Snapshots of Safety Net Program Eligibility and Participation
For people and families with low incomes, help may be available from one or more of the government programs that make up the US safety net—programs that either provide cash or support specific needs like food or housing. But many who are eligible for benefits do not receive them. In 2023, across a group of programs providing monthly cash aid or help with expenses for food, housing, heating, and cooling, participation rates ranged from under 20 percent to a high of 58 percent, with wide variation across states. Eligibility depends on national and state eligibility policies and the demographic and income characteristics of the population. Participation rates among those eligible for a program depend on many factors, including funding levels, administrative procedures, awareness of programs and their policies, and the decisions made by individuals in the context of their family situations.
The State of the Safety Net initiative explores how eligibility and participation vary across states for seven major safety net programs and two tax credits. The full data tool allows users to explore results nationally and by state, as well as across various demographic groups. These fact sheets provide a snapshot of the number of people and families eligible for key safety net programs in each state and the share who are participating.
For national results and more detailed state results, visit the full data tool.
Sources for selected data and rules shown in fact sheets
- Program estimates from State of the Safety Net data tool: https://apps.urban.org/features/state-of-the-safety-net-data-tool/program-data/
- Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program rules: https://wrd.urban.org/welfare-rules-databook (2023 tables)
- Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF) program rules: https://ccdf.urban.org/sites/default/files/opre-CCDF-policies-database-2023-may25.pdf
CREDITS
This initiative is supported by multiple funders, including the Annie E. Casey Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and the Pritzker Children’s Initiative. We are grateful to them and to all our funders, who make it possible for Urban to advance its mission. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be attributed to the Urban Institute, its trustees, or its funders. Funders do not determine research findings or the insights and recommendations of Urban experts or the underlying methodology.
RESEARCH Linda Giannarelli, Sarah Minton, Laura Wheaton, Ilham Dehry, Christin Durham, Alex Haralampoudis, Dilovar Haydarov, Jorge Hernandez-Perez, Paul Johnson, Sarah Knowles, Kevin Moclair, Lauren Simpson, Silke Taylor, Margaret Todd, and Doug Wissoker
EDITING Alex Dallman
PRODUCTION Erika Tyagi, David Connell, Lydia Nguyen, Mitchell Thorson
