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Committee hears bill to expand TANF time‑limit hardship exemptions amid testimony about families cut off
Summary
Lawmakers and advocates urged the Human Services, Youth & Early Learning Committee to expand state hardship exemptions that extend Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) past the federal 60‑month lifetime limit, saying thousands of Washington families lost benefits after a post‑COVID provision expired in 2023.
House Bill 1463 would expand the list of hardship circumstances that let the state extend federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits beyond the federal 60‑month cumulative limit.
Supporters told the Human Services, Youth & Early Learning Committee that the bill would restore flexibility some families had during the pandemic and prevent abrupt loss of cash assistance. "TANF is a program that helps families living in deep poverty meet their most basic needs," said Liana Kressen, an advocate with Poverty Action Network, testifying in support.…
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