Welfare Programs

There are hundreds of government programs to assist Americans living in poverty. Additionally, there are many non-pro�ts that assist. All government

programs are means-tested, with eligibility based on the need of the individuals. Welfare in the United States originated in the 1930s when the

government created six programs for those who had little or no income. Those programs have grown into hundreds of programs serving many who

have incomes above the poverty line as well as those with incomes below that line. The amount of money an individual or family can have as increased

over time, which increased the poverty line over time. There was some e�ort by Congress and the President to reform welfare programs in the 1990s.

At that time, people who were able were to get training or get jobs. This improved the poverty rate until states stopped enforcing it and the laws that

had helped were in some cases reversed.

Here are just a few of the many welfare programs that are available.

TANF

SNAP

SECTION 8

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families  (TANF) is a block grant run by individual states for families on welfare.

Take some time to review this Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report  on TANF bene�ts and their decline.

One of the best-known welfare programs in the United States today is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program  (SNAP). SNAP was

formerly known as food stamps.

Take a look to see which foods are eligible  and which are not. For themost current eligibility  , please click on the link.

A bene�t o�ered by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) is the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)  . This tax credit is a bene�t for working people

with low to moderate income.

The Housing Choice Voucher Program  , sometimes called Section 8, is the federal program for assisting low-income families with housing. In

some cases, these vouchers can also be used to purchase real estate.

EITC