Key Points
- The TANF program serves as one of the nation’s primary economic security and stability programs for families and children with low-incomes.
- TANF is a block grant that provides $16.6 billion annually to states, territories, the District of Columbia, and federally-recognized Indian tribes.
- TANF jurisdictions use federal TANF funds to provide income support to families with children with low-incomes, as well as to provide a wide range of services (e.g., work-related activities, child care, and refundable tax credits) designed to accomplish the program’s four broad purposes.
- Statutory purposes are to:
- Provide assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the homes of relatives;
- End the dependence of needy parents on government benefits by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;
- Prevent and reduce the incidence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and
- Encourage the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.
- While TANF jurisdictions must meet certain work participation and cost sharing requirements, they have considerable flexibility with TANF funds to implement programs that best serve their distinct communities.
FIM Opportunities
TANF can be used to fund ongoing cash assistance as well as emergency short-term cash assistance for families experiencing acute food shortages. TANF can partner with other human services programs and organizations to strengthen anti-hunger efforts.