Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).  Since replacing Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) in 1996, the TANF program has served as one of the nation’s primary economic security and stability programs for low-income families with children.  TANF is a block grant that provides $16.6 billion annually to states, territories, the District of Columbia, and federally-recognized Indian tribes.  These TANF jurisdictions use federal TANF funds to provide income support to low-income families with children, as well as to provide a wide range of services (e.g., work-related activities, child care, and refundable tax credits) designed to accomplish the program’s four broad purposes.