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Office of Community Service (left header) skip to primary page contentIncreasing the Capacity of Individuals, Families and Communities (right header)

CHAPTER 2. EXPENDITURES

This chapter focuses on Social Services Block Grant (SSBG) expenditures by State, by service, and in comparison with expended funds from other sources.

SSBG Expenditures Trends

During 2007, SSBG expenditures for all States, including the SSBG allocation (58%) and the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) block grant transfer (42%), totaled $2.8 billion. Expenditures of the SSBG allocation in 2007 were $1.7 billion.

Since 1997, States’ reports of SSBG expenditures have included the TANF block grant funds which were transferred to the SSBG program. The expenditure of these TANF transfer funds was at its highest during 2007; 44 States spent $1.2 billion in funds transferred from TANF, which was an 84% increase from 1998 ($639 million for 24 States). (See figures 2–1 and 2–2.)

Figure 2–1 Expenditures of SSBG Allocation,
1998–2007 (in millions) (N = 51 States)
Year Expenditures
1998 $229
1999 $189
2000 $177
2001 $171
2002 $169
2003 $169
2004 $162
2005 $182
2006 $182
2007 $166
Figure 2–2 Expenditures of Funds Transferred from TANF to SSBG,
1998–2007 (in millions)
Year Expenditures Number of States
1998 $64 24
1999 $117 36
2000 $102 41
2001 $95 42
2002 $96 48
2003 $81 45
2004 $88 45
2005 $93 45
2006 $93 42
2007 $118 44

SSBG Expenditures by State

The Federal Government allocates SSBG funds annually to States based on population. [14] As would be expected, States with large populations report larger SSBG expenditures. In addition, the amount of a State’s SSBG expenditures is greatly influenced by the amount of TANF funds that the State transfers into the SSBG program. Figure 2–3 shows States’ expenditures in the order of their SSBG-allocated funds, as well as funds transferred from TANF.

Figure 2–3 SSBG Expenditures by State, 2007 (in millions)
State SSBG Allocation TANF Transfer
California $206 $373
New York $85 $124
Texas $143 $30
Florida $98 $64
Michigan $58 $67
Ohio $66 $56
Illinois $74 $31
Pennsylvania $71 $31
Massachusetts $37 $46
Georgia $49 $22
New Jersey $48 $15
North Carolina $49 $14
Virginia $43 $14
Maryland $32 $23
Missouri $33 $22
Arizona $32 $23
Connecticut $20 $27
Washington $36 $10
Wisconsin $32 $13
Louisiana $27 $16
Colorado $26 $15
Alabama $26 $10
Oklahoma $20 $15
Minnesota $29 $5
Iowa $17 $13
Tennessee $29 $0
West Virginia $11 $18
South Carolina $24 $3
Mississippi $17 $10
Kentucky $24 $0
Kansas $16 $7
Puerto Rico $9 $14
Indiana $19 $2
Hawaii $11 $10
Utah $13 $5
Nevada $14 $2
Oregon $16 $0
Arkansas $16 $0
Maine $9 $3
New Mexico $11 $0
Nebraska $10 $0
New Hampshire $8 $1
Alaska $4 $5
Idaho $7 $1
Montana $5 $2
Vermont $3 $4
South Dakota $5 $2
District of Columbia $3 $4
Delaware $4 $3
Rhode Island $6 $0
Wyoming $3 $2
North Dakota $4 $0

California reported $579 million in SSBG expenditures ($373 million of which were TANF transfer funds), followed by New York ($209 million in expenditures, $124 million of which were TANF transfer funds), and Texas ($173 million, $30 million of which were TANF transfer funds). Five other States reported SSBG expenditures of more than $100 million—Florida ($162 million, $64 million of which were TANF transfer funds), Michigan ($125 million, $67 million of which were TANF transfer funds), Ohio ($123 million, $56 million of which were TANF transfer funds), Illinois ($105 million, $31 million of which were TANF transfer funds), and Pennsylvania ($102 million, $31 million of which were TANF transfer funds). These eight States accounted for 56% of all SSBG expenditures. In 10 States, SSBG expenditures were less than $10 million. (See figure 2–3.)

