TANF at 20 Susan Golonka, Acting Director Office of Family Assistance National Governor s Association Kansas City, MO June 28, 2016
How well do you know TANF?
1. For every 100 families living below the poverty level, how many families received cash welfare benefits in 2014? a) 23 families b) 38 families c) 51 families d) 70 families
1. For every 100 families living below the poverty level, how many families received cash welfare benefits in 2014? a) 23 families b) 38 families c) 51 families d) 70 families
1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 Millions Children in Poverty and Children Receiving AFDC/TANF, 1990 2014 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 Children in Poverty Children Receiving AFDC/TANF
2. The funding level of the TANF block grant ($16.5 billion) has not changed since 1996. To have the same buying power, about how much would need to be appropriated today? a) $18.5 billion b) $22 billion c) $25 billion d) $28 billion
2. The funding level of the TANF block grant ($16.5 billion) has not changed since 1996. To have the same buying power, about how much would need to be appropriated today? a) $18.5 billion b) $22 billion c) $25 billion d) $28 billion
1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Billions Value of the TANF Block Grant has Decreased Significantly $30 $25 $20 $15 $10 $5 Constant 2015 Dollars Current Dollars $0 Fiscal Year
3. In FY 2014, the national average monthly amount of cash assistance for a family of three was what share of the monthly poverty threshold? a) 17% b) 26% c) 39% d) 53%
3. In FY 2014, the national average monthly amount of cash assistance for a family of three was what share of the monthly poverty threshold? The average monthly amount of cash assistance for a family with 2 children was $410. The poverty threshold for a family of three was $19,073 in 2014, or an average of $1,589 per month. a) 17% b) 26% c) 39% d) 53%
4. What percentage of federal TANF and state maintenance-of-effort funds went to basic assistance in FY 2014? a) 15.8% b) 26.5% c) 45.7% d) 62.3%
4. What percentage of federal TANF and state maintenance-of-effort funds went to basic assistance in FY 2014? a) 15.8% b) 26.5% c) 45.7% d) 62.3%
Federal TANF & State MOE Spending by Activity, FY 2014 Two-Parent Family Programs 0.8% Transportation & Support Services 1.4% Non-Recurrent Short Term Benefits 2.2% IDAs <0.01% Other Non-Assistance 14.7% Basic Assistance 26.5% Transferred to SSBG 3.6% Authorized Under Prior Law 4.5% Refundable Tax Credits 8.0% Work-Related Activities 6.8% Out of Wedlock Pregnancy Prevention 8.1% Admin and Systems 7.1% Child Care 16.1%
Share of TANF & MOE Funds Spent on Basic Assistance, Work-Related Activities, and Child Care, FY 2014
5. What share of eligible families received TANF in 2013 compared with in 1996? a) 56% in 2013 vs. 65% in 1996 b) 43% in 2013 vs. 95% in 1996 c) 31% in 2013 vs. 79% in 1996 d) 25% in 2013 vs. 83% in 1996
5. What share of eligible families received TANF in 2013 compared with in 1996? a) 56% in 2013 vs. 65% in 1996 b) 43% in 2013 vs. 95% in 1996 c) 31% in 2013 vs. 79% in 1996 d) 25% in 2013 vs. 83% in 1996
6. All states must meet a work participation rate of at least 50 percent. a) True b) False
6. All states must meet a work participation rate of at least 50 percent. In FY 2013, as a result of the Caseload Reduction Credit and counting excess MOE, 17 states had an adjusted work participation rate of less than 20 percent. a) True b) False
7. How many states reached the 30 percent cap on counting participation in vocational education or training in at least one month in FY 2013? a) 13 b) 20 c) 32 d) 41
7. How many states reached the 30 percent cap on counting participation in vocational education or training in at least one month in FY 2013? a) 13 b) 20 c) 32 d) 41
8. What share of the TANF and Separate State Program cases did not include a parent in the assistance unit (i.e. child-only cases)? a) 20% b) 36% c) 50% d) 62%
8. What share of the TANF and Separate State Program cases did not include a parent in the assistance unit (i.e. child-only cases)? a) 20% b) 36% c) 50% d) 62%
9. Most work-eligible individuals who meet the work requirement are engaged in which activity? a) Unsubsidized employment b) Subsidized employment c) Job skills training d) Job search e) Vocational education
9. Most work-eligible individuals who meet the work requirement are engaged in which activity? a) Unsubsidized employment 65% b) Subsidized employment 2% c) Job skills training 4% d) Job search 19% e) Vocational education 13%
10. How many adults and children received cash assistance from TANF or a Separate State Program in an average month in FY 2015? a) 2.3 million b) 4.2 million c) 7.8 million d) 10.2 million
10. How many adults and children received cash assistance from TANF or a Separate State Program in an average month in FY 2015? a) 2.3 million b) 4.2 million c) 7.8 million d) 10.2 million
11. Welfare reform has been a success. True or False?
TANF Reform
Highlights of TANF Proposals in the FY 2017 President s Budget Increases the TANF block grant by $8 billion over 5 years; Sets a minimum threshold for spending on core benefits and services; Adds reducing child poverty as a new purpose of TANF; Limits federal TANF and state MOE spending to needy families (defined as living below 200 percent of federal poverty level);
Highlights of TANF Proposals in the FY 2017 President s Budget (cont.) Prohibits states from claiming non-governmental thirdparty expenditures as MOE Recognizes the need for a better accountability structure focused on helping families get and keep jobs; Allocates $2 billion over 5 years for a new TANF Economic Response Fund; Repurposes the TANF Contingency Fund for the Pathways to Jobs initiative, Two-Generation Demonstration projects, research, and program improvements.
House Ways and Means Committee Bills to Improve TANF, May 2016 Social Impact Partnerships to Pay for Results Act o o $100 million from TANF Contingency Fund in FY 2017 for state and local investment through social impact bond structure. Outcomes include: increased employment, improved high school graduation rates, improved early childhood health and development, and reduced number of youth in foster care. 50 percent of funds must directly benefit children. Accelerating Individuals Into the Workforce Act o o o $100 million from the TANF Contingency Fund for demonstration projects on subsidized employment. Eligible participants include TANF recipients and noncustodial parents with income below 200% of the poverty line. Sets aside 15 percent for career pathways programs. TANF Accountability and Integrity Improvement Act o Freezes nongovernmental third party MOE spending at FY 2016 levels.
House Ways and Means Committee Bills to Improve TANF, May 2016 Reducing Poverty Through Employment Act o Adds a new purpose to TANF to reduce child poverty by increasing employment, retention, and advancement. Improving Employment Outcomes of TANF Recipients Act o Requires states to report on a new set of employment outcomes measures for TANF leavers; no financial penalties or incentives. What Works to Move Welfare Recipients Into Jobs Act o o Directs HHS and DOL to establish a What Works Clearinghouse to share successful approaches to getting people out of poverty and into jobs. Sets aside 0.33 percent of the block grant (or about $55 million) for research and evaluation,
The Future of TANF
Emerging Practices Two-Generation TANF-WIOA coordination Executive functioning, coaching models Toxic stress/trauma-informed care
Questions?