# . Indicators of Dependence

Following the format of the previous annual reports to Congress, this
second chapter presents summary data related to indicators of
dependence. These indicators differ from other welfare statistics
because of their emphasis on welfare *dependence,* rather than simple
welfare receipt. As discussed in Chapter I, the Advisory Board on
Welfare Indicators suggested measuring dependence as the proportion of
families with more than 50 percent of their total income in a one-year
period coming from AFDC, food stamps and/or SSI. Furthermore, this
welfare income was not to be associated with work activities.

The indicators in Chapter II were selected to provide information about
dependence, following, to the extent feasible, the definition of
dependence proposed by the Advisory Board. Existing data from
administrative records and national surveys, however, do not generally
distinguish welfare benefits received in conjunction with work from
benefits received without work. Thus it was not possible to construct
one single indicator of dependence; that is, one indicator that measures
both percentage of income from means-tested assistance and presence of
work activities. Instead, this chapter includes some indicators that
focus on the percentage of recipients' income from means-tested
assistance, while other indicators focus on presence of work activities
at the same time as welfare receipt. Still other indicators present
summary data and characteristics on all recipients, not limited to those
with more than 50 percent of total income from welfare programs or those
without work activities.

Overall, the ten indicators of dependency were selected to reflect both
the range and depth of dependence. Here is a brief summary of each of
the ten indicators:

*[Indicator 1: Degree of Dependence.]{.underline}* This indicator
focuses most closely on those individuals who meet the Advisory Board's
proposed definition of "dependence." In addition to examining those
individuals with more than 50 percent of their income from AFDC, food
stamps and/or SSI, it examines those with more than 0 percent, 25
percent and 75 percent of their income from such sources, showing
various levels of dependence (Indicator 1a). Dependency over a ten-year
time period is also examined (Indicator 1b), as is the average
percentage of income from means-tested assistance and earnings received
by various families (Indicator 1c).

[Indicator 2: Dependence Spell Transitions.]{.underline} This indicator
looks at the ability of individuals who are dependent on welfare in one
year to make the transition out of dependence in the following year.

[Indicator 3: Dependence Spell Duration.]{.underline} Like Indicator 2,
this indicator is concerned with dynamics of welfare receipt and welfare
dependence. It shows the proportion of individuals with short, medium,
and long spells, or episodes, of AFDC receipt. The focus is on
individuals in families with no labor force participants, following the
Board's interest in welfare income that is not associated with work
activities. Information on spell lengths for SSI and food stamps is
provided in Indicator 5.

[Indicator 4: Receipt of Means-Tested Assistance and Labor Force
Attachment.]{.underline} This indicator looks further at the
relationship between receipt of means-tested assistance and
participation in the labor force. This is an important issue because of
the significant number of low-income individuals who use a combination
of means-tested assistance and earnings from the labor force to get by
each month.

*[Indicator 5: Program Spell Duration.]{.underline}* One critical aspect
of dependence is how long individuals receive means-tested assistance.
Like Indicator 3, this indicator provides information on short, medium,
and long spells of welfare receipt. It differs from Indicator 3 in
looking at all recipients, regardless of attachment to the labor force,
and in analyzing recipients of each of the three major means-tested
programs -- AFDC, food stamps, and SSI.

[Indicator 6: Long-Term Receipt.]{.underline} Many individuals who leave
welfare programs cycle back on after an absence of several months. Thus
it is important to look beyond individual program spells, measured in
Indicator 5, to examine the cumulative amount of time individuals
receive assistance over a period of several years. The issue of
long-term receipt is particularly important in light of the five-year
time limit in the TANF program.

[Indicator 7: Multiple Program Receipt.]{.underline} Depending on their
circumstances, individuals may choose a variety of different
means-tested assistance "packages." This indicator looks at the
percentage of individuals combining AFDC, food stamps, and SSI,
examining how many rely on just one of these programs, and how many rely
on a two-program or three-program package.

[Indicator 8: Events Associated with the Beginning and Ending of Program
Spells.]{.underline} To gain a better understanding of welfare dynamics,
it is important to go beyond measures of spell duration and examine
information regarding the major events in people's lives that are
correlated with the beginnings or endings of program spells. This
measure focuses on receipt of AFDC.

[Indicator 9: Rate of Receipt of Means-Tested Assistance.]{.underline}
This indicator paints yet another picture of dependence by measuring
recipiency rates, that is, the percentage of the population which
receive AFDC, food stamps, or SSI in an average month. These data are
readily available over time for the last 3 decades, allowing a better
sense of historical trends than is available from the more specialized
Indicators of dependence presented above.

*[Indicator 10: Participation in Means-Tested Assistance
Programs.]{.underline}* While means-tested public assistance programs
are open to all that meet their requirements, not all eligible
households participate in the programs. This indicator reflects "take up
rates" -- the number of families that actually participate in the
programs as a percent of those who are eligible.

Indicators in this chapter focus on recipients of three major
means-tested cash and nutritional assistance programs: Aid to Families
with Dependent Children (AFDC), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) for
elderly and disabled recipients, and the Food Stamp Program. Only
limited administrative data are available to report on recipients of the
new Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program. These are
shown in Indicator 9a, which reports TANF recipiency rates for 1998.
Information on how other dependency measures were affected by the
replacement of the AFDC program by the TANF program will not be
available until SIPP and other national survey data for 1998 are
available.

**INDICATOR 1. DEGREE OF DEPENDENCE**

![](media/image1.wmf)Figure IND 1a. Percentage of Total Income from
Means-Tested Assistance Programs: 1995

Source: Unpublished data from the SIPP, 1993 panel.

-   About 5 percent of the total population in 1995 received more than
    half of their total income from AFDC, food stamps and SSI. This
    number represents a decline from the proportion dependent on public
    assistance in 1993 (5.9 percent), but was not as low as the
    percentage in 1990 (4.2 percent), as shown in Table IND 1a.

-   Over four-fifths (83 percent) of the total population received no
    means-tested assistance in 1995. The inverse of this, the recipiency
    rate, (those receiving at least \$1 of assistance from one of the
    three programs), was 17 percent. The proportion receiving no
    assistance has varied between 82 and 86 percent in previous years.

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-   In 1995, as in earlier years, the majority of individuals receiving
    some public assistance reported that AFDC, food stamps, and SSI
    accounted for one-quarter or less of their total family income.

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-   As shown in Table IND 1a, a larger percentage of non-Hispanic blacks
    and Hispanics received more than 50 percent of their income from
    means-tested assistance programs than non-Hispanic whites in all six
    years presented. However, even among these minority groups, more
    than 80 percent were not dependent on welfare under the definition
    used here.

+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Table IND 1a.    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Percentage of      |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Total Income from  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Means-Tested       |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Assistance         |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Programs, by Race  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| and Age: Selected  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
| Years**            |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                    | 0%    | \> 0% | \>    | Total | \>    | Total |
|                    |       | and   | 25%   |       | 50%   |       |
|                    |       |       | and   | \>    | and   | \>    |
|                    |       | \<=   |       | 50%   |       | 75%   |
|                    |       | 25%   | \<=   |       | \<=   |       |
|                    |       |       | 50%   |       | 75%   |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                    | **1   |       |       |       |       |       |
|                    | 995** |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **All Persons**    | **8   | **    | **    | **    | **    | **    |
|                    | 3.0** | 9.4** | 2.5** | 5.1** | 1.4** | 3.8** |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Non-Hispanic White | 89.6  | 6.9   | 1.4   | 2.3   | 0.8   | 1.6   |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Non-Hispanic Black | 59.1  | 18.8  | 7.0   | 15.2  | 3.3   | 11.9  |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Hispanic           | 65.4  | 16.8  | 5.6   | 12.2  | 3.1   | 9.2   |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Children Ages 0 -- | 72.4  | 13.0  | 4.0   | 10.6  | 2.0   | 8.6   |
| 5                  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Children Ages 6 -- | 71.3  | 10.7  | 4.2   | 11.6  | 2.4   | 9.2   |
| 10                 |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Children Ages 11   | 76.4  | 10.9  | 3.6   | 9.1   | 2.7   | 6.4   |
| -- 15              |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Women Ages 16 --   | 82.7  | 9.1   | 2.4   | 5.2   | 1.5   | 3.7   |
| 64                 |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Men Ages 16 -- 64  | 88.5  | 7.8   | 1.5   | 2.3   | 1.5   | 1.6   |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Adults Age 65 and  | 87.8  | 8.1   | 2.3   | 1.8   | 0.7   | 1.1   |
| over               |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                    | **1   |       |       |       |       |       |
|                    | 994** |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **All Persons**    | **8   | **    | **    | **    | **    | **    |
|                    | 2.0** | 9.9** | 2.5** | 5.6** | 1.6** | 4.0** |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Non-Hispanic White | 88.9  | 7.1   | 1.4   | 2.6   | 0.9   | 1.7   |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Non-Hispanic Black | 56.8  | 20.0  | 6.3   | 16.8  | 5.1   | 11.7  |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Hispanic           | 62.9  | 17.9  | 6.3   | 12.9  | 3.2   | 9.7   |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Children Ages 0 -- | 67.6  | 14.6  | 5.3   | 12.5  | 2.8   | 9.7   |
| 5                  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Children Ages 6 -- | 71.4  | 12.6  | 4.0   | 12.0  | 3.0   | 9.0   |
| 10                 |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Children Ages 11   | 75.1  | 11.8  | 3.9   | 9.3   | 2.6   | 6.7   |
| -- 15              |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Women Ages 16 --   | 82.5  | 9.7   | 2.3   | 5.5   | 1.7   | 3.8   |
| 64                 |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Men Ages 16 -- 64  | 87.7  | 8.4   | 1.4   | 2.5   | 0.9   | 1.6   |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Adults Age 65 and  | 87.7  | 8.2   | 2.0   | 2.2   | 1.0   | 1.1   |
| over               |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                    |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
|                    | **1   |       |       |       |       |       |
|                    | 993** |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| **All Persons**    | **8   | **    | **    | **    | **    | **    |
|                    | 2.2** | 9.5** | 2.5** | 5.9** | 1.6** | 4.3** |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Non-Hispanic White | 88.8  | 7.0   | 1.4   | 2.8   | 0.8   | 2.0   |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Non-Hispanic Black | 58.6  | 17.7  | 6.9   | 16.7  | 5.0   | 11.8  |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Hispanic           | 62.9  | 17.2  | 5.7   | 14.2  | 3.2   | 11.0  |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Children Ages 0 -- | 68.5  | 13.9  | 4.3   | 13.3  | 2.9   | 10.4  |
| 5                  |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Children Ages 6 -- | 72.8  | 11.1  | 3.9   | 12.3  | 2.7   | 9.7   |
| 10                 |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Children Ages 11   | 75.9  | 10.2  | 3.4   | 10.5  | 2.8   | 7.6   |
| -- 15              |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Women Ages 16 --   | 82.2  | 9.5   | 2.5   | 5.8   | 1.7   | 4.1   |
| 64                 |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Men Ages 16 -- 64  | 87.7  | 8.2   | 1.4   | 2.7   | 0.8   | 1.9   |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+
| Adults Age 65 and  | 88.1  | 7.7   | 2.3   | 2.0   | 0.8   | 1.2   |
| over               |       |       |       |       |       |       |
+--------------------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+-------+