Per Capita Expenditures

Nationally, the average SSBG allocation for 2007 was approximately $5.60 per person. [15] However, State SSBG per capita expenditures varied from this amount if a State reported a TANF block grant funds transfer, carried over funds from previous years, or carried forward funds for use during the next year. [16] During 2007, the average of State per capita SSBG expenditures was $8.61, ranging from $3.34 (Indiana) to $16.02 (Hawaii). (See figure 2–4.)

Figure 2–4 SSBG Per Capita Expenditures by State, 2007
State SSBG Allocation TANF Transfer
Hawaii $8 $8
California $6 $10
West Virginia $6 $10
Alaska $6 $8
Connecticut $6 $8
Massachusetts $6 $7
Michigan $6 $7
District of Columbia $5 $7
Vermont $5 $7
New York $4 $6
Ohio $6 $5
Louisiana $6 $4
Iowa $6 $4
Oklahoma $6 $4
Maryland $6 $4
Missouri $6 $4
Wyoming $6 $4
Mississippi $6 $3
South Dakota $6 $3
Florida $5 $4
Maine $7 $2
Arizona $5 $4
Colorado $5 $3
Kansas $6 $3
Pennsylvania $6 $2
Illinois $6 $2
Wisconsin $6 $2
Delaware $5 $3
Alabama $6 $2
Montana $6 $2
Georgia $5 $2
Virginia $6 $2
Utah $5 $2
Texas $6 $1
New Jersey $5 $2
Washington $6 $2
North Carolina $6 $2
New Hampshire $6 $1
Minnesota $6 $1
South Carolina $6 $1
Nevada $6 $1
Puerto Rico $2 $4
North Dakota $6 $0
Kentucky $6 $0
Nebraska $6 $0
Rhode Island $6 $0
New Mexico $6 $0
Arkansas $6 $0
Idaho $5 $1
Tennessee $5 $0
Oregon $4 $0
Indiana $3 $0

SSBG Expenditures by Service

The five service categories that had the highest SSBG expenditures were child foster care services, child day care services, special services for individuals with disabilities, child protective services, and case management services. Thirty-eight States collectively spent $421 million for child foster care services (14.9% of all SSBG expenditures); 39 States reported $389 million for child day care services (13.7%); 26 States reported $367 million of SSBG expenditures for special services for individuals with disabilities (13.0%); 39 States reported $270 million of SSBG expenditures for child protective services (9.5%); and 29 States reported $189 million of SSBG expenditures for case management services (6.7%). (See figures 2–5 and 2–6.)

Figure 2–5 Percentage of SSBG Expenditures by Service, 2007
Service Percentage
22 Additional Services 25.7%
Foster Care Services—Children 14.9%
Day Care—Children 13.7%
Special Services—Disabled 13.0%
Protective Services—Children 9.5%
Case Management 6.7%
Home-Based Services 6.1%
Protective Services—Adults 5.7%
Prevention and Intervention 5.0%
Administrative Costs 4.7%
Note: Appendix F, table F-3, contains supporting data for this figure. The 22 additional services include those that were funded at 5% or less with SSBG expenditures.
Figure 2–6 SSBG Expenditures by Service, 2007 (in millions)
Service SSBG Allocation TANF Transfer Number of States
Foster Care Services—Children $140 $281 38
Day Care—Children $105 $284 39
Special Services—Disabled $299 $68 26
Protective Services—Children $109 $161 39
Case Management $126 $63 29
Home-Based Services $147 $25 34
Protective Services—Adults $157 $5 34
Other Services $97 $41 23
Prevention and Intervention $37 $93 32
Residential Treatment $61 $54 21
Family Planning Services $22 $18 13
Adoption Services $25 $14 25
Foster Care Services—Adults $24 $6 12
Home-Delivered Meals $28 $0 18
Counseling Services $23 $4 24
Special Services—Youth at Risk $18 $8 15
Transportation $16 $1 20
Health-Related Services $16 $2 14
Day Care—Adults $16 $1 21
Information and Referral $11 $6 16
Legal Services $10 $5 15
Employment Services $14 $0 11
Housing Services $7 $7 11
Education and Training Services $10 $1 17
Independent/Transitional Living $8 $2 16
Pregnancy and Parenting $4 $2 9
Congregate Meals $6 $0 13
Substance Abuse Services $5 $1 13
Recreation Services $1 $0 7
Note: Appendix F, table F–3, contains supporting data for this figure.

