Kansas TANF funding drops 39 percent amid rising needs

During a recent government meeting, significant discussions centered around the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program in Kansas, following a performance audit requested by Representative Barbara Ballard. The audit, conducted by senior auditor Sam Dazs, aimed to assess changes in TANF funding and the impact of rule modifications since 2011.

Key findings revealed a substantial decrease in TANF cash assistance funding, which has dropped by 39% since 2009. This decline coincided with a significant reduction in assistance caseloads, which fell by approximately 77% from 12,600 cases in fiscal year 2009 to just 2,900 in fiscal year 2023. The audit highlighted that while the state receives about $102 million annually from the TANF block grant, this amount has not been adjusted for inflation since the program's inception in 1996, resulting in a loss of nearly 49% of its purchasing power.

The audit also examined the effects of the HOPE Act, enacted in 2015, which altered eligibility requirements and reduced the lifetime limit for cash assistance from 48 months to 24 months. Stakeholders expressed mixed opinions on the impact of these changes, with some studies indicating that stricter TANF rules could lead to negative outcomes for families, including increased child maltreatment cases and foster care placements.

Dazs noted that while Kansas has focused on preventative services for foster care, the overall effectiveness of TANF reforms remains uncertain. The meeting underscored the ongoing challenges faced by low-income families in Kansas, as eligibility criteria and benefit amounts have not been updated to reflect current economic realities. The committee plans to continue reviewing the implications of these findings on future TANF policies and funding strategies.