*(over)*

  -------------------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------
  **Table IND 1a.                                                         
  Percentage of Total                                                     
  Income from                                                             
  Means-Tested                                                            
  Assistance Programs,                                                    
  by Race and Age:                                                        
  Selected Years                                                          
  *(continued)***                                                         

                                                                          

                                  \> 0% and \> 25%    Total     \> 50%    Total
                                            and                 and       

                       0%         \<= 25%   \<= 50%   \> 50%    \<= 75%   \> 75%

                       **1992**                                           

  **All Persons**      **83.1**   **9.3**   **2.7**   **4.9**   **1.4**   **3.5**

  Non-Hispanic White   89.0       6.8       1.8       2.4       0.8       1.6

  Non-Hispanic Black   59.0       18.3      6.9       15.9      4.1       11.7

  Hispanic             66.7       17.6      5.1       10.5      2.5       8.0

  Children Ages 0 - 5  71.1       12.1      4.6       12.2      3.0       9.3

  Children Ages 6 - 10 76.2       10.7      3.6       9.5       2.6       6.9

  Children Ages 11 -   76.8       11.9      3.8       7.5       2.1       5.4
  15                                                                      

  Women Ages 16 - 64   83.0       9.2       2.8       5.0       1.3       3.7

  Men Ages 16 - 64     88.2       8.2       1.6       1.9       0.7       1.3

  Adults Age 65 and    87.4       8.0       2.5       2.0       1.0       1.1
  over                                                                    

                                                                          

                       **1990**                                           

  **All Persons**      **85.9**   **7.9**   **2.0**   **4.2**   **1.2**   **3.0**

  Non-Hispanic White   91.1       5.7       1.1       2.1       0.6       1.5

  Non-Hispanic Black   63.4       16.0      6.0       14.6      5.2       9.3

  Hispanic             70.5       16.8      4.4       8.3       2.1       6.2

  Children Ages 0 - 5  76.0       11.0      2.8       10.3      2.4       7.9

  Children Ages 6 - 10 79.8       9.2       2.6       8.5       2.4       6.0

  Children Ages 11 -   81.2       9.6       2.8       6.4       1.8       4.5
  15                                                                      

  Women Ages 16 - 64   85.9       7.7       1.8       4.6       1.3       3.2

  Men Ages 16 - 64     90.5       6.7       1.3       1.5       0.5       1.0

  Adults Age 65 and    87.9       7.4       2.8       1.9       1.0       0.9
  over                                                                    

                                                                          

                       **1987**                                           

  **All Persons**      **85.1**   **8.2**   **2.1**   **4.7**   **1.3**   **3.3**

  Non-Hispanic White   90.7       5.8       1.3       2.2       0.9       1.3

  Non-Hispanic Black   59.1       18.7      6.5       15.7      3.9       11.8

  Hispanic             71.7       13.6      3.8       10.9      2.2       8.7

  Children Ages 0 - 5  75.5       10.9      3.7       10.0      2.7       7.3

  Children Ages 6 - 10 76.8       10.5      2.6       10.1      2.8       7.3

  Children Ages 11 -   80.2       9.2       2.6       8.0       1.6       6.4
  15                                                                      

  Women Ages 16 - 64   85.6       7.9       1.9       4.6       1.1       3.5

  Men Ages 16 - 64     89.9       6.8       1.4       2.0       0.8       1.2

  Adults Age 65 and    86.4       8.6       2.5       2.6       1.4       1.2
  over                                                                    

                                                                          

  Note: Means-tested                                                      
  assistance includes                                                     
  AFDC, SSI and food                                                      
  stamps. While only                                                      
  affecting a small                                                       
  number of cases,                                                        
  general assistance                                                      
  income is included                                                      
  under AFDC. Total \>                                                    
  50% includes all                                                        
  persons with more                                                       
  than 50 percent of                                                      
  their income from                                                       
  these means-tested                                                      
  programs. Because                                                       
  full calendar year                                                      
  data for 1995 were                                                      
  not available for                                                       
  all SIPP                                                                
  respondents, 1995                                                       
  estimates are based                                                     
  on a weighting                                                          
  adjustment to                                                           
  account for those                                                       
  who were not                                                            
  interviewed for the                                                     
  entire year.                                                            

                                                                          

  Source: Unpublished                                                     
  data from the SIPP,                                                     
  1987, 1990, 1992,                                                       
  and 1993 panels.                                                        
  -------------------- ---------- --------- --------- --------- --------- ---------

**Figure IND 1b. Percentage of Recipients with More than 50 Percent of
Income from AFDC and**

![](media/image2.wmf)**Food Stamps between 1982 and 1991, by Years of
Dependency**

Source: Unpublished data from the PSID, 1983 - 1992.

-   Unlike Figure IND 1a, which showed dependency rates for the total
    population, Figure IND 1b focuses on dependency among welfare
    recipients, measured over a ten-year time period. Half of all
    recipients in 1982 were not dependent on welfare in any year over
    the following decade, in the sense that in no year did they receive
    more than 50 percent of their income from AFDC and food stamps. (SSI
    receipt is not counted in this particular measure). This was also
    true for 55 percent of all recipients between 1972 and 1981, as
    shown in the lower half of Table IND 1b.

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-   About 13 percent of recipients in 1982 were dependent for more than
    5 years over the following decade, 15 percent were dependent for 3
    to 5 years, and 23 percent were dependent for 1 or 2 years.
    Dependency is again defined as receiving more than 50 percent of
    annual income from AFDC and food stamps.

-   Child recipients were more likely to be dependent than other
    recipients; only 34 percent of young child recipients in 1982 were
    not dependent in any year between 1982 and 1991, as shown in Table
    IND 1b. A slightly higher percentage (39 percent) of child
    recipients had no years of dependency in the earlier decade. The
    percentage of young black children who were not dependent---that is,
    were in families who did not receive more than 50 percent of their
    income from AFDC and food stamps in any year -- increased across the
    two time periods (from 24 percent to 31 percent). In comparison, the
    percentage of non-black recipient children who were not dependent
    decreased substantially across the two time periods (from 50 percent
    to 37 percent).

+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| **Table IND 1b. |                 |                |                |
| Percentage of   |                 |                |                |
| Recipients with |                 |                |                |
| More than 50    |                 |                |                |
| Percent of      |                 |                |                |
| Income from     |                 |                |                |
| AFDC and Food   |                 |                |                |
| Stamps Across   |                 |                |                |
| Two Ten-Year    |                 |                |                |
| Time Periods,   |                 |                |                |
| by Years of     |                 |                |                |
| Dependency,     |                 |                |                |
| Race, and Age** |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| **Between 1982  |                 |                |                |
| and 1991:**     |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 | **All           |                |                |
|                 | Recipients**    |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 | All Recipients  | Black          | Non-Black      |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 0 Years         | 50              | 43             | 54             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 1 - 2 Years     | 23              | 21             | 25             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 3 - 5 Years     | 15              | 17             | 14             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 6 - 8 Years     | 9               | 12             | 6              |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 9 - 10 Years    | 4               | 7              | 2              |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 | **Children 0 -  |                |                |
|                 | 5 in 1982**     |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 | All Child       | Black Children | Non-Black      |
|                 | Recipients      |                | Children       |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 0 Years         | 34              | 31             | 37             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 1 - 2 Years     | 28              | 19             | 35             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 3 - 5 Years     | 16              | 18             | 15             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 6 - 8 Years     | 13              | 19             | 9              |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 9 - 10 Years    | 8               | 14             | 4              |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| **Between 1972  |                 |                |                |
| and 1981:**     |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 | **All           |                |                |
|                 | Recipients**    |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 | All Recipients  | Black          | Non-Black      |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 0 Years         | 55              | 44             | 62             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 1 - 2 Years     | 22              | 22             | 22             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 3 - 5 Years     | 14              | 19             | 11             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 6 - 8 Years     | 5               | 9              | 3              |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 9 - 10 Years    | 4               | 7              | 2              |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 | **Children 0 -  |                |                |
|                 | 5 in 1972**     |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 | All Child       | Black Children | Non-Black      |
|                 | Recipients      |                | Children       |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 0 Years         | 39              | 24             | 50             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 1 - 2 Years     | 25              | 27             | 23             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 3 - 5 Years     | 21              | 27             | 17             |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 6 - 8 Years     | 6               | 9              | 4              |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 9 - 10 Years    | 9               | 12             | 6              |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                 |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Note: The base  |                 |                |                |
| for the         |                 |                |                |
| percentages is  |                 |                |                |
| recipients in a |                 |                |                |
| one-year time   |                 |                |                |
| period, defined |                 |                |                |
| as individuals  |                 |                |                |
| receiving at    |                 |                |                |
| least \$1 of    |                 |                |                |
| AFDC in the     |                 |                |                |
| first year      |                 |                |                |
| (1982 or 1972). |                 |                |                |
| Child           |                 |                |                |
| recipients are  |                 |                |                |
| defined by age  |                 |                |                |
| in the first    |                 |                |                |
| year. This      |                 |                |                |
| measures years  |                 |                |                |
| of dependency   |                 |                |                |
| over the        |                 |                |                |
| specified       |                 |                |                |
| ten-year time   |                 |                |                |
| periods, and    |                 |                |                |
| does not take   |                 |                |                |
| into account    |                 |                |                |
| years of        |                 |                |                |
| dependency that |                 |                |                |
| may have        |                 |                |                |
| occurred before |                 |                |                |
| the initial     |                 |                |                |
| year (1972 or   |                 |                |                |
| 1982).          |                 |                |                |
|                 |                 |                |                |
| Source:         |                 |                |                |
| Unpublished     |                 |                |                |
| data from the   |                 |                |                |
| PSID, 1973 -    |                 |                |                |
| 1992.           |                 |                |                |
+-----------------+-----------------+----------------+----------------+

![](media/image3.wmf)**Figure IND 1c. Percentage of Total Income from
Various Sources, by Poverty Status: 1995**

Source: Unpublished data from the SIPP, 1993 panel.

-   Whereas the two previous figures show the proportion of individuals
    with more than 50 percent of total income from means-tested
    assistance, Figure IND 1c shows the average percentage of income
    from means-tested assistance and earnings, by poverty status.

-   Those in families with incomes below the poverty level received 42
    percent of their total family income from means-tested assistance
    programs (AFDC, SSI, and food stamps) and 40 percent of their total
    family income from earnings. In contrast, families with total
    incomes at least 200 percent above the poverty line received the
    majority of their income from earnings (85 percent) and less than
    one percent of their income from means-tested assistance (a
    percentage so small as to not be visible in Figure IND 1c).

