The Temporary Assistance For Needy Families

Poverty has been a problem in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for years. The introduction of TANF seemed to be a hopeful new start for families in need, but what has TANF really instituted and accomplished? After years of a system of welfare “recipients” gaining cash assistance from the government, the new system was meant to inspire welfare “participants” to actively work in order to earn their cash assistance. While TANF has been implemented across the country, it’s effect on Milwaukee has yet to show any great significance. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families is simply a reformation of the welfare system with stringent work requirements, yet lacking the employment opportunities and resources necessary to accomplish its broad range of goals, ultimately to the disadvantage of those dependent on it.

The American Public never loved social welfare programs, but it did not necessarily want them dismantled. In fact, by the early 1990s, nearly 50 percent of all households drew on government benefits from Food stamps to social security to mortgage interest tax deductions.

The Safe and Timely Placement of Foster Children Act amended The Social Security Act, which required states have set plans for foster care and adoption assistances (H.R.5403). Another program designed to give assistance to families and children's needs was The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), this program was enacted to help the needy families who are unable to achieve self sufficiency. Throught TANF states receive block grants which are designed to operate programs provided to needy families (About 2015). The Purpose of the program is to provide the needed assistance for the children can be cared for within the family household, which protected the children from being slipped into foster care due to the parents inability to fulfill self-efficiency. TANF also is known for promoting job preparation, work and also marriage preparations with intent to reduce dependency (About 2015). TANF also works towards reducing and preventing pregnancies out of wedlock, also encourage parents to work

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (PRWORA) of 1996 ended America’s largest cash assistance program, which was the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). It was replaced with the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), which emphasized work, personal responsibility, economic self-sufficiency and strong families. This was created in an effort to help minimized the use of welfare by low income mothers. As a result, these low income mothers could no longer receive cash aid until further notice,

The Temporary Assistance for Needy Families is a public welfare program that was created to provide low-income families with financial recourses to pay for food, housing and medical expenses. For several years now families have been given the opportunity to take advantage of the benefits that this welfare program offers. The TANF program was created after Congress and President Clinton passed the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act in 1966. The federal government funds this welfare program and States receives those funds through a federal block grant each year. In order for families to obtain the assistance from this program, they need to first meet a certain number of requirements. The first requirement consists

It is usually available to families who have children that are eighteen years or younger and living at home with the parents. Over the years, the number of recipients has continued to rise tremendously. In 2012, 68 families for every 100 received TANF benefits (Kearney, 2014). However, this figure increased in 2013, with 76 families for every 100 receiving the benefits (Kearney, 2014). The largest part of this increase was indeed legal. However, of the total new membership cases, about 15 percent were fraudulent. The amount that that state used in meeting the needs of the fraudsters in 2013 is thought to have been $5 million (Esping-Andersen, 2013). The major reason for such a low incidence of welfare benefit fraud has been due to the stern law. Nevertheless, the cost foregone is still an economic wastage for Texas. Besides lowering the ability of Texas to achieve a higher economic potential, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefit fraud is critical as it denies the eligible or the legal recipients a better level of assistance. If fraud was eliminated completely, the needy would be availed with more meaningful level of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families benefits and this would improve their social well-being

In 1996 the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant was created as a way to provide assistance to needy families and to end the dependence on government benefits through encouraging job preparation, marriage with the formation of two parent families, and work. In reality, TANF has created a weakened safety net and provides less protection for individuals facing poverty. It grants less assistance than before to lessen poverty and the hardship that comes along with it. The policy has become more of a Band-Aid that is continually ripped off due to its sanctions and requirements revealing the same deeper issues that were there in the first place. Families are stuck in a hole of poverty where they cannot climb out of, and policies like TANF help to maintain it. Since the year 2000, poverty in the U.S has been on the rise, especially the increase in deep poverty. The number of families in deep poverty rose from 2.7 million to 3 million between 1996 and 2013. This is an extremely important issue that we are currently facing in our country. More time and effort needs to be spent on both the creation and reformation of policies like TANF to help combat this rising issue in our country.

