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TANF: what went wrong and what to do next.

Vicki Lens1

  • 1Wurzweiler School of Social Work, Yeshiva University. vickilens@aol.com

Social Work
|August 27, 2002
PubMed
Summary

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, despite claims of success, has not achieved self-sufficiency for many poor families. Economic conditions, not program design, explain reduced welfare rolls, risking future problems.

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Area of Science:

  • Social Policy
  • Economics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, enacted as welfare reform, is often cited as a success.
  • Public and legislative opinion largely views the welfare debate as settled and TANF as effective.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically examine the accumulated data on TANF's impact.
  • To challenge the prevailing narrative of TANF's success by analyzing its effect on poor women and families.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of accumulated data on the effects of welfare reform under TANF.
  • Examination of the relationship between economic conditions and welfare rolls.

Main Results:

  • Contrary to popular belief, the goal of self-sufficiency remains unattainable for a significant number of poor individuals and families.
  • TANF appears to be harming, rather than helping, vulnerable populations.
  • The perceived success of TANF is largely attributed to a booming economy and expanding labor market, not program effectiveness.

Conclusions:

  • The optimism surrounding TANF's reduction in welfare rolls is misplaced and potentially dangerous.
  • TANF's failure to address workplace barriers to self-sufficiency may exacerbate future welfare issues.
  • Social workers should advocate for TANF modifications to better support recipients.

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