-   Those living in deep poverty (total family income less than 50
    percent of poverty line) relied heavily on income from means-tested
    assistance (71 percent of total family income). This included
    assistance from AFDC and SSI (39 percent) and food stamps (33
    percent), as shown in Table IND 1c. The percentage of income from
    earnings for those in deep poverty is about half the percentage for
    those in poverty (19 percent compared to 40 percent).

+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **Table IND 1c. |         |         |         |         |         |
| Percentage of   |         |         |         |         |         |
| Total Income    |         |         |         |         |         |
| from Various    |         |         |         |         |         |
| Sources, by     |         |         |         |         |         |
| Poverty Status, |         |         |         |         |         |
| Race,**         |         |         |         |         |         |
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
| **and Age:      |         |         |         |         |         |
| 1995**          |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 | \<50%   | \<100%  | \<150%  | \<200%  | 200%+   |
|                 | of      | of      | of      | of      | of      |
|                 | poverty | poverty | poverty | poverty | poverty |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **All Persons** |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 38.5    | 26.0    | 14.4    | 8.7     | 0.2     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 32.7    | 15.7    | 8.2     | 4.7     | 0.0     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 19.3    | 39.8    | 55.6    | 65.0    | 84.9    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 9.5     | 18.4    | 21.9    | 21.7    | 14.8    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$5,182 | \$9,586 | \       | \       | \       |
|                 |         |         | $12,617 | $16,072 | $57,945 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **Racial        |         |         |         |         |         |
| Categories**    |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *Non-Hispanic   |         |         |         |         |         |
| White*          |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 25.5    | 18.9    | 9.3     | 5.1     | 0.2     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 29.2    | 13.1    | 5.8     | 3.0     | 0.0     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 34.7    | 44.5    | 57.0    | 64.9    | 84.1    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 10.5    | 23.5    | 27.9    | 27.0    | 15.7    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$3,300 | \$8,379 | \       | \       | \       |
|                 |         |         | $11,884 | $15,622 | $59,130 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *Non-Hispanic   |         |         |         |         |         |
| Black*          |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 45.6    | 32.8    | 22.2    | 14.9    | 0.8     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 37.4    | 19.0    | 12.3    | 8.1     | 0.2     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 8.4     | 29.3    | 46.3    | 58.4    | 88.2    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 8.6     | 18.8    | 19.2    | 18.5    | 10.8    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$6,610 | \       | \       | \       | \       |
|                 |         | $10,001 | $12,421 | $15,583 | $46,094 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *Hispanic*      |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 40.2    | 26.5    | 15.3    | 10.8    | 0.4     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 31.5    | 16.7    | 91.0    | 5.9     | 0.1     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 18.9    | 45.1    | 62.7    | 71.6    | 89.6    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 9.4     | 11.7    | 12.8    | 11.7    | 9.9     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$7,210 | \       | \       | \       | \       |
|                 |         | $11,464 | $14,655 | $17,639 | $49,149 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **Age           |         |         |         |         |         |
| Categories**    |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *Children Ages  |         |         |         |         |         |
| 0 - 5*          |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 45.6    | 29.8    | 17.5    | 11.5    | 0.2     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 36.3    | 19.6    | 11.3    | 7.4     | 0.1     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 11.6    | 39.3    | 60.5    | 71.3    | 93.5    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 6.5     | 11.2    | 10.7    | 9.9     | 6.2     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$7,167 | \       | \       | \       | \       |
|                 |         | $11,035 | $14,362 | $17,931 | $60,743 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *Children Ages  |         |         |         |         |         |
| 6 - 10*         |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 41.6    | 27.8    | 17.1    | 11.3    | 0.3     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 35.5    | 19.0    | 11.1    | 6.9     | 0.0     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 15.4    | 41.8    | 59.6    | 70.1    | 92.9    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 7.5     | 11.5    | 12.1    | 11.7    | 6.8     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$8,067 | \       | \       | \       | \       |
|                 |         | $12,399 | $15,329 | $18,977 | $64,335 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

*(over)*

+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| **Table IND 1c. |         |         |         |         |         |
| Percentage of   |         |         |         |         |         |
| Total Income    |         |         |         |         |         |
| from Various    |         |         |         |         |         |
| Sources, by     |         |         |         |         |         |
| Poverty Status, |         |         |         |         |         |
| Race,**         |         |         |         |         |         |
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
| **and Age: 1995 |         |         |         |         |         |
| *(continued)*** |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 | \<50%   | \<100%  | \<150%  | \<200%  | 200%+   |
|                 | of      | of      | of      | of      | of      |
|                 | poverty | poverty | poverty | poverty | poverty |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *Children Ages  |         |         |         |         |         |
| 11 -- 15*       |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 36.3    | 27.4    | 16.7    | 10.0    | 0.2     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 31.5    | 17.2    | 10.1    | 6.0     | 0.0     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 24.5    | 40.2    | 56.9    | 68.1    | 92.5    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 7.7     | 15.3    | 16.3    | 15.9    | 7.3     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$7,278 | \       | \       | \       | \       |
|                 |         | $12,029 | $15,061 | $18,897 | $65,937 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *Women Ages 16  |         |         |         |         |         |
| -- 64*          |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 37.2    | 26.9    | 15.2    | 9.0     | 0.2     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 31.7    | 15.1    | 8.1     | 4.6     | 0.0     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 21.1    | 40.6    | 58.1    | 68.5    | 87.7    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 18.2    | 17.3    | 18.7    | 17.9    | 12.0    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$5,054 | \$9,225 | \       | \       | \       |
|                 |         |         | $12,305 | $15,723 | $58,353 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *Men Ages 16 -- |         |         |         |         |         |
| 64*             |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 22.0    | 19.9    | 10.0    | 5.7     | 0.2     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 24.4    | 11.4    | 5.1     | 2.7     | 0.0     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 35.4    | 48.4    | 64.5    | 74.3    | 89.0    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 9.9     | 20.3    | 20.3    | 17.3    | 10.8    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$3,049 | \$8,669 | \       | \       | \       |
|                 |         |         | $12,568 | $16,713 | $59,538 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| *Adults Age 65  |         |         |         |         |         |
| and over*       |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| AFDC and SSI    | 20.8    | 17.6    | 8.8     | 5.3     | 0.4     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Food Stamps     | 8.9     | 3.7     | 1.6     | 0.9     | 0.0     |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Earnings        | 10.8    | 3.3     | 6.0     | 8.1     | 24.6    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Other Income    | 59.5    | 75.4    | 83.6    | 85.6    | 75.0    |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Average Income  | \$370   | \$4,459 | \$7,588 | \       | \       |
|                 |         |         |         | $10,148 | $40,052 |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Note: While     |         |         |         |         |         |
| only affecting  |         |         |         |         |         |
| a small number  |         |         |         |         |         |
| of cases,       |         |         |         |         |         |
| general         |         |         |         |         |         |
| assistance      |         |         |         |         |         |
| income is       |         |         |         |         |         |
| included in     |         |         |         |         |         |
| AFDC income.    |         |         |         |         |         |
| Other income is |         |         |         |         |         |
| no              |         |         |         |         |         |
| n-means-tested, |         |         |         |         |         |
| non-earnings    |         |         |         |         |         |
| income such as  |         |         |         |         |         |
| child support,  |         |         |         |         |         |
| alimony,        |         |         |         |         |         |
| pensions,       |         |         |         |         |         |
| Social Security |         |         |         |         |         |
| benefits,       |         |         |         |         |         |
| interest, and   |         |         |         |         |         |
| dividends.      |         |         |         |         |         |
| Poverty status  |         |         |         |         |         |
| categories are  |         |         |         |         |         |
| not mutually    |         |         |         |         |         |
| exclusive.      |         |         |         |         |         |
| Because full    |         |         |         |         |         |
| calendar year   |         |         |         |         |         |
| data for 1995   |         |         |         |         |         |
| were not        |         |         |         |         |         |
| available for   |         |         |         |         |         |
| all SIPP        |         |         |         |         |         |
| respondents,    |         |         |         |         |         |
| 1995 estimates  |         |         |         |         |         |
| are based on a  |         |         |         |         |         |
| weighting       |         |         |         |         |         |
| adjustment to   |         |         |         |         |         |
| account for     |         |         |         |         |         |
| those who were  |         |         |         |         |         |
| not interviewed |         |         |         |         |         |
| for the entire  |         |         |         |         |         |
| year.           |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
|                 |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+
| Source:         |         |         |         |         |         |
| Unpublished     |         |         |         |         |         |
| data from the   |         |         |         |         |         |
| SIPP, 1993      |         |         |         |         |         |
| panel.          |         |         |         |         |         |
+-----------------+---------+---------+---------+---------+---------+

####   {#section .unnumbered}

#### INDICATOR 2. DEPENDENCE TRANSITIONS  {#indicator-2.-dependence-transitions .unnumbered}

![](media/image5.wmf)**Figure IND 2. Dependency Status in 1995 of
Persons Who Received More than 50 Percent of Income from Means-Tested
Assistance in 1994, by Race**

Source: Unpublished data from the SIPP, 1993 panel.

Nearly four-fifths (79 percent) of all recipients who received more than
50 percent of their total income from means-tested assistance programs
in 1994 also received more than 50 percent of their total income from
these same programs in 1995.

-   Of recipients who received more than 50 percent of their total
    income from AFDC, food stamps and SSI in 1994, a larger percentage
    of non-Hispanic whites became "less dependent" in 1995 (received 50
    percent or less of their total income from means-tested assistance
    programs) compared to Hispanics and non-Hispanic blacks.

-   As shown in Table IND 2, a slightly larger percentage of women who
    received more than half of their total income from means-tested
    assistance programs in 1994 remained "dependent" in 1995 compared to
    the same percentage for men (79 percent compared to 73 percent).