Under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) replaced AFDC, ending some Federal responsibility to welfare assistance. States operate their own programs; determine eligibility services to be provided to needy families, within Federal guidelines. The Federal government cannot regulate the conduct of states except to a few requirements, and states have a wide latitude in administering the program to "provide assistance to needy families so that children can be cared for in their own homes; to reduce dependency by promoting job preparation, work and marriage; to prevent out-of-wedlock pregnancies; and to encourage the formation and

I would go about identifying eligible families for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, TANF, benefits by using what the requirements are for Pennsylvania residents on the TANF website. According to the TANF Program (n.d.a), “you must be a United States citizen and a resident of Pennsylvania” (para. 8) to apply for TANF benefits. If you are a “non-citizen lawfully admitted for permanent residency, you may be eligible” (TANF Program, n.d.a, para. 8) for TANF benefits. “You also must provide you and your family’s Social Security numbers” (TANF Program, n.d.a, para. 8). Another requirement is that you are to be “looking for a job or participating in an employment training program” (TANF Program, n.d.a, para. 8). Potential TANF beneficiaries “are required to help the caseworker complete an Agreement of Mutual Responsibility, which is a plan for what you will do so you no longer need cash assistance” (TANF Program, n.d.a, para. 8). If you need cash assistance for children, your children must be under age 18 or be 18 and a fulltime student (TANF Program, n.d.a). To be a recipient of TANF benefits, you must have “your children living with you and you must care for the children” (TANF Program, n.d.a, para. 8). You also must have “your resources have a value of $1,000 or less” (TANF Program, n.d.a, para. 8). You also “must report all income from employment or from other sources including, but not limited to, child support, unemployment compensation, interest, Social

Most of these families and individuals now are in programs like Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, also known as welfare(National Coalition,2009), Medicaid and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. These programs provide cash, health care benefits and food for these families and most individuals helping the individuals or families to get back on their feet although some will get denied for such help.

Federal Government has the ability to create positive change in many social welfare systems. The support of the government ultimately determines the success of a social welfare program. They play an important role in the decisions of how funds are allocated and the importance of these various vulnerable populations. The federal government is used as a tool, to help implement and support social welfare programs. However, from my own opinion, it is sometimes lacking in the proper support needed in many aspects. This is caused by a plethora of reasons, not to say that the government is completely unsupportive. Yet, there may be a gap in the perception of these social issues. The government puts in place laws, regulations, system structures, and so on. Therefore, because the government are the implementers of how our country is ran, it is their responsibility to be a main facets in the support of the gaps that inevitably occur. Nonetheless, it can be difficult to understand the needs of these population’s and the reality of their hardships. Most in a position of power, such as the federal government, have not experienced the severity of the many situations, that results in individuals needing assistance from these social welfare programs. Moreover, it is essential that there is outreach to these populations. All the same, getting a more realistic view of the life in these contexts. For instance, the time cap of being on assistance throughout one’s

I believe that people who are in need should get the proper assistance they deserve. In high school, I volunteered at a soup kitchen and saw how children struggled to obtain their basic needs and in some essence, loss a piece of their childhood. I support TANF especially since it helps families, which includes aiding children who do not have the ability to support themselves. It is hard for me to see the children suffer especially since it is no fault of their own.

This paper reveals the facts about Department for Children and Families. It deciphers the role of investigator in saving the children from abuse and the constraints and external pressures catered by him during the entire process. It also reveals the facts about the powerful role of law in impelementing the measures to prevent child abuse of any form.

TANF which is a program that provides cash assistance to needy families. The state is permitted to drug-test these recipients. Although the states must have a “reasonable suspicion” of illicit drug use in order to perform the test. TANF and SNAP are two very closely related programs. Administrators have tried to limit assistance to only “worthy” families. The definition of a worthy family has changed over the years. In the past it was based on a families morals. As where today it is base on crime and drugs.

The safety net should have support systems available to aid in the family’s ability to restructure its dynamics and come to terms with a new reality. When this does not happen for a family, it leaves them unsure of the next steps to take for their child, emotionally exhausted, and with fewer economic resources. “When safety nets are smaller and less certain, families serve more prominent roles as educators, healthcare providers, personnel managers, and social workers for their members” (Bogenschneider, 2014, p. 115). As many families in America face caring for their family members in situations such as autism, aging parents, children with disabilities, and others who are chronically ill it is time to implement an effective government safety net to help families restructure and face the challenges as an cohesive family