{"id":9030,"date":"2023-01-05T23:46:11","date_gmt":"2023-01-06T05:46:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/empowermissouri.org\/?p=9030"},"modified":"2023-08-07T20:27:31","modified_gmt":"2023-08-08T01:27:31","slug":"cash-benefits-are-a-critical-resource-for-families-experiencing-poverty","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/empowermissouri.org\/es\/cash-benefits-are-a-critical-resource-for-families-experiencing-poverty\/","title":{"rendered":"Cash Benefits are a Critical Resource for Families Experiencing Poverty"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last year, we advocated against HB 2085<\/a>, a bill that would prevent households which receive TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) from withdrawing those benefits in cash. This bill has been re-filed this year as HB 338<\/a>, despite the fact that cash is a necessary resource, especially for households in poverty. This bill will increase the burdens placed on our neighbors in poverty, harm kids in those families by increasing the stigma they face, and will violate federal law, which could end TANF in Missouri. We are recapping this post from our archives to highlight this important topic again this year. If you’re interested in learning more, make sure you join us for our January Friday Forum – TANF & Cash Access<\/a>, on Friday, January 13th.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are many misconceptions about the TANF program in Missouri. Cash assistance is an <\/span>evidence-based<\/span><\/a> safety net program designed to help fill in the gap for the poorest households in the state. This assistance is designed to help households provide their basic needs that are not covered by other types of assistance- because families know best what gaps they need filled. Households can use <\/span>TANF for all sorts of essentials<\/span><\/a> like diapers, hygiene products, cleaning supplies, clothing and shoes, transportation, and more.<\/span> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

TANF in Missouri is only available to very low income households with children. <\/span>90% of those households are led by single moms<\/span><\/a>, and 75% of the recipients are children (which shows that most TANF households are single moms with multiple children). These households must work full-time if their child is over the age of six or 20 hours per week if the household has children under six. They can\u2019t have assets more than $1,000 and only receive this funding for 45 months total in their lifetime. This helps to paint a picture of the average TANF family: single, working moms unable to provide for their basic needs. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Proponents for this change to limit cash access say it is because some households use that money for drugs, porn, alcohol, or other \u2018undesirable\u2019 uses. EBT cards are already not accepted at locations providing these goods \/ services. Further, we\u2019d counter that the evidence supporting that accusation is very thin. However, we know what households do use cash assistance for:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n