
1990
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001
6,104
7,928
7,295
7,073
7,781
9,013
8,355
7,0773
5,781
4,836
4,260
3,987
8.7
11.8
11.5
11.3
12.1
13.0
11.9
10.0
8.1
6.7
5.9
5.5
58.5
71.4
63.2
54.4
57.9
61.5
57.8
50.1
42.9
39.4
36.8
34.0
Child Recipients as a
Percentage of Total Child
Population1
Child Recipients as a
Percentage of Children in
Poverty2
Child Recipients in the States
and DC (in thousands)
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
3,790
3,709
3,593
3,407
3,185
3,003
2,922
3,156
3,307
3,280
3,045
2,837
2,601 5.2
5.1
4.9
4.6
4.3
4.0
3.9
4.2
4.5
4.4
4.1
3.9
3.5 31.2
28.8
27.6
26.4
24.8
22.5
20.8
20.4
20.3
20.3
18.9
19.4
16.7 Child Recipients as a
Percentage of Total Child
1
Population
Child Recipients as a
Percentage of Children in
Poverty
2
11
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
*2012-2014 enrollment data are preliminary estimates.
1
Population numbers used as denominators are resident population. See Current Population Reports, Series P25-1106.
2
For poverty population data see Current Population Reports, Series P60-231 (available online at http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty.html). Because children
living with relatives other than their parents are eligible for benefits in most states regardless of household poverty level, some child recipients are not in poverty.
Sources: 2000-2014 data: TANF Caseload Data, Administration for Children & Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/index.htm. All other data: Indicators of Welfare Dependence Annual Report to the Congress 2008. U.S.
Department of Health and Human Services. Table TANF2. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/programs/tanf/data-reports
12
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
Appendix 2 - Percentage and Number of Child Recipients of TANF,
by Age and Race/Hispanic Origin: FY 1998-20131
1998
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
0-1
12.3
12.2
13.1
13.4
14.6
14.6
14.7
14.5
14.5
15.4
16.0
16.1
16.0
15.7
15.1
14.3
2 to 5
27.5
26.0
25.6
24.9
25.1
25.4
25.7
25.0
25.5
25.3
25.5
26.9
28.0
28.9
28.8
28.7
6 to 11
35.4
35.8
36.2
35.8
34.4
33.4
32.2
31.8
31.1
30.5
30.4
29.9
30.1
30.3
30.9
32.2
12 to 15
16.3
16.7
17.4
18.4
18.3
18.8
19.4
19.9
19.7
19.2
18.5
17.9
16.7
16.6
16.8
16.4
16 to 19
7.4
7.8
7.6
7.5
7.6
7.7
8.0
8.8
9.2
9.5
9.5
9.2
9.2
8.5
8.4
8.4
Hispanic
23.6
26.0
26.8
27.8
27.4
27.5
27.1
28.6
29.2
30.1
32.5
33.5
34.7
35.2
36.6
38.5
White
28.5
25.8
26.8
25.6
26.8
27.0
27.8
27.7
28.8
27.6
26.2
26.1
27.1
25.5
25.3
25.5
Black
40.6
39.5
40.1
40.8
39.8
39.1
38.6
37.5
36.4
36.2
34.1
33.1
31.4
32.2
30.9
30.5
Asian
4.2
4.6
2.8
2.7
2.7
2.5
2.1
2.5
2.1
2.3
2.6
2.5
2.0
2.0
2.1
1.8
Native
American
1.5
1.7
1.6
1.2
1.4
1.4
1.4
1.3
1.3
1.2
1.2
1.2
1.0
1.0
1.1
1.0
Percentage
Age
Race/Hispanic
Origin2
13
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
Number
(in thousands)
1998
prog
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
Total
6,273
5,319
4,385
4,055
3,835
3,737
3,611
3,457
3,204
3,005
2,911
3,068
3,280
3,317
3,105
2,914
772
649
574
543
560
546
531
501
465
463
466
494
525
521
469
417
2 to 5
1,725
1,383
1,122
1,010
963
949
928
864
817
760
742
825
918
959
894
836
6 to 11
2,221
1,904
1,587
1,452
1,319
1,248
1,163
1,099
996
917
885
917
987
1,005
959
938
12 to 15
1,022
888
763
746
702
703
701
688
631
577
539
549
548
551
522
478
16 to 19
464
415
333
304
291
288
289
304
295
285
277
282
302
282
261
245
Hispanic
1,480
1,383
1,175
1,127
1,051
1,028
979
989
935
905
946
1,028
1,138
1,167
1,136
1,122
White
1,788
1,372
1,175
1,038
1,028
1,009
1,004
958
923
829
763
801
889
846
786
743
Black
2,547
2,101
1,758
1,654
1,526
1,461
1,394
1,297
1,166
1,088
993
1,015
1,030
1,068
959
889
Asian
263
245
123
109
104
93
76
86
67
69
76
77
66
66
65
52
94
90
70
49
54
52
51
45
42
36
35
37
33
33
34
29
Age
0-1
Race/ Hispanic
Origin2
Native
American
1
The fiscal year begins in October of the previous year.
