The number of families turning to the National Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in the beginning of the pandemic grew by more than 75,000. However, by October 2020, caseloads had returned to pre-pandemic levels.
Researchers determine that TANF caseloads have been declining since the program’s inception. The COVID-19 pandemic caused an unprecedented disruption for families across the country. Researchers state the national TANF caseload in the spring of 2020 was an anomaly on an otherwise downward trajectory.
The nonprofit Urban Institute is dedicated to elevating the debate on social and economic policy. For nearly five decades, Urban scholars have conducted research and offered evidence-based solutions that improve lives and strengthen communities across a rapidly urbanizing world. Their objective research helps expand opportunities for all, reduce hardship among the most vulnerable, and strengthen the effectiveness of the public sector. Visit the Urban Institute’s Health Policy Center for more information specific to its staff and its recent research.
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