How TANF Dollars Are Spent

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF helps eligible families with children cover necessities like utilities, school clothes and diapers.

TANF benefits fall short of what families need to meet their basic needs, but helps them when they have very low or no other income. For example, the maximum TANF benefit for a family of three in the district is only 35 percent of the federal poverty level.

Approximately 60 percent of district households receiving TANF live in Wards 7 and 8.

In July, the Council reversed some of the mayor’s proposed cuts to TANF and added $5.5 million for a cost-of-living adjustment to increase TANF benefits to keep up with inflation. However, the budget phases out adults who have been in the program for longer than 60 months and halts cost-of-living increases starting in FY27. This change is expected to impact up to 6,500 households.

The Council also increased the TANF child support “pass-through” –the money that the government collects from noncustodial parents when a custodial parent receives TANF—from $150 to $200. This $50 increase means more money goes directly to families.