TANF Reauthorization in Illinois Takes a Wrong Turn: Eliminating the Best Route out of Poverty

Over the past several months, states across the country have been revising their Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) programs in reaction to federal regulations with which they must be in compliance by October 1. Although these federal rules place undue limitations on “countable” work activities and impose burdensome work activity verification requirements for both TANF recipients and states, advocates in Illinois are concerned that the Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) has gone too far in restricting access to education and training—the best route out of poverty.

IDHS published proposed amendments to Illinois’s TANF program in July. Proposed changes include limiting vocational training programs to 12 months and no opportunity to attend a community college to earn an associate’s degree. These rules are already forcing individuals working hard to leave the welfare rolls and escape poverty to choose between continuing with their education and remaining on TANF.

The Shriver Center has been receiving reports that TANF recipients are already being told they must forgo educational opportunities altogether if they want to keep their TANF grants. This is bad policy. TANF participants should not be forced to choose between school and TANF. Instead they should be given the opportunity to pursue the best route off welfare, out of poverty, and toward career-path employment. Under the proposed rule, more TANF participants will remain in low-paying dead-end jobs and fewer will wind up with careers. Although IDHS is under pressure to run its TANF program within the federal parameters, the new federal rules do not require the drastic, wholesale elimination of these education programs.

The text of the proposed rules can be found in volume 31, pages 10404–45, of the Illinois Register.  The Shriver Center submitted written comments.

Soon IDHS will file the proposed rules with the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules (JCAR), at which point another 45-day public comment period commences. Advocates may submit comments on the proposed rules directly to JCAR or to the individual legislators who sit on the committee.

If you or someone you know has been forced to choose between TANF and school, contact Liz Mazur of the Shriver Center at lizmazur@povertylaw.org or 312.263.3830 ext. 225.

This is the first article in a multipart series on TANF reauthorization in Illinois.