1、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
2、 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 a
3、nd 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 mo
4、re 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”