Table 2–1 shows the total SSBG expenditures—comprising the SSBG allocation and the TANF transfer funds—for each of the 29 service categories, as well as for administrative costs.

Table 2–1 SSBG Expenditures by Service, 2007
SSBG Service Categories SSBG Allocation TANF Transfer Total SSBG Expenditures Number of States
Adoption Services $24,947,660 $14,319,141 $39,266,801 25
Case Management $125,879,577 $63,213,488 $189,093,065 29
Congregate Meals $6,050,505 $7,945 $6,058,450 13
Counseling Services $22,759,992 $4,146,655 $26,906,647 24
Day Care—Adults $16,239,128 $1,020,089 $17,259,217 21
Day Care—Children $104,975,323 $284,403,390 $389,378,713 39
Education and Training Services $10,199,189 $1,425,953 $11,625,142 17
Employment Services $14,041,772 $126,579 $14,168,351 11
Family Planning Services $21,622,592 $17,659,129 $39,281,721 13
Foster Care Services—Adults $24,265,742 $6,345,923 $30,611,665 12
Foster Care Services—Children $139,583,337 $281,341,721 $420,925,058 38
Health-Related Services $16,006,943 $1,509,049 $17,515,992 14
Home-Based Services $146,771,403 $25,236,087 $172,007,490 34
Home-Delivered Meals $28,242,874 $66,407 $28,309,281 18
Housing Services $7,284,082 $6,557,513 $13,841,595 11
Independent/Transitional Living $8,193,096 $2,496,071 $10,689,167 16
Information and Referral $10,670,473 $5,662,258 $16,332,731 16
Legal Services $10,255,681 $5,311,674 $15,567,355 15
Pregnancy and Parenting $4,285,888 $2,461,822 $6,747,710 9
Prevention and Intervention $37,116,766 $93,323,764 $130,440,530 32
Protective Services—Adults $156,612,136 $5,092,684 $161,704,820 34
Protective Services—Children $108,580,914 $161,127,910 $269,708,824 39
Recreation Services $893,401 $307,642 $1,201,043 7
Residential Treatment $60,756,207 $54,140,450 $114,896,657 21
Special Services—Disabled $298,771,491 $68,065,226 $366,836,717 26
Special Services—Youth at Risk $18,308,126 $8,269,281 $26,577,407 15
Substance Abuse Services $4,604,774 $1,297,493 $5,902,267 13
Transportation $16,489,622 $1,337,298 $17,826,920 20
Other Services $96,538,358 $40,720,216 $137,258,574 23
Administrative Costs $115,569,892 $18,922,684 $134,492,576 36
TOTAL $1,656,516,944 $1,175,915,542 $2,832,432,486  

TANF Transfer Expenditures

States reported by service categories how they used the TANF transfer funds. Forty-four States spent $1.2 billion of TANF transfer funds. Among these States, the highest proportion of TANF transfer expenditures was for children’s services. Seventeen States collectively spent $284 million of TANF transfer funds for child day care services (24% of all TANF transfer funds expenditures); 26 States spent $281 million of TANF transfer funds for child foster care services (24%); and 24 States spent $161 million of TANF transfer funds for child protective services (14%). In addition, 19 States reported spending $93 million for prevention and intervention services (8% of all TANF transfer funds expenditures). (See figure 2–7.)

Figure 2–7 TANF Transfer Expenditures by Service, 2007 (in millions)
Service TANF Transfer Expenditures Number of States
Day Care—Children $284 17
Foster Care Services—Children $281 26
Protective Services—Children $161 24
Prevention and Intervention $93 19
Special Services—Disabled $68 9
Case Management $63 15
Residential Treatment $54 10
Other Services $41 14
Home-Based Services $25 8
Family Planning Services $18 5
Adoption Services $14 17
Special Services—Youth at Risk $8 7
Housing Services $7 5
Foster Care Services—Adults $6 4
Information and Referral $6 6
Legal Services $5 8
Protective Services—Adults $5 10
Counseling Services $4 10
Independent/Transitional Living $2 7
Pregnancy and Parenting $2 3
Health-Related Services $2 5
Education and Training Services $1 6
Transportation $1 6
Substance Abuse Services $1 4
Day Care—Adults $1 3
Recreation Services $0 3
Employment Services $0 3
Home-Delivered Meals $0 2
Congregate Meals $0 2
Note: Appendix G, table G–3, contains supporting data for this figure.

