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Public Assistance

Overview

These tables address the topic of public assistance. The American Community Survey asks questions about receipt of food/SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) assistance and income from sources such as social security and public assistance programs.

All data sources are from the American Community Survey unless otherwise noted.

Indicators on the Profile Page

Why It's Important

Child poverty
  • Households with children receiving SSI, cash, or food/SNAP assistance
  • This is an indicator of economic stability for children and the families in which they live.

Food assistance program participation
  • Households with food/SNAP assistance in the past 12 months
  • Household food/SNAP assistance participation in the past 12 months by household type
  • This is an indicator of economic stability for children and the families in which they live, and is a more inclusive measure than the conventional poverty rate, as families earning up to 130% of the poverty level are eligible. This is also a particularly helpful indicator for understanding potential food insecurity in an area, and in identifying areas that might benefit most from efforts to provide access to food.

Methodology

American Community Survey Data

Sample Survey Questions on this Topic

The ACS tables beginning with 22 are about public assistance. In the listing below, table names have been simplified in some cases. References to children and grandchildren almost always mean under 18 years old. Income is for the last 12 months, adjusted for inflation to the value of dollars in the last year of the survey period. References to poverty status/level, receipt of food stamps/SNAP, and work status are all for the last 12 months.

See also the Health Insurance topic page, which includes information about public as well as private insurance.

Code Title

Public Assistance
B22001‡ Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP by Presence of People 60 Years and Over for Households
B22002 Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP by Presence of Children by Household Type for Households
B22003 Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP by Poverty Status for Households
B22005A† Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP by Race of Householder
B22007 Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP by Family Type by Number of Workers in Family
B22008 Median Household Income by Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP
B22010 Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP by Disability Status for Households
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code.
†Also available in racial iterations.

Other ACS tables that relate to public assistance

Code Title

Public Assistance
B09010 Receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Cash Public Assistance Income, or Food Stamps/SNAP by Household Type for Children in Households
B13015 Women 15 to 50 Years Who Had a Birth in the Past 12 Months by Marital Status and Receipt of Public Assistance Income
B17015‡ Poverty Status of Families by Family Type by Social Security Income by Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Cash Public Assistance Income
B19057 Public Assistance Income for Households
B19058 Public Assistance Income or Food Stamps/SNAP for Households
B19067 Aggregate Public Assistance Income for Households
B19123 Family Size by Cash Public Assistance Income or Households Receiving Food Stamps/SNAP Benefits
B26120 Group Quarters Type (3 Types) by Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP
B26220 Group Quarters Type (5 Types) by Receipt of Food Stamps/SNAP
‡Table also available in "collapsed" version: change "B" to "C" for table code.