Legislation · 1996

Welfare reform enacted

Poverty policy timeline

Date1996-08-22
Event typeLegislation
IssuePoverty

What changed

Federal welfare law replaced AFDC with TANF and introduced work requirements and time limits.

Why it mattered

Changed the structure of cash assistance and federal-state responsibility.

Historical context

Federal welfare law replaced AFDC with TANF and introduced work requirements and time limits.

Changed the structure of cash assistance and federal-state responsibility.

Primary source

Welfare reform enacted →