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
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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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