Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Caseloads Early in the Pandemic: Experiences Varied by State

This brief explores changes in Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) caseloads during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. It examines changes to the national and state caseloads by calculating percent changes since before the pandemic began in February 2020. Overall findings reflect that the national caseload rose in the early months of the pandemic, peaking in June 2020, but fell below pre-pandemic levels by October 2020, while state TANF caseload changes varied widely. The brief also discusses the broader context that informs state caseload changes, including structural components of TANF that make it unlikely to respond to increased need, differential access to cash assistance by state, and states’ pandemic-related policy changes.