On Monday, Arizona’s Governor Jan Brewer ordered the Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) to redirect $650,000 from within its budget to support the federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program through October 31. Under Brewer, Arizona was the only state to stop services due to the federal shut down.
According to DES, approximately 13,300 – or about 80 percent – of these families were already paid their monthly benefit by October 2. With the federal shutdown, funding of cash assistance dried up for the remaining 3,200 families.
Approximately 16,500 Arizona families, which includes 27,545 children, currently receive cash assistance through TANF. TANF is a federal program that provides temporary financial assistance for Arizona’s most in-need and vulnerable. Due to the federal government shutdown, the funding source for TANF cash assistance expired September 30. As a result, Arizona, one of only 11 states to use only federal money to operate the program, did not have funding available to support TANF after October 2. This action will ensure these families receive their support retroactively through the end of October.
The consequences to Arizona’s vulnerable families will be dire if the federal government shutdown is not resolved by November. In addition to the tens of thousands of Arizonans, who will be without TANF assistance, more than 1.1 million others will be dropped from the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), commonly known as the food stamp program. Further, child care subsidies will no longer be provided for approximately 26,000 Arizona children, resulting in the loss of critical child care assistance that allows families to remain gainfully employed while ensuring a safe environment for their children.