Description of Indicator
This indicator identifies the number and percentage of households receiving cash assistance, or public assistance income. Eligible households benefit from programs such as Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF).
Why is it important?
Programs like TANF offer support to families with children and pregnant individuals. For a total of five years within their lifetimes, households may use cash assistance to meet various needs, such as rent, utilities, transportation, and education. Providing cash assistance to low-income families can diminish financial barriers to well-being.
How is the region performing?
A small proportion of households receive cash assistance across the three-county area and statewide; Wayne County’s 2020 share of 5.4 percent is the largest documented during the study period. That rate has since declined, falling to 2.8 percent in 2023. The proportion of households receiving cash assistance dropped slightly in Luzerne County compared to the prior year. Conversely, the proportion of households receiving cash assistance increased slightly in Lackawanna County compared to the prior year. Over the periods analyzed, the percentages of households receiving cash assistance have increased marginally.