Welfare Reform: Better Information Needed to Understand Trends in States' Uses of the TANF Block Grant

This report from GAO examines changes in the overall level of welfare-related spending among nine states, changes in spending priorities for welfare-related nonhealth services, and the contribution of TANF funds to states' spending for welfare-related services. GAO reviewed spending for state fiscal years 1995, 2000, and 2004 and focused on spending for working-age adults and children, excluding the elderly, long-term and institutional care. GAO recommends that Congress should obtain additional information regarding allocation of state TANF dollars.