Final answer:
The concerns with AFDC were mainly centered around inadequate support for needy families. The program had no work requirements or time limits, which led to worries about long-term dependency. TANF changed this by implementing fixed block grants, work requirements, and lifetime benefit limits.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concerns associated with the Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) before the transition to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) were primarily about the inadequacy of support for needy families. Critics pointed out that the majority of AFDC recipients were dependent children, and many people were below the poverty level despite the program's efforts. Furthermore, the AFDC program had no strict work requirements or time limits, which some argued could lead to long-term dependency without promoting self-sufficiency.
Under the AFDC, the federal government's role was to provide a varying contribution to state welfare benefits based on the number of poor people, which could lead to fluctuating support levels that did not always meet the needs of the poor. With the introduction of TANF, a fixed block grant was given to states, along with new work requirements and a five-year lifetime limit on receiving benefits, drastically changing the welfare system.
While TANF aimed to address concerns about excessive funding and the encouragement of dependency, it also brought about new worries. These included fears that needy families could fail to access adequate assistance as they moved between states or that the fixed block grants would not be sufficient to cover the states' varied and changing needs.