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Program Income and Public Assistance

Program Income and Public Assistance

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Program Income and Public Assistance

Program income includes income from a variety of sources such as Social Security payments, Unemployment Compensation, and VA Benefits. Public assistance includes cash and non-cash benefits (e.g. TANF, SNAP) to low-income families or individuals.

Featured

Program Income and Public Assistance Publications

Official publications released by the U.S. Census Bureau have a report number and often list the lead author(s).
Program Income and Public Assistance Working Papers

Census Bureau research made available to others to encourage discussion on a range of topics. They have not undergone official review or the editorial process.
Program Income and Public Assistance Data Tables

Stats displayed in columns and rows with title, ID, notes, sources and release date. Many tables are in downloadable XLS, CVS and PDF file formats.

Publications

Publication

Profile of Older Adults by Poverty Status: 2021

June 25, 2024

This report examines the sociodemographic characteristics, living arrangements, program participation, and net worth of older adults by poverty status.
Publication

Income Sources of Older Households: 2017

February 2022

This report examines older households’ sources of income, the amounts of this income, and how much each source of income contributes to total income.
Publication

An Analysis of the 2018 Congressional Election

December 2021

This report summarizes the characteristics of those who voted and registered in the November 2018 election and in congressional elections since 1978.

Working Papers

Working Paper

Evaluating the Income and Program Screeners in the 2022 SIPP

October 15, 2024

This working paper uses data from the 2022 SIPP to provide a descriptive overview of how well the income and program screener questions perform.
Working Paper

Testing SNAP Client Messaging and Application Forms

September 03, 2024

Testing of SNAP materials communicating program rules and consequences for violation of the rules.
Working Paper

Evaluation of Social Security Reporting in the SIPP: 2017

August 05, 2024

This paper links data from the 2018 SIPP to SSA administrative records to explore the accuracy with which respondents report Social Security income.

Tables

Table

SIPP Detailed Program Receipt 508 Compliant Tables: 2023

July 2025

These SIPP tables provide national data about a variety of social welfare and social insurance programs.
Table

SIPP Detailed Program Receipt Tables: 2023

July 2025

These SIPP tables provide national data about a variety of social welfare and social insurance programs.
Table

SIPP Detailed Program Receipt 508 Compliant Tables: 2022

October 2022

These SIPP tables provide national data about a variety of social welfare and social insurance programs.

Visualizations

Visualization

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Eligibility & Access

October 18, 2024

This visualization represents the joint efforts to increase understanding of current SNAP program access and inform future SNAP program outreach.
Visualization

Who Is Receiving Social Safety Net Benefits?

July 10, 2024

Visualization that provides information about individuals and households receiving select social safety net benefits.
Visualization

WIC Program Eligibility and Participation

August 17, 2021

View WIC program eligibility and participation estimates by state from linked American Community Survey and Administrative Records.
Visualization

SNAP Profiles New York State (Interactive)

April 24, 2017

SNAP is the largest federal program to reduce domestic hunger, but many eligible people do not participate.

All Subtopics Within 'Income and Poverty'

Income

Census money income is defined as income received on a regular basis before payments for taxes, social security, etc. and does not reflect noncash benefits.
Income Inequality

Income inequality is the extent to which income is distributed unevenly among a population.
Poverty

If a family's total income is less than the official poverty threshold for a family of that size and composition, then they are considered to be in poverty.
Program Income and Public Assistance

Public assistance refers to assistance programs that provide either cash or in-kind benefits to individuals and families from any governmental entity.
Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)

The Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program provides more current estimates for the administration and allocation of federal programs and funds.
Supplemental Poverty Measure

In 2009, the Census Bureau and Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) created a Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) to replace previous experimental poverty measures.
Wealth and Asset Ownership

Household net worth or wealth is an important defining factor of economic well-being - it can become an additional source of income in hard times or retirement.
Well-Being

Factors that contribute to well-being include income, possession of consumer durables, housing and neighborhood conditions, and the meeting of basic needs.