Proposed TANF Extension Would Pressure States to Cut TANF Caseloads and Place States at Risk of Penalties

Publication Date: March 2004

Publisher: Center for Law and Social Policy

Author(s): Mark Greenberg; Hedieh Rahmanou; Nisha Patel

Research Area: Social conditions

Type: Report

Coverage: United States

Abstract:

On February 26, a bill (H.R. 3848) was filed to temporarily extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. In contrast with prior extensions, this bill does not seek to maintain current law until reauthorization is resolved. Rather, while maintaining flat TANF and mandatory child care funding, H.R. 3848 would require a recalibration of the programs caseload reduction credit so that the amount of a states credit would be based on recent caseload declines.

This paper briefly summarizes the current status of reauthorization efforts, provides additional explanation of the recalibration provision of H.R. 3848, and discusses H.R. 3848s potential effects on state programs.