The Prevalence of TANF Child-Only Cases Involving Immigration-Status-Ineligible Parents

This Office of Family Assistance brief focuses specifically on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) child-only cases in which a child receives assistance while a parent is excluded from the assistance unit because of citizenship or immigration status. The brief examines how common these cases are among broader TANF child-only cases and brings greater attention to a part of TANF that can be easy to overlook.

For TANF practitioners, this resource provides useful context for understanding the families behind child-only cases and the different circumstances that can shape eligibility. It can help TANF staff understand the impact of child-only cases involving a parent excluded because of immigration status and how they impact program caseloads, spending, and reporting.