What does the TANF program do?

Temporary Aid to Needy Families is a federally funded program providing cash assistance to low-income families with dependent children, helping them become self-sufficient. TANF replaced federal welfare programs by providing grant money to states to allow them to provide a variety of social services.

TANF services include income assistance, including wage supplements for working poor families as well as child care, education assistance, job training and transportation. TANF assistance has a five-year limit for recipients that does not need to be consecutive; once a recipient has accumulated a total of five years of benefits under TANF, he is permanently ineligible.