Thread by @IfeFinchFloyd

So here I am minding my own business when Gov Kemp mentions #TANF for pregnant women/[persons].
What's Temporary Assistance for Needy Families? More below 1/
#SOST #gapol

TANF is the nation's cash assistance program for families w/ very, very low income. In order for them to receive monthly benefits they have to meet work and other requirements. And they can only receive assistance for a limited period of time, 48 mos. in GA. 2/

What is Gov. Kemp proposing?
Currently in GA, if you are a pregnant person w/ no other children, you are not eligible for TANF cash assistance. Kemp's proposal would allow for these pregnant persons to access the program if they meet other eligibility requirements. 3/

This narrow expansion is a good step. But there are several things to keep in mind about how far this program can support pregnant people.
4/

TANF benefits are very low & haven't changed for more than 30 yrs. A family of 1 would receive a max of $155/mo; a fam of 2, $235; fam of 3, $280. 5/

See how TANF benefits changed compared to other household essentials. (Given that inflation changed so rapidly in 2022, these prices may be different now. Still, you get the idea.) 6/
gbpi.org/fact-sheet-geo…

Also, GA has a policy called the #familycap. If a mother is already receiving TANF and has another child, her benefits do not increase for the larger family. (if we're talking about pregnant persons, let's address this too) 7/

Furthermore, work requirements may also be a challenge for pregnant persons who are turning to TANF because they are in crisis. They are often not meaningful or get people to well-paying jobs. 8/

If you don't meet these requirements, you can be cut from TANF potentially pushing your family deeper into poverty and hardship.

Research finds Black and Latinx TANF clients are more likely to lose TANF due to sanctions than white clients. 9/
cbpp.org/research/famil…

Low benefits & strict requirements mean very few families access the program. In Geogia, TANF reaches 5 families for every 100 poverty. 10/
cbpp.org/sites/default/…

There is a lot Georgia's legislators can do to improve TANF for pregnant persons and those improvements should be a part of a broader cash agenda to bolster #maternalhealth 11/
gbpi.org/cash-supports-…

TANF was built on a legacy of racism. Read more about how to move it in an anti-racist direction
gbpi.org/cash-matters-r…