Disentangling Administrative Burden: Why Some Families Forgo TANF Benefits

Variation in safety net participation in the United States exists across states and demographic groups, but it is stark among programs. Although the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) reaches around 80% of those eligible, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) reaches only around 20% of families in poverty. This study analyzes semi-structured interviews with nine SNAP recipients who appear to be eligible for TANF to explore the reasons some households choose to apply SNAP but not TANF. Findings highlight the differences in administrative burden present in each program, and the compliance costs of TANF that outweigh the benefits for some families.