Southern states take up seven of the 10 worst rankings for TANF benefits: Benefits as a share of the federal poverty level in the most and least generous states for TANF
| State | 1996 | 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| New Hampshire | 50.8% | 60.0% |
| California | 55.1% | 54.5% |
| North Dakota | 39.8% | 42.1% |
| Vermont | 55.2% | 41.3% |
| Wyoming | 33.3% | 40.5% |
| Connecticut | 58.8% | 40.2% |
| Maryland | 34.5% | 38.2% |
| New York | 53.3% | 38.1% |
| Massachusetts | 48.5% | 37.8% |
| Alaska | 68.3% | 35.6% |
| Texas | 17.4% | 15.8% |
| Indiana | 23.1% | 15.4% |
| Idaho | 29.3% | 14.9% |
| Florida | 28.0% | 14.6% |
| Missouri | 27.0% | 14.1% |
| Oklahoma | 28.4% | 14.1% |
| Georgia | 25.9% | 13.5% |
| North Carolina | 25.1% | 13.1% |
| Mississippi | 11.1% | 12.6% |
| Arkansas | 18.9% | 9.8% |
Note: States are ranked based on benefit levels as a percentage of the federal poverty line for a family of three in 2023. For example, the maximum benefit in Arkansas was $204, which is 9.8% of the federal poverty level of $2,072.
Source: Adapted from Diana Azevedo-McCaffrey and Ali Safawi,To Promote Equity, States Should Invest More TANF Dollars in Basic Assistance, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, January 2022.