New Report by Legal Momentum Shows TANF Sanctions Commonly and Erroneously Imposed

A new report by Legal Momentum, “The Sanction Epidemic in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program,” examines the serious harm financial sanctions cause recipients of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). Our report demonstrates that the sanctions are commonly utilized and imposed erroneously for extremely minor violations, resulting in undeserved hardships for families. Indeed, sanctioned TANF families often report maternal or child hunger, eviction or homelessness, and lack of medical care.

Some sanctions are “partial,” meaning a withholding of some (but not all) of the aid that a family would otherwise receive. Some sanctions are “full family” meaning a withholding of all of the aid that a family would otherwise receive. These sanctions often come as a result of minor violations, including failing to file a document. For example, the report describes the case of “a 43-year-old black woman, living in an emergency shelter and suffering from both shingles and AIDS, who was sanctioned for failing to attend an appointment at the Department of Labor. According to her, when she called the Department of Labor to say she would be 20 minutes late for her appointment she was told it was too late and was sanctioned.”

While sanctions contribute to the sharp reduction in program participation by eligible families, the federal statute incentivizes them, thus offering little hope of future sanction reduction. Full family sanctions have contributed to a decline in program participation from 84% of eligible families in 1995 to 40% of eligible families in 2005, the most recent year for which this information is available. Currently, only about two million families are receiving TANF although probably at least five million families are eligible.

TANF recipients are a disadvantaged and vulnerable population for whom the consequences of sanctions are severe. All are extremely poor. About a third are African-American and about a quarter are Hispanic. Ninety percent of the parents receiving TANF are single mothers, over half with a child below age 6 and over a quarter with a child below age 2. A third of parent recipients have a disability, a substantial portion are domestic violence victims. 40% lack a high school degree and only 3% have a college degree. One quarter of TANF recipient families include a child who has at least one chronic health problem or disability.

Are these really the people that should be further hindered from achieving economic security and independence?

The decline in TANF participation as a result of sanctions has devastating consequences for these individuals. Indeed, a study in twenty cities in fifteen states of mothers who had received TANF in the prior twelve months found that 42% of those who had been sanctioned and 27% of those who had not been sanctioned reported experiencing one or more of the following four hardships: maternal or child hunger; eviction or homelessness; utility shutoff; unable to receive medical care due to cost. Another study of TANF caregivers seeking emergency room treatment for a child in six cities found that compared to children in non-sanctioned families children in sanctioned families had a 30% greater risk of having been previously hospitalized, a 50% greater risk of food insecurity, and a 90% greater risk of being admitted to the hospital at the ER visit.

The Obama Administration has asked Congress to extend TANF’s current legislative authorization until September 30, 2011. When TANF is considered for reauthorization, Congress must look closely at sanction issues. In an assistance program for America’s neediest families, sanctions should be fair and rare. During a time of extreme economic insecurity for millions, needy families should be aided, not hurt, by TANF.

- Read “The Sanction Epidemic in the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program” here.

- To learn more about Legal Momentum’s work with TANF, click here.

- To learn more about TANF reauthorization, click here.

 

Comments

[Guild Wars 2 gold]

TANF recipients are a disadvantaged and vulnerable population for whom the consequences of sanctions are severe. All are extremely poor. About a third are African-American and about a quarter are Hispanic.

[American Taxpayer and welfare advocate]

I have to post on this one. I am extremly upset with the only viewpoint you guys are creating. I work for a contractor that controls the tanf program in my area. These clients are not all what your statistics state them to be. Sure, you have your sanctions, but its all up the the clients to keep their cases compliant. They are not sanctioned for any little thing, and the only thing they lose when they dont comply is there childcare benefits and their cash benefits. This program is designed to enable these clients to stand up for themselves, take control of their situation and learn to be employed and responsible. They are required to file weekly paperwork to ensure they are completing their goals and are on task to be self sufficient and able to take care of their kids once the 60 month time limit is completed. The responsibilities of keeping the case open and running smoothly lays solely upon the backs of those that signed paperwork stating they wanted to participate. This isnt like probation. They know what is required and they know what will happen when they are not compliant. They are not led into this blindly. I think someone needs to look into how many of these needy families are going hungry because the snap and tanf are going to fund habits other than utility bills and food. The abuse if the program lies within the clients misuse of the appropiated funds, and I for one see that first hand. I think you are casting a evil glow on a program that needs a makeover, but not from any side other than the clients. I think in order to receive these beneits the clients need to be drug free, and this would solve alot of the kids malnourishment and sickness. These kids dont go hungry because they lose their benefits, they go hungry when their parents sell the snap for cash to buy the weeks habit. You can verify it by sitting in any local welfare office. You can smell it on over half of them. If these statistics weren't so one-sided then I wouldnt have a say. But I for one think this is very unfair. Tanf is supposed to be a step up, in the right direction. Not a crutch. Some of these clients just don't care. I have to take my job one at a time, and help the ones that are obviously willing to be helped. Some of them just laugh at you when you try to get them to find employment, and tell you that the state pays them more to sit at home. Between the healthcare benefits and the tanf and snap, they make more than someone actually out there working for minimum wage. I just think that if drug testing were a requirement then the people on the system right now would be cut in half, and the 3 million or so that you claim need it would get on it because they would know it was a good decent program that wasnt pilfered through by people that were using it for all the wrong reasons. They would have faith that the whole welfare system was finally on the right track. I cant tell you how many countless emails I have received ranting and raving about having to pass a drug test to work and pay taxes that go into a system to fund people that dont have to do anything other than sit back and have kids and collect it, all without having to pass a single drug test. I for one think its very wrong also. So, please, before you go placing pity onto those that have been "sanctioned" go ahead and make them pass a drug test before they can repoen their case. Ask them to fill out a couple of job applications. Ask them to complete a training program or community service or work experience. They are not all the "innocent, pitiful victims" that you all percieve them to be.