EITC & TANF Participation among Young Adult Low-income Families

Relying on data from the National Longitudinal Surveys, this article examined EITC & TANF participation among low-income families (N=1,098). Program use (EITC only, TANF only, or both EITC and TANF) was found to vary by age, number of children in the household, ethnicity/race, work effort, marital status, prior program participation, and sex of participants. Those with two or more children, the least education, ethnic/racial minorities, women, and married persons were more likely than their respective counterparts to take advantage of either or both vis-a-vis neither program. Findings suggested that EITC and TANF are well-targeted but underutilized programs.