Impact of the Great Recession on Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Participation in the U.S.

Abstract

The economic downturn of 2008-09 was so severe that it has become known as the Great Recession and by most accounts the subsequent recovery has been slow and perhaps even non-existent. Rather than characterizing the recession and subsequent recovery by labor market performance, one could instead look at the demands on social services for those in need. This study presents data from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture from 2007, 2009 and 2011.