PolicyEngine adds New York Family Assistance (TANF) to US model

Enhancing analysis of public policy impacts on needy families.

Today we are expanding our tax-benefit model to include New York Family Assistance, the state’s Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. This update allows for better understanding of the program’s impact on recipients and the wider community. In this blog post, we will outline the key features of the New York TANF program, as well as some important considerations in the model’s calculations.

The New York TANF program provides financial assistance to eligible families, with the maximum benefit level dependent on household size. The program determines eligibility through the need standard, which considers both earned and unearned income. The countable income for the need standard is calculated by applying certain disregards and exclusions to the recipient’s earnings.

In New York, the Earned Income Disregard (EID) is set at 50% as of October 1, 2022, and will be adjusted annually beginning June 1, 2023. This means that 50% of a recipient’s earned income is excluded from the countable income calculation for eligibility. Additionally, the first $150 of monthly earnings is disregarded as a work expense. It is important to note that the policy of only applying the EID for earnings up to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) for those residing in temporary housing shelter types remains unchanged.

Eligibility for the New York TANF program is also determined by demographic factors. Generally, a child is eligible if they are under 18 years of age or under 19 if they are a full-time student. New York limits eligibility to households with less than $2,000 in resources, or $3,000 if the household contains anyone aged 60 or older. While New York technically applies income limits, it is structured to mirror the benefit amount exceeding zero, making it effectively null.

Consider a single parent of one in the chart below. They could receive up to $252 per month ($3,024 per year) if they earn less than the $150 earnings disregard. The benefit then phases out at 50 cents per dollar of earnings, until it reaches zero when they earn $654 ($7,848 per year).

This chart doesn’t exactly capture all vertices, as it is in $500 earnings increments.

PolicyEngine’s model computes various factors to provide a comprehensive understanding of the New York TANF program’s effects on eligible families and the broader community. The model’s inclusion of the New York TANF program aids policymakers, researchers, and the public in examining the program’s impact, exploring potential policy changes, and facilitating informed discussions on the future of public assistance programs like TANF.

In conclusion, PolicyEngine’s model, now featuring the New York TANF program, serves as an essential resource for those interested in the effects of social welfare policies, leading to better-informed policy decisions and an enhanced understanding of the program’s impact on families and communities.

max ghenis
PolicyEngine's Co-founder and CEO



donglai xu
Data Analyst at PolicyEngine



lin tao
Data Analyst at PolicyEngine

© 2025 PolicyEngine. All rights reserved.