Deeply poor families still earn too much for TANF
In July 2011, in more than half the states, a family with earnings at 50% of the Federal Poverty Level earned too much to qualify for cash assistance under TANF.
CLASP calculation based on Urban Insitute's Welfare Rules Database, Table I.E.4.
|
State |
Monthly maximum earnings an applicant can receive and still be eligible for assistance |
Yearly Maximum Earnings |
Yearly maximum earnings as % of FPL |
| Alabama | $269 | $3,225 | 17.40 |
| Alaska | $1,554 | $18,648 | 80.52 |
| Arizona | $585 | $7,020 | 37.88 |
| Arkansas | $279 | $3,345 | 18.05 |
| California | $1,224 | $14,688 | 79.27 |
| Colorado | $421 | $5,052 | 27.26 |
| Connecticut | $880 | $10,560 | 56.99 |
| Delaware | $428 | $5,136 | 27.72 |
| D.C. | $588 | $7,056 | 38.08 |
| Florida | $393 | $4,716 | 25.45 |
| Georgia | $514 | $6,168 | 33.29 |
| Hawaii | $1,740 | $20,880 | 97.94 |
| Idaho | $648 | $7,776 | 41.96 |
| Illinois | $772 | $9,265 | 50.00 |
| Indiana | $378 | $4,536 | 24.48 |
| Iowa | $1,061 | $12,735 | 68.73 |
| Kansas | $519 | $6,228 | 33.61 |
| Kentucky | $908 | $10,896 | 58.80 |
| Louisiana | $359 | $4,308 | 23.25 |
| Maine | $1,023 | $12,276 | 66.25 |
| Maryland | $718 | $8,610 | 46.47 |
| Massachusetts | $708 | $8,496 | 45.85 |
| Michigan | $815 | $9,780 | 52.78 |
| Minnesota | $1,224 | $14,688 | 79.27 |
| Mississippi | $458 | $5,496 | 29.66 |
| Missouri | $557 | $6,684 | 36.07 |
| Montana | $753 | $9,040 | 48.79 |
| Nebraska | $886 | $10,632 | 57.38 |
| Nevada | $1,448 | $17,370 | 93.74 |
| New Hampshire | $844 | $10,125 | 54.64 |
| New Jersey | $636 | $7,632 | 41.19 |
| New Mexico | $1,017 | $12,204 | 65.86 |
| New York | $878 | $10,536 | 56.86 |
| North Carolina | $681 | $8,172 | 44.10 |
| North Dakota | $1,169 | $14,028 | 75.70 |
| Ohio | $773 | $9,276 | 50.06 |
| Oklahoma | $824 | $9,888 | 53.36 |
| Oregon | $616 | $7,392 | 39.89 |
| Pennsylvania | $677 | $8,124 | 43.84 |
| Rhode Island | $1,277 | $15,324 | 82.70 |
| South Carolina | $1,412 | $16,939 | 91.41 |
| South Dakota | $782 | $9,384 | 50.64 |
| Tennessee | $1,315 | $15,780 | 85.16 |
| Texas | $401 | $4,807 | 25.94 |
| Utah | $668 | $8,016 | 43.26 |
| Vermont | $1,053 | $12,636 | 68.19 |
| Virginia | $540 | $6,480 | 34.97 |
| Washington | $954 | $11,448 | 61.78 |
| West Virginia | $565 | $6,780 | 36.59 |
| Wisconsin | $0 | $0 | 0.00 |
| Wyoming | $776 | $9,312 | 50.25 |
| Massachusetts value shown is for non-exempt cases; Virginia value shown is for VIEW cases. Wisconsin is missing because units with full time employment (generally greater than 30 hours a week) will not receive a cash benefit in the state. |
|
2011 FPL was $18,530 for a family of three in all states, except for Alaska ($23,160) and Hawaii ($21,320). |