AFDC

AFDC, or Aid to Families with Dependent Children, was a United States welfare program that provided cash assistance to low-income families with dependent children. It originated as Aid to Dependent Children (ADC) in 1935 under the Social Security Act and was renamed AFDC in 1962. The program was federally funded but administered by states, which used federal guidelines to determine eligibility and benefit levels. It operated as an entitlement for eligible families, with benefits typically based on family size and income, and subject to state rules on assets, income disregards, and eligibility requirements that evolved over time.

Eligibility for AFDC depended on family circumstances and poverty status, with the aim of ensuring a basic standard of living for children in needy households. Over the decades, the program expanded and also incorporated measures aimed at increasing work participation, enforcing child support, and reducing fraud. Critics argued that AFDC could create perverse incentives or long-term dependency, while supporters contended that it stabilized families and reduced child poverty during economic downturns.

In 1996, AFDC was replaced by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) under the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act. TANF shifted funding to block grants to states and introduced work requirements, time limits, and greater state discretion over program design and administration. The reform marked a shift from an open-ended entitlement toward a system emphasizing work, family self-sufficiency, and tighter federal oversight.

AFDC’s legacy continues to influence modern welfare policy, as TANF retains the overarching goal of providing temporary assistance to families with dependent children while tying aid to work-related requirements and family stability.