State of the Safety Net: Program Data

Who is eligible for and ultimately receives safety net benefits can vary dramatically across states. Nationwide, eligibility and benefit receipt depend on the program, national and state rules, funding levels, administrative procedures, awareness of program eligibility rules, income and demographic characteristics of the population, and many other factors.

This tool displays data for seven major safety net programs and two tax credits, highlighting eligibility estimates for each program (number and rate of people eligible) and participation estimates where possible (participation rate and gap between the number eligible and the number receiving benefits). We provide data at the national and state level and for selected demographic groups. All data refer to eligibility and program participation in 2023.

A few of the questions you can explore with this tool follow:

How many people or households are eligible for each program in a specific state?
What portion of eligible people participate in a given program in each state?
How do participation rates vary across states for a particular program?
Nationwide, what percentage of children are eligible for different programs, and how does that vary across states?

The tool has less information on some programs because of data limitations, such as less detailed administrative data about demographic characteristics or sample sizes that are too small. Eligibility and program participation also change over time because of policy changes, implementation decisions, population changes, and many other factors. The tool provides information about eligibility for tax credits, but not participation.

The complete set of data included in the tool, along with additional data for more detailed characteristics, are available for download.

Public and subsidized housing (housing assistance)

Housing assistance programs provide rental assistance to households with incomes at or below 50 percent of the median income (within a county or metropolitan area). These programs provide housing vouchers or low-cost rental units. Rent is typically capped at 30 percent of household income. Some households may continue to receive assistance even if their income rises above 50 percent of the median—these households are included in the eligibility and participation estimates shown here. The estimates reflect housing assistance programs funded through the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Housing assistance programs are not funded at a level to serve all eligible households.

Nationally, in 2023,

16.8 million households were eligible for housing assistance,
the number of eligible households was 12.8 percent of all US households (the “eligibility rate”),
26.0 percent of the eligible households received assistance (the “participation rate”), and
12.4 million households were eligible for housing assistance but did not receive it (the “participation gap”).

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

LIHEAP provides households with low incomes assistance to pay for heating or cooling costs once per heating or cooling season. States may set the income limits up to 150 percent of the federal poverty guideline or 60 percent of state median income. Rules may also vary in other ways across states. LIHEAP is a federal block grant program and is not funded at a level to serve all eligible households.

Nationally, in 2023,

34.1 million households were eligible for LIHEAP,
the number of eligible households was 26.0 percent of all US households (the “eligibility rate”),
17.2 percent of the eligible households received assistance (the “participation rate”), and
28.3 million households were eligible for LIHEAP but did not receive it (the “participation gap”).

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP provides monthly benefits through an Electronic Benefits Card to families and individuals with low incomes to assist with the purchase of food. Under federal eligibility rules, families must have net income (income after deductions) at or below 100 percent of the federal poverty guideline, and families without a member who is age 60 or older or has a disability must have gross income at or below 130 percent of the federal poverty guideline. States can expand eligibility to as high as 200 percent of the poverty guideline through Broad Based Categorical Eligibility (BBCE) policies. SNAP is an entitlement program and so benefits are provided to all eligible families and individuals who apply.

Nationally, in 2023,

69.1 million people were eligible for SNAP (including eligibility through BBCE),
the number of eligible people was 21.2 percent of the US population (the “eligibility rate”),
57.5 percent of the eligible people received assistance (the “participation rate”), and
29.4 million people were eligible for SNAP but did not receive it (the “participation gap”).

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

SSI provides monthly cash benefits to people with low incomes and low assets who are ages 65 and older, blind, or disabled. SSI is an entitlement program, providing federally funded benefits to all eligible people who apply. The federal income eligibility limit for one person is equivalent to approximately 75 percent of the federal poverty guideline; some states supplement the federal benefits. SSI serves blind and disabled children as well as adults; however, the estimates in the tool apply to people ages 18 and older who are eligible for or receiving SSI.

Nationally, in 2023,

12.6 million adults were eligible for SSI,
the number of eligible adults was 5.0 percent of all US adults (the “eligibility rate”),
51.0 percent of the eligible adults received assistance (the “participation rate”), and
6.2 million adults were eligible for SSI but did not receive it (the “participation gap”).

