Brief Inflation, Public Supports, and Families with Low Incomes
Gregory Acs, Laura Wheaton
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Many families with low incomes rely on public supports to make ends meet. Some of those public supports adjust for inflation annually, offering families with low incomes some salve against rising prices, while others do not. But even programs that do respond to inflation do so with a lag, which may leave some families struggling to make ends meet during periods of rapidly rising prices. This brief examines the challenges of keeping up with the rising cost of living when relying on public support and then describes how several major public supports address inflation.

Research and Evidence Family and Financial Well-Being Tax and Income Supports
Expertise Social Safety Net Families Taxes and the Economy
Tags Economic well-being From Safety Net to Solid Ground Refundable tax credits Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Welfare and safety net programs