Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
In 1996, Congress passed the Temporary Assistance to
Needy Families Act, overhauling the nation's welfare system. While
the
number of people on welfare has been reduced, some Americans have been
left behind by the reforms.
Studies show that significant numbers of TANF recipients have mental
impairments such as severe depression, general anxiety disorder, post-traumatic
stress disorder, learning disabilities, low intelligence, and physical
impairments. Such impairments can make it difficult for a parent to work
or to understand and comply with state rules concerning TANF eligibility.
Having a child with a disability can also make it hard for parents to
meet the program's work requirements. They may have to miss work to deal
with incidents arising from their child's disability or may have difficulty
finding appropriate childcare for the hours that they are at work.
Federal, state and local governments must ensure that people with
disabilities have equal and meaningful access to the TANF program.
The Bazelon Center is working with lawmakers to address the needs of
TANF recipients
with mental and physical disabilities.
Fact Sheets on the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families Program
The files below are in Adobe PDF format; you will need the free
Acrobat Reader to view them.
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