TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families)
Last updatedDefinition
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a US federal assistance program that provides financial assistance for families. TANF operates as a grant provided to individual states. TANF is often referred to simply as “welfare,” though whenever possible, describing the specific program and what kinds of benefits a family is receiving is more precise. States provide monthly cash assistance payments to “low-income families with children,” though they may have different parameters for implementing the program. TANF has specific goals as laid out by the Department of Health and Human Services, including providing assistance for children, ending parental dependency on government benefits, preventing pregnancy outside of marriage, and encouraging two-parent households. TANF eligibility includes the following requirements: being a resident of the state in which they apply; being a “U.S. citizen, legal alien, or qualified alien”; having a child 18 years or younger; being pregnant; or being 18 years old or younger while also being head of household.
Additional resources
- What is TANF? (Health and Human Services)
- Who is eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families? (Benefits.gov)
Summary
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a US federal assistance program that provides financial assistance for families. TANF is often referred to simply as “welfare,” though whenever possible, describing the specific program and what kinds of benefits a family is receiving is more precise.