2
Hispanics may be any race. Totals and percentages for whites and blacks do not include Hispanics.
Sources: Data for 1998: Department of Health and Human Services. (1999). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program: Second annual report to Congress.
Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/annual2/tan19995.pdf. Data for 1999: Department of Health and Human Services. (2000). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program: Third annual report to
Congress. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/annual3/annual3.pdf. Data for 2000: Department of Health and Human Services. (2002). Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families Program: Fourth annual report to Congress. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance.
14
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/ar2001/indexar.htm. Data for 2001: Department of Health and Human Services. (2003). Temporary
Assistance for Needy Families Program: Fifth annual report to Congress. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family
Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/annualreport5/index.htm. Data for 2002: Department of Health and Human Services. (2004).
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program: Sixth annual report to Congress. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families,
Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/annualreport6/ar6index.htm. Data for 2003: Department of Health and Human
Services. (2006). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program: Seventh annual report to Congress. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/annualreport7/ar7index.htm. Data for 2004-2006:
Department of Health and Human Services. (2009). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program: Eighth annual report to Congress. Department of Health and Human
Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/data-reports/annualreport8/ar8index.htm.
Data for 2007-2009: Department of Health and Human Services. (2012). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program: Ninth report to Congress. Department of Health
and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/datareports/annualreport9/ar9index.htm. Data for FY 2010: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. (2012). X. characteristics and financial
circumstances of TANF recipients: Appendix. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at:
http://archive.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/character/index.html. Data for FY 2011: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. (2013).
Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF Recipients, Fiscal Year 2011: Appendix. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and
Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/characteristics-financial-circumstances-appendix-fy2011. Data for FY
2012: Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. (2014). Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF Recipients, Fiscal Year 2012:
Appendix. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/characteristics-and-financial-circumstances-appendix-fy2012. Data for FY 2013: Department of Health and Human Services,
Office of Family Assistance. (2015). Characteristics and Financial Circumstances of TANF Recipients, Fiscal Year 2013: Appendix. Department of Health and Human Services,
Administration for Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/characteristics-and-financialcircumstances-of-tanf-recipients-fiscal-year-2013.
15
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
Endnotes
1
Zedlewski, S. R. (2012). Welfare reform: What have we learned in fifteen years? Washington, DC: The
Urban Institute. Available at: http://www.urban.org/publications/412539.html
2
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. (2015). Characteristics and
financial circumstances of TANF recipients, fiscal year 2013. Author. Available at:
http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/characteristics-and-financial-circumstancesof-tanf-recipients-fiscal-year-2013 . Tables 15 and 30
3
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. (2015). Op. cit. Table 4
4
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. (2015). Op. cit. Table 3
5
Lower-Basch, E. (2015). Young adults and TANF: Rethinking work activities. CLASP. Retrieved from
http://www.clasp.org/resources-and-publications/publication-1/Young-Adults-and-TANF.pdf
6
Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Family Assistance. (2015). Op. cit. Table 37
7
Department of Health and Human Services. (2013). Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program:
Tenth report to Congress. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and
Families, Office of Family Assistance. Available at: http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ofa/resource/tenthreport-to-congress. Table 10:13.
8
McGroder, S. M., Zaslow, M. J., Moore, K. A., & Brooks, J. L. (2006). Mandatory welfare-to-work programs
and preschool-age children: Do impacts persist into middle childhood? In A. C. Huston & M. N. Ripke (Eds.),
Middle childhood: Contexts of development. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press.
9
Morris, P. A., Duncan, G. J., & Clark-Kauffman, E. (2004). Morris, P. A., Duncan, G. J., & Clark-Kauffman, E.
(2004). Child well-being in an era of welfare reform: The sensitivity of transitions in development to policy
change [Electronic Version] from
http://www.northwestern.edu/ipr/publications/papers/2004/duncan/3WelfarePolicyChild.pdf.
10
Heflin, C. M. and Acevedo, S. K. (2011). Non-income effects of welfare receipt on early childhood
cognitive scores. Children and Youth Services Review, 33, 634-643.
11
Yoshikawa, H., Magnuson, K. A., Bos, J. M., Hsueh, J. (2003). Effects of earnings-supplement policies on
adult economic and middle-childhood outcomes differ for the "hardest to employ". Child Development,
74(5); 1500-1521.
12
Morris, P. A., Duncan, G. J., & Clark-Kauffman, E. (2004). Op cit.
16
Child Recipients of Welfare (AFDC/TANF)
December 2015
13
Some states may set family income thresholds for eligibility for TANF non-cash benefits that exceed the
federal poverty level, and eligibility for cash benefits in child-only cases are not determined by family
income when the child is living with relatives (the case in half of child-only cases). Thus, it may be that not
all children receiving TANF are in poverty.
14
Hispanics may be any race. Estimates for whites and blacks in this report do not include Hispanics.
15
U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means. (2004). Green Book: Background material and data on the
programs within the jurisdiction of the committee on ways and means [Electronic Version] from
http://www.gpoaccess.gov/wmprints/green/2004.html.
17