Hi John,

TANF is a vital component of our safety net and an essential tool for economic recovery.

In Washington state, the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)/WorkFirst program, is designed to protect families living on low incomes from the harmful impacts of deep poverty and open a path to financial stability. During the COVID-19 pandemic, TANF has become an increasingly essential lifeline to many families hit hardest by the economic crisis as they have become newly eligible for the grant or find themselves in need of support again, having lost financial stability gained since the last recession.

Washington’s TANF grant gives direct, flexible cash assistance to families so they can better afford their household’s needs like rent, clothes, diapers, medication, or school supplies. In a detrimental effort to save money, the State Legislature cut spending on TANF by nearly 60% between 2008 and 2018, drawing resources away from those with the highest level of need. In order to provide adequate support for those who have been hit hardest by the pandemic, state lawmakers must reinvest in the TANF program and increase access for those who need it most.

The original SB 5214 intended to undo harmful cuts made during the 2008 budget shortfall and remove barriers that prevent families from accessing TANF. Unfortunately, SSB 5214 has been amended and will now accomplish significantly less.

The amended bill is designed to boost access to the TANF grant during times of severe economic crisis by extending the 60-month lifetime limit for each month the state unemployment rate is above 7%. While this amendment serves to bolster support during widespread economic hardship, it does not address inequities in the calculation of the unemployment rate. After the 2008 Great Recession, the national unemployment rate began improving markedly in 2010, but not until December 2017 did it recover to pre-recession levels for people of all age, gender, racial/ethnic, and education categories. We cannot support measures that widen existing economic racial and gender gaps. We need policies that give every family a chance to build financial resilience.

It is time for state lawmakers to increase investment in the TANF grant to higher than pre-2008 recession levels.

According to the University of Washington’s Self-Sufficiency Standards, the monthly the cost of living increased about $1,400 between 2008 and 2019 to $5,181 a month in mid-range Kitsap County for a household with one adult and two children. Meanwhile, the monetary value of the monthly TANF cash grant for a family of three is worth less now than in 2008. With limits on how much a household can earn and still receive the TANF grant, families in Washington are too often forced to forego basic needs.

The Ways and Means Committee will vote on SSB 5214 THIS THURSDAY 2/18 at 1:30pm.

WE NEED YOUR VOICE to strengthen TANF as a lifeline for families across Washington state:

Take a minute now to e-mail your state senator if they sit on the Ways and Means Committee urging them to invest in TANF and ensure equitable access to this critical lifeline.