For four services, the TANF transfer portion of SSBG expenditures was greater than the SSBG allocation portion. Funds from the TANF transfers accounted for 73% of SSBG expenditures for child day care services, 72% for prevention and intervention services, 67% for child foster care, and 60% for child protective services.

SSBG and Other Sources of Funds

States reported on total expenditures, which included expenditures of funds from other sources in addition to the SSBG allocation and TANF transfer. Regulations also require States to report all other Federal, State, and local funds for each service funded by the SSBG program. State SSBG program contacts were consulted about the extent to which they were able to provide these data. With some variation, States met this requirement in one of two ways.

  1. A State reported on all Federal, State, and local funds spent in conjunction with SSBG expenditures for specific programs or providers. For example, a State that supported a child care center with SSBG funds reported other sources of funds supporting the center as well. This State did not report the other sources of funds for all child care centers located throughout the State.
  2. A State reported on all Federal, State, and local funds for the service category for the entire State. For example, if the SSBG supported any child day care services, the State included all funding for child day care throughout the State on the SSBG post-expenditure report.

These varied methods for reporting total expenditures result in different interpretations of the SSBG program’s support of a service, relative to other sources. Therefore, the following analysis is based only on data from the 36 States that indicated that total expenditures included all other sources of funds used for the service category. [17]

The proportion of total expenditures of SSBG funds provided for specific service categories ranged from 2% to 55%. SSBG expenditures accounted for 55% of the total expenditures for adult day care services, 31% of total expenditures for adult protective services, and 30% of total expenditures for home-delivered meals. At least 20% of funding for eight other services was through SSBG expenditures. These services were recreation, family planning, pregnancy and parenting, special services for youth at risk, adult foster care, home-based services and education and training services. The amount of total expenditures that the States used to support the remaining 19 services was less than 20%. (See figure 2–8.)

Figure 2–8 SSBG Percentage of Total Expenditures by Service, 2007
Service SSBG Expenditures Other Sources of Funds
Day Care—Adults 55.4% 44.6%
Protective Services—Adults 31.1% 68.9%
Home-Delivered Meals 29.8% 70.2%
Recreation Services 28.5% 71.5%
Family Planning Services 24.0% 76.0%
Pregnancy and Parenting 23.6% 76.4%
Special Services—Youth at Risk 22.8% 77.2%
Foster Care Services—Adults 22.7% 77.3%
Home-Based Services 20.0% 80.0%
Education and Training Services 19.9% 80.1%
Housing Services 19.7% 80.3%
Residential Treatment 18.8% 81.2%
Transportation 18.4% 81.6%
Legal Services 15.5% 84.5%
Independent/Transitional Living 15.3% 84.7%
Prevention and Intervention 14.2% 85.8%
Information and Referral 14.1% 85.9%
Employment Services 12.4% 87.6%
Case Management 12.3% 87.7%
Counseling Services 11.8% 88.2%
Foster Care Services—Children 10.7% 89.3%
Congregate Meals 10.7% 89.3%
Adoption Services 9.7% 90.3%
Health-Related Services 9.3% 90.7%
Protective Services—Children 7.7% 92.3%
Day Care—Children 7.5% 92.5%
Special Services—Disabled 7.0% 93.0%
Other Services 4.4% 95.6%
Substance Abuse Services 1.6% 98.4%

[14] Section 2003 of the Social Security Act states that the allotment to each State is based on the following formula: [(State population/national population) x (SSBG appropriation—sum (allotments to jurisdictions of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands, and America Samoa))]. State census estimates are updated annually.

[15]The national per capita allocation was calculated by dividing the SSBG allocation by the estimated population.

[16] Per capita expenditures for each State were calculated by dividing the expenditures by the estimated population. The average for all States was an unweighted average. Population data for 2007 for the 50 States and the District of Columbia were retrieved October 16, 2008 from, http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/DatasetMainPageServlet?_program=PEP&_lang=en&_ts=144690575649.

[17]These States were: Alaska, Arizona, California, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.