Legal Definitions - AFDC

AFDC stands for Aid to Families with Dependent Children.

AFDC was a significant federal assistance program in the United States that provided financial aid to low-income families with children. Established in 1935 as part of the Social Security Act, its primary goal was to offer economic support to families where a parent was absent, incapacitated, or, in some later iterations, unemployed. The program aimed to help families meet basic needs such as food, shelter, and clothing for their dependent children. AFDC was repealed in 1996 and replaced by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which introduced stricter work requirements and time limits for receiving benefits.

• Example 1: Single Mother Seeking Support

  A single mother of two young children, whose husband left the family and provides no financial support, struggles to pay rent and buy groceries. Before 1996, she would likely have qualified for AFDC, as her family had dependent children and an absent parent, making her eligible for the financial assistance needed to support her household.

• Example 2: Family Facing Parental Disability

  A family with three school-aged children experiences a sudden crisis when the primary wage-earning parent suffers a debilitating accident, rendering them unable to work and significantly reducing the family's income. In the era of AFDC, this family could have applied for benefits because they had dependent children and a parent who became incapacitated, meaning they could no longer provide for the family's financial needs due to a disability.

• Example 3: Unemployment Due to Economic Downturn

  A couple with a toddler and a newborn, where one parent worked full-time and the other stayed home, suddenly faces unemployment when the working parent's factory closes down, leaving them without income. While the "unemployed parent" component of AFDC (AFDC-UP) was more restricted and not available in all states, in jurisdictions where it existed, this family might have been eligible for AFDC benefits. The program would have provided a safety net to help them cover essential expenses for their dependent children during a period of parental unemployment.