Fixing for Your Life

Abstract

A commentary about a report by Marianne Bitler and Hilary Hoynes that examines the question of how the social safety net has changed over time and how these changes have affected the well-being of families is presented. Many indicators suggest that the safety net has changed substantially. Whether in terms of program case loads or in terms of expenditure, over the past 15 years or so, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) and its successor Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) have become less important, while the earned income tax credit (EITC) and the food stamp program have steadily expanded. More recently, enrollment in and spending on unemployment insurance skyrocketed in the Great Recession. Adapted from the source document.