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Reversing US welfare policy that was entitlement based and federally driven, the US Congress's passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunities Act of 1996 abolished federal cash assistance under Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and replaced AFDC with Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF). The primary effect of TANF is to give states considerable discretion in designing social welfare policies. Within the context of flexibility for states to administer welfare programs, TANF imposes work requirements on both welfare recipients and states. These profound changes have the potential to alter the nature of the state and local administration.
To analyze the many challenges and opportunities raised by TANF, this article reviews the main provisions of TANF, focusing on the changes of the state and local administration. Next, problems and possibilities at the state and local levels are discussed in order to examine the feasibility of TANF. Finally, the article suggests considerations for administrative reform at the state and local levels.
