Income assistance (AFDC/TANF)

Compared to Population Under Age 18

• With the implementation of welfare reform in 1997, Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF) caseloads dropped dramatically, despite the growing population of children under 18 years old. The share of children in TANF household declined to 3.3% in fiscal year 2024 from 7.0% in fiscal year 2011. The share of children in TANF households remained unchanged from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2024.
• The population of infants in TANF households, which had been growing through fiscal year 2010, flattened in fiscal years 2011 and began trending down thereafter. The share of infants in TANF households declined to 4.5% in fiscal year 2024 from 12.2% in fiscal year 2010. The share of infants in TANF households increased by 0.2% from fiscal year 2023 to fiscal year 2024.
• The increase in the AFDC caseload in the 1990s was a result of welfare reforms of that era, which stressed the need to prepare clients for work. Nationally it was known as the Family Support Act. In Washington, the program was known as the Family Independence Program (FIP).
• Policy changes implemented in February 2011 were responsible for majority of the decline in subsequent caseloads.

Data sources:

• Office of Financial Management
• Caseload Forecast Council

E-mail: OFM.Forecasting@ofm.wa.gov