1、CRS INSIGHT Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress INSIGHTINSIGHTi i COVID-19: The Potential Role of TANF in Addressing the Economic Effects Updated December 4, 2020 The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant provides grants to the 50 states, District of Columbia, Americ
2、an Indian tribes, and certain territories with the broad purpose of ameliorating and addressing root causes of childhood economic disadvantage. States may use TANF funds in any way they reasonably calculate could achieve the block grants statutory purpose. Some of the flexibility the block grant aff
3、ords to states, tribes, and territories was used to address the fallout from Hurricane Katrina and the deep economic recession of 2007-2009. Overview of TANF TANF was created by the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA, P.L. 104-193) and is best known as fu
4、nding for state programs that provide monthly assistance to needy families with children. TANF assistance is need-tested, and eligibility levels and benefit amounts are determined by the states and vary by state. The number of families receiving TANF assistance increased by 4.4% from December 2019 t
