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Public assistance refers to assistance programs that provide either cash assistance or in-kind benefits to individuals and families from any governmental entity.
There are two major types of public assistance programs; social welfare programs and social insurance programs.
Benefits received from social welfare programs are usually based on a low income means-tested eligibility criteria.
Some of the major federal, state, and local social welfare programs are:
Benefits received from social insurance programs are usually based on eligibility criteria such as age, employment status, or being a veteran.
Some of the major federal, state, and local social insurance programs are:
Most of the information available on public assistance comes from data collected in the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) and is available as reports and statistical briefs, table packages, and working papers.
In addition, micro-level SIPP panel data, technical documentation, and topical modules for the SIPP panels are available on the SIPP website.
Please see our list of contacts to help decide which is best for you.
If you received a survey, like the American Community Survey or Annual Retail Trade, Are You in a Survey? will provide information to help verify, complete, and submit your form. For respondent concerns, please contact the Census Bureau's Respondent Advocate.
Here are Subject/Topic Contacts at the U.S. Census Bureau. You may reach out to Regional Contacts, including State Data Centers and Census Information Centers.
Call Center: 301-763-INFO (4636) or 800-923-8282
TDD: TTY users can dial 1-800-877-8339 to use the Federal Relay Service
News media: 301-763-3030
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