<Tr> <Td> 2009 </Td> <Td> 4,154,366 </Td> <Td> 11.1 </Td> <Td> 8.1 </Td> </Tr> <Tr> <Td> </Td> <Td> 4,375,022 </Td> <Td> 11.7 </Td> <Td> 8.6 </Td> </Tr> <P> Note: 1996 was the last year for the AFDC program, and is shown for comparison . All figures are for calendar years . The poverty rate for families differs from the official poverty rate . </P> <P> A major impetus for welfare reform was concern about increases in out - of - wedlock births and declining marriage rates, especially among low - income women . The major goals of the 1996 legislation included reducing out - of - wedlock births and increasing rates and stability of marriages . </P>

Medicaid welfare payments and temporary assistance to needy families are classified as