Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)
Date posted: 02/26/2009
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Since the introduction of welfare reform in 1997, cash assistance to eligible families is administered under a program called Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). This program, intended to promote self-sufficiency, assists low-income families by transitioning them from monthly cash assistance to entry into the workforce. Program assistance is limited to families with dependent children or parents of an unborn child. The amount received is based on the number of family members. Benefits are generally limited to 60 months over an adult recipient's lifetime.
What this chart shows: Larimer County Households Applying for TANF Cash Assistance, 2006 - 2008
Data Source: Larimer County Department of Human Services
What these data tell us:
There was little month-to-month variation in 2006 and 2007 in the numbers of people applying for TANF benefits. However, in the last half of 2008, there was a steady increase in the number of applications received. Applications increased 52% from January 2008 to December 2008.
In September of 2004, the state implemented a new computer system, the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS), which collects data differently from the previous method. Data reporting difficulties were experienced statewide. In Larimer County, families continued to receive benefits despite reporting problems with the database. When TANF was reauthorized in 2006, a new regulation eliminated support for post-secondary students. Effective October 1, 2008, support for those clients pursuing a college degree was reinstated.
What this chart shows: Larimer County Households Receiving TANF Cash Assistance, 2006 - 2008
Data Source: Larimer County Department of Human Services
What these data tell us:
During the three-year period from 2006 through 2008, there was a 48% decrease in the average monthly number of households in Larimer County receiving TANF benefits. Starting in October 2008 there was a slight increase in the number of households receiving TANF benefits. This is most likely due to the reinstatement on October 1, 2008, of the provision allowing approval of benefits for clients pursuing a college degree.
In September of 2004, the state implemented a new computer system, the Colorado Benefits Management System (CBMS), which collects data differently from the previous method. Data reporting difficulties were experienced statewide. In Larimer County, families continued to receive benefits despite reporting problems with the database. When TANF was reauthorized in 2006, a new regulation eliminated support for post-secondary students.
Additional Information:
On Compass -
- Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)
- Children in Families - Single and Two Parents
- Economy - Business
- Food Stamps
- Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP)
- Median Family Income
- Per Capita Personal Income
- Poverty
- Reduced/Free School Lunches
- Self-Sufficient Wages
Outside Compass -
- Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute/ The Self-Sufficiency Standard for Colorado 2008: A Family Needs Budget - this report, produced by the Colorado Fiscal Policy Institute, uses the Self-Sufficiency Standard to calculate the income needed by families in each Colorado county to meet basic needs without public or private assistance.
- WomenGive provides grants for childcare, enabling single mothers to pursue career-advancing educational opportunities. Funded by United Way of Larimer County, the WomenGive Fund accepts applications for fall, spring, and summer semesters.
- Federal Poverty Guidelines
- Larimer County Department of Human Services - Basic Assistance Programs
- MDRC - Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation is a non-profit, social policy research organization that publishes numerous reports about family self-sufficiency issues.
- National Center for Children in Poverty - a nonprofit, nonpartisan research and policy organization at Columbia University that provides a TANF Policy summary for all fifty states.
Standards or Targets: N/A
Data Table:
Number of Households Applying for TANF Cash Assistance - Larimer County
|
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
January |
138 |
136 |
189 |
365 |
|
February |
101 |
108 |
129 |
273 |
|
March |
126 |
137 |
154 |
302 |
|
April |
105 |
108 |
179 |
375 |
|
May |
124 |
123 |
146 |
289 |
|
June |
175 |
128 |
160 |
329 |
|
July |
132 |
155 |
202 |
370 |
|
August |
156 |
146 |
244 |
|
|
September |
124 |
138 |
281 |
|
|
October |
165 |
163 |
303 |
|
|
November |
129 |
151 |
254 |
|
|
December |
107 |
124 |
287 |
|
|
Yearly Total |
1,582 |
1,617 |
2,528 |
|
|
Yearly Average |
132 |
135 |
211 |
Number of Households Receiving TANF Cash Assistance - Larimer County
|
|
2006 |
2007 |
2008 |
2009 |
|
January |
614 |
472 |
299 |
230 |
|
February |
595 |
436 |
290 |
265 |
|
March |
609 |
457 |
282 |
292 |
|
April |
601 |
420 |
254 |
336 |
|
May |
571 |
407 |
262 |
328 |
|
June |
592 |
381 |
243 |
360 |
|
July |
540 |
379 |
222 |
370 |
|
August |
516 |
350 |
208 |
|
|
September |
489 |
338 |
195 |
|
|
October |
489 |
328 |
229 |
|
|
November |
481 |
300 |
231 |
|
|
December |
485 |
287 |
253 |
|
|
Yearly Total |
6,582 |
4,555 |
2,968 |
|
|
Yearly Average |
549 |
380 |
247 |