Economic Snapshot
Since traditional cash-assistance welfare was block-granted, it has been unresponsive to economic downturns: Recipients of AFDC/TANF cash assistance and SNAP benefits vs. number of Americans under poverty line, FY1985–2012, in millions
| Fiscal year | SNAP recipients | AFDC recipients | TANF recipients (block grant program) | Number in poverty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985-01-01 | 19.899 | 10.849 | 33.22225 | |
| 1986-01-01 | 19.429 | 10.99225 | 32.54325 | |
| 1987-01-01 | 19.113 | 11.02975 | 32.2575 | |
| 1988-01-01 | 18.645 | 10.943 | 31.86375 | |
| 1989-01-01 | 18.80646342 | 10.97275 | 31.58225 | |
| 1990-01-01 | 20.04897758 | 11.51925 | 33.07 | |
| 1991-01-01 | 22.624627 | 12.62125 | 35.177 | |
| 1992-01-01 | 25.40698542 | 13.56225 | 37.4375 | |
| 1993-01-01 | 26.9867745 | 14.097 | 38.95225 | |
| 1994-01-01 | 27.47369633 | 14.172 | 38.36125 | |
| 1995-01-01 | 26.61877283 | 13.60375 | 36.83375 | |
| 1996-01-01 | 25.54253117 | 12.59525 | 36.503 | |
| 1997-01-01 | 22.8581365 | 10.86225 | 10.86225 | 35.81275 |
| 1998-01-01 | 19.7909845 | 8.85425 | 34.7505 | |
| 1999-01-01 | 18.18253792 | 7.27975 | 33.21225 | |
| 2000-01-01 | 17.19433433 | 6.33825 | 31.8835 | |
| 2001-01-01 | 17.31845808 | 5.8235 | 32.5755 | |
| 2002-01-01 | 19.09563667 | 5.636 | 34.15425 | |
| 2003-01-01 | 21.24962583 | 5.51975 | 35.53825 | |
| 2004-01-01 | 23.810742 | 5.379 | 36.74525 | |
| 2005-01-01 | 25.62845608 | 5.1065 | 36.9725 | |
| 2006-01-01 | 26.54883317 | 4.6935 | 36.5825 | |
| 2007-01-01 | 26.31604458 | 4.20175 | 37.07125 | |
| 2008-01-01 | 28.22263025 | 4.0225 | 39.1905 | |
| 2009-01-01 | 33.4899745 | 4.2795 | 42.634 | |
| 2010-01-01 | 40.301878 | 4.54125 | 45.65025 | |
| 2011-01-01 | 44.70872608 | 4.56875 | 46.27125 | |
| 2012-01-01 | 46.6090715 | 46.43375 |
Note: Gray bars represent recessions. AFDC and TANF recipients are recipients of cash assistance within those programs.
Source: Author's analysis of data from Congressional Research Service, Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the National Bureau of Economic Research
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