Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): Size of the Population Eligible for and Receiving Cash Assistance

When the Aid to Families with Dependent Children legislation was replaced with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) in 1996, the following years saw a decrease in the number of families receiving cash assistance. In this report from the Congressional Research Service, TANF caseload numbers over time are examined and trends in child poverty are highlighted.