Unsung heroes: Relative caretakers in child-only cases.

Policy & Practice of Public Human Services, March, 2002 by Martin, Linda S.

Much attention has focused on families receiving Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits. Yet, less attention has been given to TANF cases that do not have an adult receiving assistance. Such "child-only cases" are generally exempt from federal and state requirements. In South Carolina, cases may be child-only if the parents receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or if the caregivers are relatives who do not receive cash assistance.

Nationally, child-only cases are not growing in absolute numbers but are becoming an increasing proportion of the overall TANF caseload. In South Carolina, the TANF caseload has dropped 70 percent since 1994 and, consequently, child-only cases have grown to become half of the caseload (as of February 2001)....

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