Who Participates in TANF? Variation by Exposure to Work Requirements

Katherine Richard and Lea Bart

AEA Papers and Proceedings, 2026, vol. 116, 314-319

Abstract: Since its enactment in 1996, participation in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program has steadily declined. This paper uses administrative records covering the universe of Michigan TANF participants between 2010 and 2018 to characterize how the TANF caseload changed over this period, which spanned policy reforms that reduced time limits and increased penalties for violating work requirements. We identify important compositional differences between participants that are subject to work requirements relative to those who are not, and between participants who comply with work requirements relative to those who violate them.

JEL-codes: H75 I32 I38 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2026
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DOI: 10.1257/pandp.20261087

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