Temporary Assistance for Neey Families (TANF, often pronounced "TAN-if") is the United States of America's federal assistance program, commonly known as “welfare”. It began on July 1, 1997, and succeeded the Aid to Families with Dependent Children program, providing cash assistance to indigent American families with dependent children through the United States Department of Health and Human Services. Before 1996, eligibility was determined simply by entitlement. Now, states are given grants to run their own programs.