AFDC (Aid to Families with Dependent Children)

Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) was a U.S. government program established in 1935 that provided financial assistance to low-income families with children. It aimed to help single parents, primarily mothers, support their children when they were unable to earn enough money. AFDC allowed recipients to receive monetary aid based on their family's needs, with the goal of reducing poverty. The program was replaced in 1996 by the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which introduced work requirements and time limits on benefits. AFDC's legacy still influences current policies on family assistance.