[20030312]98-369EPW_福利改革：TANF趋势和数据.pdf

Congressional Research Service The Library of CongressCRS Report for CongressReceived through the CRS WebOrder Code 98-369 EPWUpdated March 12, 2003 Welfare Reform: TANF Trends and DataVee BurkeDomestic Social Policy DivisionSummaryThe shrinkage in U.S. family cash welfare rolls has slowed to a near halt, althoughnational numbers still are 50% below those of August, 1996, when Congress created thetime-limited and work-conditioned block grant program of Temporary Assistance forNeedy Families (TANF). Under TANF, the nature of the caseload has changed. Theshare of recipients who combine welfare and work has risen sharply (from 11% to 26%).The share of “child-only”cases, which are free of work and time limit rules, has climbedto 37% and in seven states exceeds one-half of all TANF cases. The number of familieswho exhaust their 60-month time limit for federal aid is rising, and states with more than40% of the nations caseload say they use their own funds to continue aid to “timed-out”families not granted hardship extensions. The smaller caseload holds a rising proportionof black and Hispanic families. To promote work, programs use tough work sanctions,liberal work rewards, “Work First”