Women’s Lived Experiences with Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF): How TANF Can Better Support Women’s Wellbeing and Reduce Intimate Partner Violence

Abstract

Women experiencing poverty are more likely to face intimate partner violence (IPV), poor health, and stigma. IPV survivors are overrepresented among those who receive Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), a conditional cash program serving families experiencing poverty. More generous TANF policies may be protective against IPV, but a greater insight into TANF’s effect could be gleaned through a contemporaneous study that examines intersecting determinants of wellbeing and engages community interpretation of findings. Using an adapted Family Stress Model framework and analyzing data through an intersectional and community-based lens, we explore the impact of TANF on women’s wellbeing through in-depth, semi-structured interviews during the COVID-19 pandemic with 13 women who had TANF experience in three U.S. states. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis in MAXQDA and researchers facilitated three member-checking events to enhance validity of result interpretation. Four themes emerged: (1) Low cash and conditional benefits provided limited short-term “relief” but contributed to poverty and hard choices; (2) TANF benefit levels and conditions increased women’s dependence on others, straining relationships; (3) Women undertook extraordinary measures to access TANF, largely to fulfill their roles as mothers; and (4) TANF stigma creates psychological stress, differentially experienced by African Americans. Increasing TANF cash benefits and other cash transfers for those experiencing poverty, adopting solely state funded TANF programs, increasing funding for TANF administration, addressing TANF stigma and racialized narratives, and allowing optional child support participation or a larger “pass-through” of child support are important steps toward making TANF more protective against IPV.

“There’s room to do more”: a mixed-methods study of the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) diversion program and intimate partner violence in Georgia

“…This has been suggested by other examinations of TANF diversion at the national level ( 47 ). Additionally, there is broad recognition among psychologists that IPV is associated with psychological stress of varying intensities and durations ( 24 , 90–93 ). For example, IPV survivors may endure long-term or chronic stress from continual violence and intimidation, as well as short-term stressors that culminate over time, such as becoming unemployed or lacking the transportation to escape ( 24 , 93–95 ).…”

“…Additionally, there is broad recognition among psychologists that IPV is associated with psychological stress of varying intensities and durations ( 24 , 90–93 ). For example, IPV survivors may endure long-term or chronic stress from continual violence and intimidation, as well as short-term stressors that culminate over time, such as becoming unemployed or lacking the transportation to escape ( 24 , 93–95 ). Therefore, administering short-term interventions have been identified as an important element of coordinated community responses to IPV ( 96 ).…”

“…The survey of sample characteristics was followed by an in-depth semi-structured interview. Based on theory ( 23 , 24 , 39 , 82 ) and prior research on TANF and violence ( 23 , 24 ), three interview guides were developed for each group of interviewees: policy expert, caseworker and TANF recipient ( Table 1 ). All interviewees were asked about their personal or professional relationship to TANF, their understanding of TANF diversion policy, perceived benefits and harms of the TANF diversion policy, and recommendations.…”

“…The Family Stress Model is a widely applied theoretical framework that can elucidate such levers for intervention; this model describes how financial stressors contribute to family economic pressure, which can impair mental health, and, in turn, produce relationship conflict or distress ( 12 ). The FSM has been directly applied to intimate partner violence (IPV) in a handful of studies ( 23 , 24 , 39 ), and an abundance of prior research implicitly demonstrates its applicability to IPV. For instance, there is evidence that economic hardship in the family can be a risk factor for caregiver depression, relationship dissatisfaction, relationship conflict, and aggression toward an intimate partner ( 12 ).…”

“…In states such as Georgia, a diversion payment renders a TANF recipient ineligible for monthly assistance for up to 12 months; in others, the ineligibility period depends on the number of months’ worth of benefits the family received as a diversion payment ( 45 , 47 ). The potential impact of TANF diversion on IPV is inconclusive because diversion has received less research attention compared to other TANF policy components, such as sanctions ( 23 , 24 , 48–51 ), and time limits ( 23 , 24 , 50 , 52 , 53 ). Currently, the District of Columbia and 32 states have a diversion policy in place, including Georgia ( 45 ).…”