+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Table IND 2. Dependency    |          |        |        |        |
| Status in 1995 of Persons    |          |        |        |        |
| Who Received More than 50    |          |        |        |        |
| Percent of Income from       |          |        |        |        |
| Means-Tested Assistance in   |          |        |        |        |
| 1994, by Race and Age**      |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
|                              |          | **Perc |        |        |
|                              |          | entage |        |        |
|                              |          | of     |        |        |
|                              |          | P      |        |        |
|                              |          | ersons |        |        |
|                              |          | Recei  |        |        |
|                              |          | ving** |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Individuals Receiving more   | Total    | No Aid | Up to  | Over   |
| than\                        | (000\'s) |        | 50%    | 50%    |
| 50% of Income from           |          | in     |        |        |
| Assistance in 1994           |          | 1995   | in     | in     |
|                              |          |        | 1995   | 1995   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
|                              |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| **All Persons**              | **       | *      | **     | **     |
|                              | 13,986** | *2.7** | 18.8** | 78.5** |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
|                              |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Racial Categories**        |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Non-Hispanic White           | 4,804    | 3.1    | 26.2   | 70.7   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Non-Hispanic Black           | 4,710    | 2.3    | 19.2   | 78.5   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Hispanic                     | 3,418    | 2.9    | 11.6   | 85.5   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
|                              |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Age Categories**           |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Children Ages 0 -- 5         | 3,185    | 2.0    | 18.6   | 79.4   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Children Ages 6 -- 10        | 2,102    | 0.6    | 17.8   | 81.6   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Children Ages 11 -- 15       | 1,724    | 1.6    | 19.5   | 78.9   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
|                              |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Men Ages 16 -- 64            | 1,866    | 2.5    | 18.7   | 72.6   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Women Ages 16 -- 64          | 4,472    | 7.1    | 20.4   | 78.8   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Adults Age 65 and over       | 636      | 4.6    | 17.9   | 77.5   |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
|                              |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Note: Means-tested           |          |        |        |        |
| assistance is defined as     |          |        |        |        |
| AFDC, food stamps, and SSI.  |          |        |        |        |
| While only affecting a small |          |        |        |        |
| number of cases, general     |          |        |        |        |
| assistance income is         |          |        |        |        |
| included within AFDC income. |          |        |        |        |
| Because full calendar year   |          |        |        |        |
| data for 1995 were not       |          |        |        |        |
| available for all SIPP       |          |        |        |        |
| respondents, some            |          |        |        |        |
| transitions were based on    |          |        |        |        |
| twelve-month periods that    |          |        |        |        |
| did not correspond exactly   |          |        |        |        |
| to calendar years.           |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
|                              |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
|                              |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+
| Source: Unpublished data     |          |        |        |        |
| from the SIPP, 1993 panel.   |          |        |        |        |
+------------------------------+----------+--------+--------+--------+

**INDICATOR 3. DEPENDENCE SPELL DURATION**

![](media/image6.wmf)**Figure IND 3. Percentage of AFDC Spells of
Individuals in Families with No Labor Force Participants for Individuals
Entering Programs During the 1993 SIPP Panel, by Length of Spell**

Source: Unpublished data from the SIPP, 1993 panel.

-   Forty-three percent of AFDC spells for individuals in families with
    no one in the labor force ended within a year.

-   Over one-quarter (27 percent) of AFDC spells for individuals in
    families where no one participated in the labor force lasted four
    months or less.

-   As shown in Table IND 3, a smaller percentage of AFDC spells to
    children in families with no labor force participants ended in four
    months or less compared to their adult counterparts (25 percent
    compared to 31 percent).

-   Spells shown in Figure IND 3 are limited to spells of recipients in
    families without any labor force participation. Spell lengths are
    shorter in Figure IND 5, which shows spells for *all* recipients,
    including those in families with labor force participants. For
    example, whereas only half (50 percent) of spells shown in Figure
    IND 3 end in 20 months or less, over two-thirds (69 percent) of all
    AFDC spells last 20 months or less, as shown in Figure IND 5.

+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| **Table IND 3.           |         |         |         |          |
| Percentage of AFDC       |         |         |         |          |
| Spells of Individuals in |         |         |         |          |
| Families with No Labor   |         |         |         |          |
| Force Participants for   |         |         |         |          |
| Individuals Entering     |         |         |         |          |
| Programs During the 1993 |         |         |         |          |
| SIPP Panel, by Length of |         |         |         |          |
| Spell, Race, and Age**   |         |         |         |          |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
|                          | Spells  | Spells  | Spells  | Spells   |
|                          | \<=4    | \<=12   | \<=20   | \>20     |
|                          | months  | months  | months  | months   |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
|                          |         |         |         |          |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| **All Persons**          | *       | *       | *       | **49.7** |
|                          | *27.2** | *43.4** | *50.3** |          |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
|                          |         |         |         |          |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| **Racial Categories**    |         |         |         |          |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| Non-Hispanic White       | 30.2    | 40.7    | 43.0    | 57.0     |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| Non-Hispanic Black       | 17.4    | 45.6    | N/A     | N/A      |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| Hispanic                 | 33.2    | N/A     | N/A     | N/A      |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
|                          |         |         |         |          |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| **Age Categories**       |         |         |         |          |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| Children Ages 0-15       | 24.7    | 41.9    | 49.1    | 50.9     |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| Adults Ages 16-64        | 30.6    | 45.8    | 51.9    | 48.1     |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
|                          |         |         |         |          |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+
| Note: Spell length       |         |         |         |          |
| categories are not       |         |         |         |          |
| mutually exclusive.      |         |         |         |          |
| Spells separated by only |         |         |         |          |
| 1 month are not          |         |         |         |          |
| considered separate      |         |         |         |          |
| spells. Due to the       |         |         |         |          |
| length of the            |         |         |         |          |
| observation period,      |         |         |         |          |
| actual spell lengths for |         |         |         |          |
| spells that lasted more  |         |         |         |          |
| than 20 months cannot be |         |         |         |          |
| observed. AFDC spells    |         |         |         |          |
| are defined as those     |         |         |         |          |
| spells starting during   |         |         |         |          |
| the 1993 SIPP panel. For |         |         |         |          |
| certain racial           |         |         |         |          |
| categories, data are not |         |         |         |          |
| available (N/A) due to   |         |         |         |          |
| insufficient sample      |         |         |         |          |
| size.                    |         |         |         |          |
|                          |         |         |         |          |
| Source: Unpublished data |         |         |         |          |
| from the SIPP, 1993      |         |         |         |          |
| panel.                   |         |         |         |          |
+--------------------------+---------+---------+---------+----------+

**INDICATOR 4. RECEIPT OF MEANS-TESTED ASSISTANCE AND LABOR FORCE
ATTACHMENT**

**Figure IND 4a. Percentage of Recipients in Families with Labor Force
Participants,**

![](media/image7.wmf)**by Program: 1995**

Source: Unpublished data from the SIPP, 1993 panel.

In 1995, 46 percent of individuals who received AFDC, 37 percent of
individuals who received SSI, and 54 percent of individuals who received
food stamps were in families with at least one person in the labor
force. The comparable figure for individuals in the general population
is 83 percent (as shown in Table WORK 1, in Chapter III).

-   More than half of those families receiving AFDC with at least one
    participant in the labor force had no one in the labor force full
    time. Conversely, a significant majority of SSI and food stamp
    families with at least one member in the labor force had at least
    one family member working full time.

-   As shown in Table IND 4a, among AFDC recipients, a larger percentage
    of children under age 6 were in families with at least one full-time
    labor force participant compared to children ages 6 to 15.

+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
| **Table    |                   |            |           |           |
| IND 4a.    |                   |            |           |           |
| Percentage |                   |            |           |           |
| of         |                   |            |           |           |
| Recipients |                   |            |           |           |
| in         |                   |            |           |           |
| Families   |                   |            |           |           |
| with Labor |                   |            |           |           |
| Force      |                   |            |           |           |
| Parti      |                   |            |           |           |
| cipants,** |                   |            |           |           |
|            |                   |            |           |           |
| **by       |                   |            |           |           |
| Program,   |                   |            |           |           |
| Race, and  |                   |            |           |           |
| Age:       |                   |            |           |           |
| 1995**     |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            |                   | No one     | At least  | At least  |
|            |                   |            | one in LF | one FT    |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            |                   | in LF      | No one FT | LF        |
|            |                   |            |           | pa        |
|            |                   |            |           | rticipant |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
| **AFDC**   | **All Persons**   | **54.1**   | **23.8**  | **22.1**  |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Non-Hispanic      | 52.4       | 22.1      | 25.6      |
|            | White             |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Non-Hispanic      | 53.2       | 23.6      | 23.2      |
|            | Black             |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Hispanic          | 58.4       | 23.0      | 18.6      |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Children Ages 0 - | 55.0       | 21.3      | 23.7      |
|            | 5                 |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Children Ages 6 - | 59.0       | 21.1      | 19.9      |
|            | 10                |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Children Ages     | 55.6       | 26.9      | 17.5      |
|            | 11 - 15           |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Women Ages 16 -   | 52.1       | 24.0      | 23.9      |
|            | 64                |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Men Ages 16 - 64  | 41.6       | 33.9      | 24.5      |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Adults Age 65 and | 51.0       | 15.3      | 32.9      |
|            | over              |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
| **SSI**    | **All Persons**   | **62.6**   | **11.3**  | **26.1**  |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Non-Hispanic      | 63.4       | 10.5      | 26.1      |
|            | White             |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Non-Hispanic      | 64.4       | 13.7      | 21.9      |
|            | Black             |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Hispanic          | 60.9       | 9.5       | 29.6      |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Children Ages 0 - | N/A        | N/A       | N/A       |
|            | 5                 |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Children Ages 6 - | N/A        | N/A       | N/A       |
|            | 10                |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Children Ages     | N/A        | N/A       | N/A       |
|            | 11 - 15           |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Women Ages 16 -   | 57.9       | 17.0      | 25.1      |
|            | 64                |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Men Ages 16 - 64  | 56.8       | 10.1      | 33.1      |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Adults Age 65 and | 73.9       | 4.2       | 22.0      |
|            | over              |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
| **FOOD     | **All Persons**   | **46.1**   | **22.7**  | **31.2**  |
| STAMPS**   |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Non-Hispanic      | 43.8       | 20.4      | 35.8      |
|            | White             |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Non-Hispanic      | 50.8       | 23.7      | 25.5      |
|            | Black             |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Hispanic          | 44.2       | 22.6      | 33.2      |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Children Ages 0 - | 43.8       | 20.8      | 35.3      |
|            | 5                 |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Children Ages 6 - | 47.8       | 22.2      | 30.0      |
|            | 10                |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Children Ages     | 46.1       | 26.1      | 27.8      |
|            | 11 - 15           |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Women Ages 16 -   | 45.9       | 23.8      | 30.3      |
|            | 64                |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Men Ages 16 - 64  | 35.3       | 26.9      | 37.8      |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            | Adults Age 65 and | 82.0       | 4.2       | 13.7      |
|            | over              |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
| Note:      |                   |            |           |           |
| Full-time  |                   |            |           |           |
| labor      |                   |            |           |           |
| force      |                   |            |           |           |
| pa         |                   |            |           |           |
| rticipants |                   |            |           |           |
| are        |                   |            |           |           |
| defined as |                   |            |           |           |
| those who  |                   |            |           |           |
| usually    |                   |            |           |           |
| work 35    |                   |            |           |           |
| hours or   |                   |            |           |           |
| more per   |                   |            |           |           |
| week. Data |                   |            |           |           |
| on         |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
| receipt of |                   |            |           |           |
| SSI for    |                   |            |           |           |
| young      |                   |            |           |           |
| children   |                   |            |           |           |
| are not    |                   |            |           |           |
| available  |                   |            |           |           |
| (N/A).     |                   |            |           |           |
| Because    |                   |            |           |           |
| full       |                   |            |           |           |
| calendar   |                   |            |           |           |
| year data  |                   |            |           |           |
| for 1995   |                   |            |           |           |
| were not   |                   |            |           |           |
| available  |                   |            |           |           |
| for all    |                   |            |           |           |
| SIPP       |                   |            |           |           |
| re         |                   |            |           |           |
| spondents, |                   |            |           |           |
| 1995       |                   |            |           |           |
| estimates  |                   |            |           |           |
| are based  |                   |            |           |           |
| on a       |                   |            |           |           |
| weighting  |                   |            |           |           |
| adjustment |                   |            |           |           |
| to account |                   |            |           |           |
| for those  |                   |            |           |           |
| who were   |                   |            |           |           |
| not        |                   |            |           |           |
| i          |                   |            |           |           |
| nterviewed |                   |            |           |           |
| for the    |                   |            |           |           |
| entire     |                   |            |           |           |
| year.      |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
|            |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+
| Source:    |                   |            |           |           |
| U          |                   |            |           |           |
| npublished |                   |            |           |           |
| data from  |                   |            |           |           |
| the SIPP,  |                   |            |           |           |
| 1993       |                   |            |           |           |
| panel.     |                   |            |           |           |
+------------+-------------------+------------+-----------+-----------+

#### Figure IND 4b. Percentage of AFDC Recipients in Families with Labor Force Participants:  {#figure-ind-4b.-percentage-of-afdc-recipients-in-families-with-labor-force-participants .unnumbered}

#### Selected Years {#selected-years .unnumbered}

![](media/image8.wmf)

Source: Unpublished data from the SIPP, 1987, 1990, 1992, and 1993
panels.

