Encouraging Savings: How Hawaii and Illinois Eliminated Their TANF Asset Tests

Public benefit programs, including Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), have historically included an asset limit. An asset limit prevents applicants with savings or other assets exceeding the limit from receiving assistance. Asset limits force families in need to spend their limited savings before they can qualify for assistance, leaving them vulnerable to financial emergencies and preventing them from moving along the path to financial security. Asset limits also discourage aid recipients from saving–sending the wrong message to families. Many states have eliminated the asset tests for their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps) and/or their medical assistance program, but most have retained their asset test for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). In addition to achieving the policy goal of encouraging savings, states can realize significant administrative savings by eliminating their TANF asset limit.

The webinar will feature advocates from Hawaii and Illinois who led successful campaigns to eliminate the TANF asset test in their respective states this past year. They will share:

• Effective messaging
• Advocating to the Governor’s office, Departments, and Legislators
• Responding to opposition
• Other lessons learned

Panelists will include:

• Brent Kakesako, Executive Director, Hawai’i Alliance for Community-Based Economic Development
• ‘Auli’i K. George, Public Policy Advocate, Public Policy, Office of Hawaiian Affairs
• Lucy Mullany, Senior Policy Associate, Policy & Advocacy at Heartland Alliance, and Coordinator, Illinois Asset Building Group
• Dan Lesser, Director, Economic Justice, Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law
• Dory Rand, President, Woodstock Institute

Tuesday, October 22, 2013 CST
1:30-2:30 p.m.

REGISTER NOW

Follow the webinar discussion and submit questions ahead of time on Twitter using the hashtag #assetlimits.

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