This report is released to inform interested parties of ongoing research and to encourage discussion of work in progress. The views expressed are those of the authors’ and not necessarily those of the U.S. Census Bureau.

The federal government provides several major means-tested social welfare programs and event-conditioned social insurance programs to reduce income inequality. A concern for policymakers is the impact of these programs, especially on the individuals and families who participate in multiple assistance programs. Using the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) 2001 and 2004 Panels, it is possible to identify the proportion of people who participated in several social welfare and social insurance programs, both concurrently and serially. This paper outlines key programs and discusses the findings regarding program recipiency and multiple program participation, including the demographic and social characteristics of multiple assistance participants. The results provide an insight of the individuals and families who receive benefits from multiple program participation.