In 1995, 22 percent of all AFDC recipients lived in families with at
least one full-time labor force participant -- a higher percentage than
at any other point in the previous nine years.

-   In all years shown above, more than half of all AFDC recipients
    lived in families where no one participated in the labor force. This
    percentage has varied between 58 percent and 54 percent, as shown in
    Table IND 4b.

-   About one-fourth of AFDC recipients lived in families with a labor
    force participant who worked less than full-time. This percentage
    was lower in 1995 (24 percent) than in 1992 (28 percent), suggesting
    that some of the increase in full-time work among AFDC recipients
    represents a shift from part-time to full-time work.

+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| ##                     |              |              |             |   |
| ## Table IND 4b. Perce |              |              |             |   |
| ntage of AFDC Recipien |              |              |             |   |
| ts in Families with La |              |              |             |   |
| bor Force Participants |              |              |             |   |
| : Selected Years {#tab |              |              |             |   |
| le-ind-4b.-percentage- |              |              |             |   |
| of-afdc-recipients-in- |              |              |             |   |
| families-with-labor-fo |              |              |             |   |
| rce-participants-selec |              |              |             |   |
| ted-years .unnumbered} |              |              |             |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
|                        | No one       | At least one | At least    |   |
|                        |              | in LF        | one FT      |   |
|                        |              |              |             |   |
|                        |              |              | LF          |   |
|                        |              |              | Participant |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
|                        | In LF        | No one FT    |             |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
|                        |              |              |             |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| 1987                   | 55.3         | 28.1         | 16.6        |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| 1988                   | 58.3         | 28.1         | 16.6        |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| 1990                   | 58.3         | 23.3         | 18.4        |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| 1991                   | 57.8         | 23.7         | 18.5        |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| 1992                   | 54.2         | 28.1         | 17.7        |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| 1993                   | 56.5         | 25.7         | 17.8        |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| 1994                   | 54.5         | 25.3         | 20.2        |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| 1995                   | 54.1         | 23.8         | 22.1        |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
|                        |              |              |             |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+
| Note: Full-time labor  |              |              |             |   |
| force participants are |              |              |             |   |
| defined as those who   |              |              |             |   |
| usually work 35 or     |              |              |             |   |
| more hours per week.   |              |              |             |   |
| Because full calendar  |              |              |             |   |
| year data for 1995     |              |              |             |   |
| were not available for |              |              |             |   |
| all SIPP respondents,  |              |              |             |   |
| 1995 estimates are     |              |              |             |   |
| based on a weighting   |              |              |             |   |
| adjustment to account  |              |              |             |   |
| for those who were not |              |              |             |   |
| interviewed for the    |              |              |             |   |
| entire year.           |              |              |             |   |
|                        |              |              |             |   |
| Source: Unpublished    |              |              |             |   |
| data from the SIPP,    |              |              |             |   |
| 1987, 1990, 1992, and  |              |              |             |   |
| 1993 panels.           |              |              |             |   |
+------------------------+--------------+--------------+-------------+---+

**INDICATOR 5. PROGRAM SPELL DURATION**

![](media/image9.wmf)**Figure IND 5. Percentage of AFDC, Food Stamp and
SSI Spells for Individuals Entering Programs During the 1993 SIPP Panel,
by Length of Spell**

Source: Unpublished data from the SIPP, 1993 Panel.

Short spells lasting 4 months or less accounted for 31 percent of AFDC
spells, 24 percent of SSI spells, and 33 percent of food stamp spells.

-   Over one-half of all AFDC and food stamp spells lasted one year or
    less (56 percent and 60 percent, respectively). In contrast, only 32
    percent of SSI spells ended within one year. The percentage of SSI
    spells that lasted more than 20 months is twice the percentage of
    AFDC and food stamp spells that lasted this long (see Table IND 5).

As shown in Table IND 5, for AFDC spells, a larger percentage of short
spells (lasting 4 months or less) and a smaller percentage of long
spells (lasting more than 20 months) occurred among non-Hispanic whites
compared to non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics.

-   As further shown in Table IND 5, a larger percentage of AFDC and
    food stamp spells among adults ages 16 to 64 ended within 4 months
    compared to spells among children.

-   Short spells are less common among recipients in families without
    labor force participants, as shown previously in Figure and Table
    IND 3.

+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
| **Table   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| IND 5.    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| P         |                  |         |        |        |        |
| ercentage |                  |         |        |        |        |
| of AFDC,  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Food      |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Stamp and |                  |         |        |        |        |
| SSI       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Spells    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| for       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| In        |                  |         |        |        |        |
| dividuals |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Entering  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Programs  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| During    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| the 1993  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| SIPP      |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Panel, by |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Length of |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Spell,    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Race, and |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Age**     |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  | Spells  | Spells | Spells | Spells |
|           |                  | \<=4    | \<=12  | \<=20  | \>20   |
|           |                  | months  | months | months | months |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
| **AFDC**  | **All            | *       | **     | **     | **     |
|           | Recipients**     | *30.7** | 56.1** | 68.6** | 31.4** |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | **Racial         |         |        |        |        |
|           | Categories**     |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Non-Hispanic     | 35.6    | 62.2   | 72.3   | 27.7   |
|           | White            |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Non-Hispanic     | 24.6    | 52.3   | 66.7   | 33.3   |
|           | Black            |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Hispanic         | 30.8    | 52.5   | 63.4   | 36.6   |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | **Age            |         |        |        |        |
|           | Categories**     |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Children Ages    | 28.1    | 53.6   | 65.6   | 34.4   |
|           | 0 - 15           |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Adults Ages 16 - | 33.5    | 59.0   | 72.2   | 27.8   |
|           | 64               |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
| **SSI**   | **All            | *       | **     | **     | **     |
|           | Recipients**     | *24.0** | 31.9** | 36.6** | 63.4** |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | **Racial         |         |        |        |        |
|           | Categories**     |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Non-Hispanic     | 27.2    | 34.6   | 40.8   | 59.2   |
|           | White            |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Non-Hispanic     | 20.5    | 26.2   | 30.0   | 70.0   |
|           | Black            |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Hispanic         | 20.0    | 32.2   | NA     | NA     |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | **Age            |         |        |        |        |
|           | Categories**     |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Adults Ages 16 - | 26.8    | 34.6   | 39.7   | 60.3   |
|           | 64               |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
| **FOOD    | **All            | *       | **     | **     | **     |
| STAMPS**  | Recipients**     | *33.1** | 59.9** | 70.0** | 30.0** |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | **Racial         |         |        |        |        |
|           | Categories**     |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Non-Hispanic     | 34.3    | 62.1   | 71.5   | 28.5   |
|           | White            |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Non-Hispanic     | 28.4    | 53.4   | 64.9   | 35.1   |
|           | Black            |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Hispanic         | 35.4    | 64.0   | 71.1   | 28.9   |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | **Age            |         |        |        |        |
|           | Categories**     |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Children Ages    | 29.8    | 56.5   | 67.0   | 33.0   |
|           | 0 - 15           |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           | Adults Ages 16 - | 35.9    | 63.0   | 72.8   | 27.2   |
|           | 64               |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+
| Note:     |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Spell     |                  |         |        |        |        |
| length    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| c         |                  |         |        |        |        |
| ategories |                  |         |        |        |        |
| are not   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| mutually  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| e         |                  |         |        |        |        |
| xclusive. |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Spells    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| separated |                  |         |        |        |        |
| by only 1 |                  |         |        |        |        |
| month are |                  |         |        |        |        |
| not       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| c         |                  |         |        |        |        |
| onsidered |                  |         |        |        |        |
| separate  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| spells.   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Due to    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| the       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| length of |                  |         |        |        |        |
| the       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| ob        |                  |         |        |        |        |
| servation |                  |         |        |        |        |
| period,   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| actual    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| spell     |                  |         |        |        |        |
| lengths   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| for       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| spells    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| that      |                  |         |        |        |        |
| lasted    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| more than |                  |         |        |        |        |
| 20 months |                  |         |        |        |        |
| cannot be |                  |         |        |        |        |
| observed. |                  |         |        |        |        |
| AFDC      |                  |         |        |        |        |
| spells    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| are       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| defined   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| as those  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| starting  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| during    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| the 1993  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| SIPP      |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Panel.    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| For       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| certain   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| age and   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| racial    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| ca        |                  |         |        |        |        |
| tegories, |                  |         |        |        |        |
| data are  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| not       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| available |                  |         |        |        |        |
| (N/A)     |                  |         |        |        |        |
| because   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| of        |                  |         |        |        |        |
| ins       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| ufficient |                  |         |        |        |        |
| sample    |                  |         |        |        |        |
| size.     |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Data on   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| SSI       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| r         |                  |         |        |        |        |
| ecipiency |                  |         |        |        |        |
| for       |                  |         |        |        |        |
| children  |                  |         |        |        |        |
| are not   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| available |                  |         |        |        |        |
| (N/A).    |                  |         |        |        |        |
|           |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Source:   |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Un        |                  |         |        |        |        |
| published |                  |         |        |        |        |
| data from |                  |         |        |        |        |
| the SIPP, |                  |         |        |        |        |
| 1993      |                  |         |        |        |        |
| Panel.    |                  |         |        |        |        |
+-----------+------------------+---------+--------+--------+--------+

**INDICATOR 6. LONG-TERM RECEIPT**

**Figure IND 6. Percentage of AFDC Recipients in 1982, by Years of
Receipt: 1982-91**

![](media/image10.wmf)Source: Unpublished data from the PSID, 1983 -
1992.