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF provides monthly cash to families with children and with low incomes. Income limits vary widely across the states; in 2023, the average maximum limit for a three-person family to begin receiving benefits was equivalent to about half the federal poverty guideline. Many other policies, including time limits and work requirements, also vary across states. TANF is funded through a federal block grant combined with state contributions; the benefit is not an entitlement. The estimates in this tool exclude small worker supplement benefits and exclude noncash aid that may also be funded from the TANF block grant. Some states use solely state funds to pay cash benefits for some recipients, and those cases are not administratively considered TANF. Participation data for families are shown with and without solely state funded beneficiaries; participation data for individuals do not include people with benefits paid with solely state funds.

Nationally, in 2023,

11.4 million people in 4.5 million families were eligible for TANF cash assistance;
the number of eligible people was 3.5 percent of the US population (the “eligibility rate”);
without counting benefits provided by solely state funds, 18.5 percent of the eligible people and 19.0 percent of eligible families received assistance (the “participation rate”);
if solely state funded benefits are also counted, 21.0 percent of eligible families received cash aid;
without counting benefits provided by solely state funds, 9.3 million people and 3.7 million families were eligible for TANF but did not receive it (the “participation gap”); and
if solely state funded benefits are also counted, the participation gap among eligible families is 3.6 million.

Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

WIC provides infants, children ages 1 through 4, and women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or postpartum a monthly benefit for specific food items. WIC also offers nutrition education and counseling and referrals for other social services. People are eligible if they have incomes below 185 percent of the federal poverty level or if they receive certain other safety net benefits. The estimates below apply to infants and children who are eligible for or receiving WIC.

Nationally, in 2023,

9.4 million infants and young children (through age 4) were eligible for WIC,
the number of eligible infants and young children was 51.7 percent of the US population from birth through age 4 (the “eligibility rate”),
53.5 percent of the eligible infants and young children received assistance (the “participation rate”), and
4.4 million infants and young children were eligible for WIC but did not receive it (the “participation gap”).

Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF)

CCDF serves families with parents or guardians who are working or participating in approved activities by providing assistance to pay all of or a share of child care costs. Eligible families include those with children under age 13 and those with children under age 18 with disabilities. Income limits vary widely across the states; in 2023, the average limit for a three-person family to begin receiving benefits was 229 percent the federal poverty guideline, and across the states ranged from 129 percent to 400 percent of the poverty guideline. Many other policies, including activity requirements and benefit levels, also vary across states. Estimates using broad federal eligibility guidelines would differ. CCDF is a federal block grant program and is not funded at a level to serve all eligible families and children.

Nationally, in 2023,

11.0 million children were eligible for child care subsidies under the policies in their state, and
the number of eligible children was 21.1 percent of all children under age 13 or under age 18 with disabilities (the “eligibility rate”).

Child tax credit (CTC) refundable portion

The estimates below reflect eligibility for the refundable portion of the CTC. The CTC is a federal income tax credit for families with children under age 17 that reduces positive income tax liability for all but the very highest income taxpayers. Families with low income are less likely to benefit from the CTC and tend to receive lower benefits because they lack sufficient tax liability to qualify for the full credit. Families with earnings who are unable to claim the full CTC because of insufficient tax liability may receive a partially refundable credit. These estimates reflect the number of tax units found eligible for the refundable portion of the federal CTC in American Community Survey data. Survey-based estimates of refundable tax credits typically fall short of claims reported by the Internal Revenue Service.

Nationally, in 2023,

11.8 million tax units were eligible for the refundable portion of the CTC, and
the number of eligible tax units was 6.8 percent of the total number of potential tax units (the “eligibility rate”).

Earned income tax credit (EITC)

The EITC is a refundable federal income tax credit available to tax units with earned income below a federally established limit. The credit varies by the presence and number of children, marital status, and income of the filer. For example, the eligibility limits in 2023 were $17,640 for a single filer with no qualifying children, $46,560 for a for a single parent with one qualifying child, and $63,398 for a married couple with three qualifying children. These estimates reflect the number of tax units found eligible for the federal EITC in the American Community Survey data. Survey-based estimates of refundable tax credits typically fall short of claims reported by the Internal Revenue Service.

Nationally, in 2023,

18.4 million tax units were eligible for the EITC, and
the number of eligible tax units was 10.6 percent of the total number of potential tax units (the “eligibility rate”).