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How States Spend Federal TANF Funds

States spend TANF dollars differently.

State governments put federal welfare funding to use in a variety of different ways.

In all, states in 2015 spent roughly 51 percent of federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funding on areas defined as "core activities," which encompass job training programs, subsidized work, child care and basic cash assistance. Twenty four states spent less than half of funding on these core activities, according to an analysis by the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

The following graphic illustrates how states spent TANF funding in 2015:


Special Projects