-   Among all AFDC recipients in 1982, almost half (47 percent) received
    assistance for only one or two years between 1982 and 1991. Over one
    quarter (28 percent) received AFDC and/or food stamps for 3 to 5
    years, and about one quarter (26 percent) received AFDC for more
    than 5 years. Similar patterns were evident for recipients in 1972,
    as can be seen in the lower half of Table IND 6.

-   As shown in Table IND 6, compared to non-black recipients, a smaller
    percentage of black recipients received AFDC for only 1 to 2 years
    while a larger percentage received benefits for more than 5 years in
    both ten-year time periods.

-   As further shown in Table IND 6, a smaller percentage of child
    recipients experienced short-term receipt and a larger percentage
    experienced longer-term receipt in both time periods relative to the
    percentages for all recipients.

-   Whereas over half (53 percent) of recipients received at least some
    AFDC for three or more years between 1982 and 1991 (as shown in
    Figure IND 6), only 28 percent of recipients received more than 50
    percent of their income from AFDC and food stamps for three or more
    years over the same time period (as previously shown in Figure IND
    1b).

+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| **Table IND 6.    |                |                |                |
| Percentage of     |                |                |                |
| AFDC Recipients,  |                |                |                |
| by Years of       |                |                |                |
| Receipt, Race,    |                |                |                |
| and Age**         |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| **Between 1982    |                |                |                |
| and 1991:**       |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   | **All          |                |                |
|                   | Recipients**   |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   | All Recipients | Black          | Non-Black      |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 1 - 2 Years       | 47             | 37             | 53             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 3 - 5 Years       | 28             | 27             | 28             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 6 - 8 Years       | 15             | 19             | 12             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 9 - 10 Years      | 11             | 17             | 6              |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   | **Children 0 - |                |                |
|                   | 5 in 1982**    |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   | All Child      | Black Children | Non-Black      |
|                   | Recipients     |                | Children       |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 1 - 2 Years       | 34             | 28             | 39             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 3 - 5 Years       | 29             | 28             | 30             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 6 - 8 Years       | 17             | 16             | 19             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 9 - 10 Years      | 20             | 29             | 13             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| **Between 1972    |                |                |                |
| and 1981:**       |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   | **All          |                |                |
|                   | Recipients**   |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   | All Recipients | Black          | Non-Black      |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 1 - 2 Years       | 49             | 32             | 59             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 3 - 5 Years       | 28             | 34             | 25             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 6 - 8 Years       | 13             | 19             | 9              |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 9 - 10 Years      | 11             | 15             | 8              |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   | **Children 0 - |                |                |
|                   | 5 in 1972**    |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   | All Child      | Black Children | Non-Black      |
|                   | Recipients     |                | Children       |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 1 - 2 Years       | 37             | 24             | 46             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 3 - 5 Years       | 29             | 31             | 27             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 6 - 8 Years       | 15             | 23             | 10             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| 9 - 10 Years      | 19             | 23             | 17             |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
|                   |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+
| Note: The base    |                |                |                |
| for percentages   |                |                |                |
| is recipients in  |                |                |                |
| a one-year time   |                |                |                |
| period, defined   |                |                |                |
| as individuals    |                |                |                |
| receiving at      |                |                |                |
| least \$1 of AFDC |                |                |                |
| in the first year |                |                |                |
| (1982 or 1972).   |                |                |                |
| Child recipients  |                |                |                |
| are defined by    |                |                |                |
| age in the first  |                |                |                |
| year. This        |                |                |                |
| measures years of |                |                |                |
| receipt over the  |                |                |                |
| specified         |                |                |                |
| ten-year time     |                |                |                |
| periods, and does |                |                |                |
| not take into     |                |                |                |
| account years of  |                |                |                |
| receipt that may  |                |                |                |
| have occurred     |                |                |                |
| before the        |                |                |                |
| initial year      |                |                |                |
| (1972 or 1982).   |                |                |                |
|                   |                |                |                |
| Source:           |                |                |                |
| Unpublished data  |                |                |                |
| from the PSID,    |                |                |                |
| 1973 - 1992.      |                |                |                |
+-------------------+----------------+----------------+----------------+

**INDICATOR 7. MULTIPLE PROGRAM RECEIPT**

![](media/image11.wmf)**Figure IND 7. Percentage of Population Receiving
Assistance from One, Two or Three Programs (AFDC, Food Stamps, SSI), by
Age: 1995**

Source: Unpublished data from the SIPP, 1993 panel.

-   The 10.7 percent of the population who received AFDC, food stamp, or
    SSI benefits in an average month include 5.5 percent who got
    benefits from one of the programs, 5.0 percent who received two
    types of assistance, and 0.2 percent with benefits from all three
    programs.

-   As shown in Table IND 7a, the most common patterns of benefit
    receipt are receipt of both food stamps and AFDC (4.3 percent) and
    receipt of food stamp benefits only (3.9 percent). The least common
    are receiving AFDC and SSI or participating in all three programs.

-   Children have higher recipiency rates than the population as a
    whole. Over one-fifth of children under 6, for example, receive
    AFDC, food stamps, or SSI, with most of these children (13 percent)
    receiving a combined package of AFDC and food stamp benefits, as
    shown in Table IND 7a. Most of the remaining children (8 percent)
    receive food stamps only.

-   There has been a slight upward trend in receipt of SSI over time,
    either alone, or in combination with food stamps, as shown in Table
    IND 7b.

  --------------- ------------- --------- -- --------- -- --------- ------------ --- --------- ---- --------- --------------
  **Table IND 7a.                                                                                             
  Percentage of                                                                                               
  Population                                                                                                  
  Receiving                                                                                                   
  Assistance from                                                                                             
  One, Two or                                                                                                 
  Three Programs                                                                                              
  (AFDC, Food                                                                                                 
  Stamps, SSI),                                                                                               
  by Race and                                                                                                 
  Age: 1995**                                                                                                 

                  **Any**                                                                                     **All Three**

                  **Receipt**   **One                               **Two                                     **Programs**
                                Program                             Programs**                                
                                Only**                                                                        

                  AFDC, FS      AFDC         FS           SSI       AFDC &           AFDC &         FS &      AFDC, FS

                  OR SSI                                            FS               SSI            SSI       & SSI

                                                                                                              

  **All Persons** **10.7**      **0.5**      **3.9**      **1.1**   **4.3**          **N/A**        **0.7**   **0.2**

                                                                                                              

  **Racial                                                                                                    
  Categories**                                                                                                

  Non-Hispanic    7.9           0.3          3.3          0.9       2.7              N/A            0.5       0.1
  White                                                                                                       

  Non-Hispanic    27.2          1.4          8.1          2.5       12.8             0.1            1.7       0.6
  Black                                                                                                       

  Hispanic        23.4          1.0          8.9          1.4       10.6             N/A            1.1       0.4

                                                                                                              

  **Age                                                                                                       
  Categories**                                                                                                

  Children Ages   21.4          1.1          7.7          0.0       12.5             N/A            N/A       N/A
  0 - 5                                                                                                       

  Children Ages   21.1          1.5          7.4          0.0       12.2             N/A            N/A       N/A
  6 - 10                                                                                                      

  Children Ages   16.5          0.8          6.4          0.0       9.3              N/A            N/A       N/A
  11 - 15                                                                                                     

                                                                                                              

  Women Ages 16 - 10.5          0.5          3.5          1.3       3.8              N/A            0.9       0.5
  64                                                                                                          

  Men Ages 16 -   5.3           0.1          2.7          1.1       0.9              N/A            0.4       N/A
  64                                                                                                          

  Adults Age 65   6.9           0.1          1.6          3.0       N/A              N/A            2.2       N/A
  and over                                                                                                    

                                                                                                              
  --------------- ------------- --------- -- --------- -- --------- ------------ --- --------- ---- --------- --------------

See below for notes and source.

<table>
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 7%" />
<col style="width: 17%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 8%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 7%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 5%" />
<col style="width: 4%" />
<col style="width: 3%" />
<col style="width: 5%" />
<col style="width: 2%" />
<col style="width: 6%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 18%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="17"><strong>Table IND 7b. Percentage of Population
Receiving Assistance from One, Two or Three Programs (AFDC, Food Stamps,
SSI): Selected Years</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>Any Receipt</strong></td>
<td colspan="6"><strong>One Program Only</strong></td>
<td colspan="6"><strong>Two Programs</strong></td>
<td colspan="2"><strong>All Three Programs</strong></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td></td>
<td colspan="2">AFDC, FS, OR SSI</td>
<td colspan="2">AFDC</td>
<td colspan="2">FS</td>
<td colspan="2">SSI</td>
<td colspan="2">AFDC &amp; FS</td>
<td colspan="2"><p>AFDC &amp;</p>
<p>SSI</p></td>
<td colspan="2"><p>FS &amp;</p>
<p>SSI</p></td>
<td colspan="2">AFDC, FS, &amp; SSI</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1987</td>
<td colspan="2">8.7</td>
<td colspan="2">0.5</td>
<td colspan="2">3.5</td>
<td colspan="2">1.0</td>
<td colspan="2">3.2</td>
<td colspan="2">N/A</td>
<td colspan="2">0.5</td>
<td colspan="2">0.1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1988</td>
<td colspan="2">8.3</td>
<td colspan="2">0.3</td>
<td colspan="2">3.3</td>
<td colspan="2">1.0</td>
<td colspan="2">3.1</td>
<td colspan="2">N/A</td>
<td colspan="2">0.5</td>
<td colspan="2">0.1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1990</td>
<td colspan="2">8.3</td>
<td colspan="2">0.4</td>
<td colspan="2">3.0</td>
<td colspan="2">1.0</td>
<td colspan="2">3.4</td>
<td colspan="2">N/A</td>
<td colspan="2">0.5</td>
<td colspan="2">0.1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1991</td>
<td colspan="2">8.9</td>
<td colspan="2">0.4</td>
<td colspan="2">3.3</td>
<td colspan="2">1.0</td>
<td colspan="2">3.7</td>
<td colspan="2">N/A</td>
<td colspan="2">0.5</td>
<td colspan="2">0.1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1992</td>
<td colspan="2">10.0</td>
<td colspan="2">0.3</td>
<td colspan="2">3.8</td>
<td colspan="2">1.1</td>
<td colspan="2">4.0</td>
<td colspan="2">N/A</td>
<td colspan="2">0.6</td>
<td colspan="2">0.1</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1993</td>
<td colspan="2">11.4</td>
<td colspan="2">0.4</td>
<td colspan="2">4.4</td>
<td colspan="2">1.1</td>
<td colspan="2">4.8</td>
<td colspan="2">N/A</td>
<td colspan="2">0.7</td>
<td colspan="2">0.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1994</td>
<td colspan="2">11.2</td>
<td colspan="2">0.4</td>
<td colspan="2">4.3</td>
<td colspan="2">1.1</td>
<td colspan="2">4.6</td>
<td colspan="2">N/A</td>
<td colspan="2">0.7</td>
<td colspan="2">0.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1995</td>
<td colspan="2">10.7</td>
<td colspan="2">0.5</td>
<td colspan="2">3.9</td>
<td colspan="2">1.1</td>
<td colspan="2">4.3</td>
<td colspan="2">N/A</td>
<td colspan="2">0.7</td>
<td colspan="2">0.2</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="17">Note: Categories are mutually exclusive. SSI receipt
based on individual receipt; AFDC and food stamp receipt based on family
receipt. Although individuals may not receive both AFDC and SSI, an SSI
recipient may be in a family where other members receive AFDC Benefits.
For certain categories, data are not available (N/A) because of
insufficient sample size and because SSI recipiency data are not
available for children. Because full calendar year data for 1995 were
not available for all SIPP respondents, 1995 estimates are based on a
weighting adjustment to account for those who were not interviewed for
the entire year. Percentage receiving assistance from any one program in
average month (shown here) is lower than percentage receiving any
assistance over course of year (shown in Table SUM 1 in Chapter I).</td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="17">Source: Unpublished data from the SIPP, 1987, 1990,
1992, and 1993 panels.</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

**INDICATOR 8. EVENTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE BEGINNING AND ENDING OF
PROGRAM SPELLS**

+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| **Table IND 8a. Percentage of First    |         |        |         |
| AFDC Spell Beginnings Associated       |         |        |         |
| with**                                 |         |        |         |
|                                        |         |        |         |
| **Specific Events: Selected Periods**  |         |        |         |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
|                                        | Spell   | Spell  | Spell   |
|                                        | Began   | Began  | Began   |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
|                                        | 1973 -  | 1980 - | 1986 -  |
|                                        | 1979    | 1985   | 1991    |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| First birth to an unmarried,           | 27.9    | 20.9   | 22.2    |
| non-cohabiting mother                  |         |        |         |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| First birth to a married and/or        | 13.3    | 17.4   | 11.3    |
| cohabiting mother                      |         |        |         |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| Second (or higher order) birth         | 19.9    | 18.2   | 15.2    |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| Divorce/separation                     | 19.7    | 28.1   | 17.3    |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| Mother\'s work hours decreased by      | 26.3    | 18.8   | 26.2    |
| \>500 hours per year                   |         |        |         |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| Other adults\' work hours decreased by | 34.8    | 27.9   | 21.6    |
| \>500 hours, but no change in family   |         |        |         |
| structure                              |         |        |         |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| Other adults\' work hours decreased by | 4.7     | 7.9    | 11.4    |
| \>500 hours, and a change in family    |         |        |         |
| structure                              |         |        |         |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| Householder acquired work limitation   | 18.1    | 15.6   | 23.5    |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| Other transfer income dropped by       | 4.5     | 6.5    | 4.1     |
| \>\$1,000 (in 1996\$)                  |         |        |         |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| Changed state of residence             | 4.5     | 10.6   | 5.4     |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
|                                        |         |        |         |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+
| Note: Events are defined to be neither |         |        |         |
| mutually exclusive nor exhaustive.     |         |        |         |
| Work limitation is defined as a        |         |        |         |
| self-reported physical or nervous      |         |        |         |
| condition that limits the type of work |         |        |         |
| or the amount of work the respondent   |         |        |         |
| can do.                                |         |        |         |
|                                        |         |        |         |
| Source: Unpublished data from the      |         |        |         |
| PSID, 1974--1992.                      |         |        |         |
+----------------------------------------+---------+--------+---------+

-   Between 1986 and 1991, the most common events associated with the
    beginnings of a first AFDC spell were work-related: a decrease in
    mother's work hours (26 percent), a decrease in work hours of
    another adult (22 percent), and acquisition of a work limitation (24
    percent).

-   The percentage of first AFDC episode beginnings associated with a
    householder acquiring a work limitation was higher for spells that
    began between 1986 and 1991 (24 percent) than for spells that began
    between 1973 and 1979 (16 percent) or 1980 to 1985 (18 percent).

-   Between 1973 and 1979, first births to an unmarried, non-cohabiting
    mother were associated with 28 percent of first AFDC episodes. In
    contrast, such births were associated with 21 percent of first
    spells beginning between 1980 and 1985, and 22 percent of spells
    beginning between 1986 and 1991.

+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| **Table IND 8b. Percentage of  |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| First AFDC Spell Endings       |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| Associated with Specific       |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| Events: Selected Periods**     |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
|                                | Spell    |   | S |       | Spell   |   |   |
|                                | Ended    |   | p |       | Ended   |   |   |
|                                |          |   | e |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | l |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | l |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | E |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | n |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | d |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | e |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | d |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
|                                | 1973 --  |   | 1 |       | 1986 -- |   |   |
|                                | 1979     |   | 9 |       | 1991    |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 8 |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 0 |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | - |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | - |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 1 |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 9 |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 8 |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 5 |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Mother married or acquired     | 16.1     |   | 1 |       | 21.7    |   |   |
| cohabitor                      |          |   | 7 |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | . |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 1 |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Children under 18 no longer    | 4.4      |   | 4 |       | 4.8     |   |   |
| present                        |          |   | . |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 1 |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Mother\'s work hours increased | 15.4     |   | 2 |       | 27.1    |   |   |
| by more than 500 hours per     |          |   | 5 |       |         |   |   |
| year                           |          |   | . |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 0 |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Other adults\' work hours      | 21.8     |   | 1 |       | 16.7    |   |   |
| increased by more than 500     |          |   | 6 |       |         |   |   |
| hours, but no change in family |          |   | . |       |         |   |   |
| structure                      |          |   | 8 |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Other adults\' work hours      | 6.5      |   | 1 |       | 5.8     |   |   |
| increased by more than 500     |          |   | 0 |       |         |   |   |
| hours, and a change in family  |          |   | . |       |         |   |   |
| structure                      |          |   | 3 |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Householder no longer reports  | 13.0     |   | 1 |       | 15.8    |   |   |
| work limitation                |          |   | 9 |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | . |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 2 |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Other transfer income          | 5.0      |   | 5 |       | 5.8     |   |   |
| increased by \$1,000 or more   |          |   | . |       |         |   |   |
| (in 1996\$)                    |          |   | 5 |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Changed state of residence     | 5.9      |   | 1 |       | 5.9     |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 1 |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | . |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   | 0 |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
|                                |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Note: Events are defined to be |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| neither mutually exclusive nor |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| exhaustive. Work limitation is |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| defined as a self-             |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
|                                |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| reported physical or nervous   |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| condition that limits the type |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| of work or the amount of work  |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| the respondent can do.         |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+
| Source: Unpublished data from  |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
| the PSID, 1974 - 1992.         |          |   |   |       |         |   |   |
+--------------------------------+----------+---+---+-------+---------+---+---+

-   During the 1986 to 1991 time period, over one-fourth (27 percent) of
    first AFDC spell endings were associated with increases in mother's
    work hours. The corresponding percentage was smaller for spells
    ending between 1973 and 1979 (15 percent).

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-   In the 1973 - 1979 period, a greater percentage of spell endings was
    associated with an increase in work hours for other adults (22
    percent) as compared to mothers (15 percent). In the more recent
    time period (1986 - 1991), a greater percentage of spell endings was
    associated with an increase in mother's work hours (27 percent)
    compared to other adults (17 percent).

INDICATOR 9. RATES OF RECEIPT OF MEANS-TESTED ASSISTANCE

**Figure IND 9a. Percentage of the Total Population Receiving AFDC/TANF,
by Age: 1970-98**

![](media/image12.wmf)

Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
Children and Families, Office of Family Assistance and U.S. Bureau of
the Census, Resident Population Estimates of the United States by Age
and Sex, April 1, 1990 to November 1, 1999, Internet release date
December 23, 1999 (Available online at http://www.census.gov).

-   Although the SIPP data needed to examine welfare dependency are not
    yet available past 1995, administrative data for AFDC/TANF, food
    stamps, and SSI provide measures of recipiency for each of these
    three programs through 1998, as shown in Figures IND 9a, IND 9b, and
    IND 9c. Additional administrative data are shown in Appendix A.

-   Only 3.2 percent of the population received TANF in 1998, the lowest
    AFDC/TANF recipiency rate in the 28 years shown in Figure IND 9a.

-   AFDC/TANF recipiency rates are much higher for children than for
    adults, with the child recipiency rates showing more pronounced
    changes over time. Child recipiency rates increased substantially
    between 1970 and 1976, and then remained relatively stable for the
    next 13 years (i.e. through 1989), before turning upward in the
    early 1990s and then declining sharply. Between 1993 and 1998, the
    child recipiency rate declined from 14.1 to 8.7 percent, a decline
    of 5 percentage points.

  ------------------------- ------------- --------- -- -- ------------- ------------ --------- -- -- ------------- ------------ --------- -- --
  **Table IND 9a. Number                                                                                                                     
  and Percentage of the                                                                                                                      
  Total Population                                                                                                                           
  Receiving AFDC/TANF, by                                                                                                                    
  Age: 1970-98**                                                                                                                             

                            Total                                       Adult                                      Child                     
                            Recipients                                  Recipients                                 Recipients                
                            ^1^                                                                                    ^2^                       

  Fiscal Year               Number        Percent         Number                     Percent         Number                     Percent      
                            (thousands)                   (thousands)                                (thousands)                             

  1970..............        7,188         3.5             1,863                      1.4             5,325                      7.6          

  1971..............        9,281         4.5             2,516                      1.8             6,765                      9.7          

  1972..............        10,345        4.9             2,848                      2.0             7,497                      10.8         

  1973..............        10,760        5.1             2,984                      2.1             7,776                      11.3         

  1974..............        10,591        5.0             2,935                      2.0             7,656                      11.3         

  1975..............        10,854        5.0             3,078                      2.1             7,776                      11.6         

  1976..............        11,171        5.1             3,271                      2.2             7,900                      11.9         

  1977..............        10,933        5.0             3,230                      2.1             7,703                      11.8         

  1978..............        10,485        4.7             3,128                      2.0             7,357                      11.4         

  1979..............        10,146        4.5             3,071                      1.9             7,075                      11.0         

  1980..............        10,422        4.6             3,226                      2.0             7,196                      11.3         

  1981..............        10,979        4.8             3,491                      2.1             7,488                      11.8         

  1982..............        10,233        4.4             3,395                      2.0             6,838                      10.9         

  1983..............        10,467        4.5             3,548                      2.1             6,919                      11.1         

  1984..............        10,677        4.5             3,652                      2.1             7,025                      11.2         

  1985..............        10,630        4.5             3,589                      2.0             7,041                      11.2         

  1986..............        10,810        4.5             3,637                      2.1             7,173                      11.4         

  1987..............        10,878        4.5             3,624                      2.0             7,254                      11.5         

  1988..............        10,734        4.4             3,536                      2.0             7,198                      11.4         

  1989..............        10,741        4.4             3,503                      1.9             7,238                      11.4         

  1990..............        11,263        4.5             3,643                      2.0             7,620                      11.9         

  1991..............        12,391        4.9             4,016                      2.1             8,375                      12.9         

  1992..............        13,423        5.3             4,336                      2.3             9,087                      13.7         

  1993..............        13,943        5.4             4,519                      2.4             9,424                      14.1         

  1994..............        14,033        5.4             4,554                      2.4             9,479                      14.0         

  1995..............        13,479        5.1             4,322                      2.2             9,157                      13.4         

  1996..............        12,476        4.7             3,920                      2.0             8,556                      12.4         

  1997 ^3^.........\...     10,779        4.0             3,106 ^4^                  1.6             7,673 ^4^                  11.0         

  1998..............        8,633         3.2             2,573 ^5^                  1.3             6,060 ^5^                  8.7          

  Note: See Appendix A,                                                                                                                      
  Tables A-5, A-12, and                                                                                                                      
  A-13, for more detailed                                                                                                                    
  data on recipiency rates.                                                                                                                  

  ^1^ Does not include the                                                                                                                   
  territories.                                                                                                                               

  ^2^ Includes a small                                                                                                                       
  number of dependents 18                                                                                                                    
  and older who are                                                                                                                          
  students.                                                                                                                                  

  ^3^ The Personal                                                                                                                           
  Responsibility and Work                                                                                                                    
  Opportunity                                                                                                                                
  Reconciliation Act of                                                                                                                      
  1996 repealed the AFDC                                                                                                                     
  Program as of July 1,                                                                                                                      
  1997 and replaced it with                                                                                                                  
  the Temporary Assistance                                                                                                                   
  for Needy Families                                                                                                                         
  Program.                                                                                                                                   

  ^4^ Average number of                                                                                                                      
  adults and children based                                                                                                                  
  on the first three                                                                                                                         
  quarters of 1997 only;                                                                                                                     
  data on number of adults                                                                                                                   
  and children under TANF                                                                                                                    
  not currently available.                                                                                                                   

  ^5^ The average number of                                                                                                                  
  adults and children in                                                                                                                     
  1998 is estimated by                                                                                                                       
  multiplying the ratio of                                                                                                                   
  total children to total                                                                                                                    
  recipients (from the                                                                                                                       
  Quality Control data                                                                                                                       
  estimates) times the                                                                                                                       
  total number of                                                                                                                            
  recipients in 1998 from                                                                                                                    
  the administrative data                                                                                                                    
  records.                                                                                                                                   

  Source: U.S. Department                                                                                                                    
  of Health and Human                                                                                                                        
  Services, Administration                                                                                                                   
  for Children and                                                                                                                           
  Families, Office of                                                                                                                        
  Family Assistance and                                                                                                                      
  U.S. Bureau of the                                                                                                                         
  Census, Resident                                                                                                                           
  Population Estimates of                                                                                                                    
  the United States by Age                                                                                                                   
  and Sex, April 1, 1990 to                                                                                                                  
  November 1, 1999,                                                                                                                          
  Internet release date                                                                                                                      
  December 23, 1999                                                                                                                          
  (Available online at                                                                                                                       
  http://www.census.gov).                                                                                                                    
  ------------------------- ------------- --------- -- -- ------------- ------------ --------- -- -- ------------- ------------ --------- -- --

**Figure IND 9b. Percentage of the Total Population Receiving Food
Stamps, by Age: 1975-98**

![](media/image13.wmf)

Source: USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of Analysis, Nutrition,
and Evaluation, *Characteristics of Food Stamp Households, Fiscal Year
1998*, and earlier reports and U.S. Bureau of the Census, Resident
Population Estimates of the United States by Age and Sex, April 1, 1990
to November 1, 1999, Internet release date December 23, 1999 (Available
online at http://www.census.gov).

-   The food stamp recipiency rate, like the AFDC/TANF recipiency rate
    shown previously in Figure IND 9a, fell sharply in recent years,
    from a high of 10.5 in 1993 and 1994, to only 7.3 percent in 1998.
    The recipiency rate was lower in 1998 than at any other point since
    1979.

-   In all years between 1980 and 1998, the percentage of all children
    who received food stamps was between two and one-half to three times
    that for all adults 18 to 59.

-   Similar trends -- largely reflecting changes in the rate of
    unemployment and programmatic changes -- existed for each age group:
    children, adults aged 18 to 59 and adults aged 60 and over. The
    percentages of individuals receiving food stamps within all age
    groups declined from 1984 through 1988, rose in the early 1990s,
    peaked in 1994, and fell sharply between 1994 and 1998.

<table style="width:100%;">
<colgroup>
<col style="width: 15%" />
<col style="width: 12%" />
<col style="width: 7%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 12%" />
<col style="width: 7%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 1%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 12%" />
<col style="width: 7%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
<col style="width: 12%" />
<col style="width: 7%" />
<col style="width: 0%" />
</colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="18"><strong>Table IND 9b. Number and Percentage of the
Population Receiving Food Stamps, by Age: 1975-98</strong></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td></td>
<td colspan="3">Total Recipients <sup>1</sup></td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">Adult Recipients<br />
60 &amp; older</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="4">Adult Recipients<br />
18 to 59</td>
<td></td>
<td colspan="3">Child Recipients<sup><br />
</sup>under 18</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>Fiscal Year</td>
<td>Number (thousands)</td>
<td>Percent</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">Number (thousands)</td>
<td colspan="2">Percent</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>Number (thousands)</td>
<td>Percent</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>Number (thousands)</td>
<td>Percent</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1975…………..</td>
<td>17,217</td>
<td>8.0</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1976…………..</td>
<td>16,733</td>
<td>7.7</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1977…………..</td>
<td>15,579</td>
<td>7.1</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1978…………..</td>
<td>14,503</td>
<td>6.5</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1979…………..</td>
<td>15,976</td>
<td>7.1</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2">–</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>–</td>
<td>–</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1980…………..</td>
<td>19,253</td>
<td>8.5</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,741</td>
<td colspan="2">4.9</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>7,186</td>
<td>5.6</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>9,876</td>
<td>15.5</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1981…………..</td>
<td>20,654</td>
<td>9.0</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,845</td>
<td colspan="2">5.0</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>7,811</td>
<td>6.0</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>9,803</td>
<td>15.5</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1982…………..</td>
<td>20,446</td>
<td>8.8</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,641</td>
<td colspan="2">4.4</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>7,838</td>
<td>6.0</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>9,591</td>
<td>15.3</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1983…………..</td>
<td>21,667</td>
<td>9.3</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,654</td>
<td colspan="2">4.4</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>8,960</td>
<td>6.7</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>10,910</td>
<td>17.4</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1984…………..</td>
<td>20,796</td>
<td>8.8</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,758</td>
<td colspan="2">4.5</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>8,521</td>
<td>6.3</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>10,492</td>
<td>16.8</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1985…………..</td>
<td>19,847</td>
<td>8.3</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,783</td>
<td colspan="2">4.5</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>8,258</td>
<td>6.1</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>9,906</td>
<td>15.8</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1986…………..</td>
<td>19,381</td>
<td>8.1</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,631</td>
<td colspan="2">4.1</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>7,895</td>
<td>5.7</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>9,844</td>
<td>15.7</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1987…………..</td>
<td>19,072</td>
<td>7.9</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,589</td>
<td colspan="2">3.9</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>7,684</td>
<td>5.5</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>9,771</td>
<td>15.5</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1988…………..</td>
<td>18,613</td>
<td>7.6</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,500</td>
<td colspan="2">3.7</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>7,506</td>
<td>5.3</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>9,351</td>
<td>14.8</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1989…………..</td>
<td>18,778</td>
<td>7.6</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,582</td>
<td colspan="2">3.8</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>7,560</td>
<td>5.3</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>9,429</td>
<td>14.9</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1990…………..</td>
<td>20,038</td>
<td>8.0</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,511</td>
<td colspan="2">3.6</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>8,084</td>
<td>5.6</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>10,127</td>
<td>15.8</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1991…………..</td>
<td>22,599</td>
<td>9.0</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,593</td>
<td colspan="2">3.8</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>9,190</td>
<td>6.4</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>11,952</td>
<td>18.4</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1992…………..</td>
<td>25,369</td>
<td>9.9</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,687</td>
<td colspan="2">3.9</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>10,550</td>
<td>7.2</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>13,349</td>
<td>20.2</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1993…………..</td>
<td>26,952</td>
<td>10.5</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,876</td>
<td colspan="2">4.4</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>11,214</td>
<td>7.6</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>14,196</td>
<td>21.2</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1994…………..</td>
<td>27,469</td>
<td>10.6</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,952</td>
<td colspan="2">4.5</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>11,539</td>
<td>7.7</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>14,391</td>
<td>21.2</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1995…………..</td>
<td>26,575</td>
<td>10.1</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,896</td>
<td colspan="2">4.3</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>10,962</td>
<td>7.3</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>13,860</td>
<td>20.2</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1996…………..</td>
<td>25,533</td>
<td>9.6</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,892</td>
<td colspan="2">4.3</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>10,766</td>
<td>7.1</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>12,992</td>
<td>18.8</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td>1997…………..</td>
<td>22,858</td>
<td>8.5</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,834</td>
<td colspan="2">4.1</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>9,385</td>
<td>6.1</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>11,871</td>
<td>17.1</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td>1998…………..</td>
<td>19,788</td>
<td>7.3</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td colspan="2">1,637</td>
<td colspan="2">3.7</td>
<td colspan="2"></td>
<td>7,772</td>
<td>5.0</td>
<td colspan="3"></td>
<td>10,546</td>
<td>15.1</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="even">
<td colspan="18"><p>Note: See Appendix A, Tables A-14 and A-19 for more
detailed data on recipiency rates.</p>
<p><sup>1</sup> Does not include the territories.</p></td>
<td></td>
</tr>
<tr class="odd">
<td colspan="18">Source: USDA, Food and Nutrition Service, Office of
Analysis, Nutrition, and Evaluation, <em>Characteristics of Food Stamp
Households, Fiscal Year 1998</em>, and earlier reports and U.S. Bureau
of the Census, Resident Population Estimates of the United States by Age
and Sex, April 1, 1990 to November 1, 1999, Internet release date
December 23, 1999 (Available online at http://www.census.gov).</td>
<td></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>

![](media/image14.wmf)**Figure IND 9c. Percentage of the Total
Population Receiving SSI, by Age: 1974-98**

Note: Recipients are reported as of December in each year.

Source: Social Security Administration, Office of Research, Evaluation,
and Statistics (data available online at
http://www.ssa.gov/statistics/ores_home.html) and U.S. Bureau of the
Census, Resident Population Estimates of the United States by Age and
Sex, April 1, 1990 to November 1, 1999, Internet release date December
23, 1999 (Available online at http://www.census.gov).

-   Unlike the recipiency rates for AFDC/TANF and food stamps, which are
    strongly influenced by the economy and welfare reform, recipiency
    rates for SSI show less variation. The proportion of the total
    population that receives SSI has risen slightly over time, from
    about 2 percent in 1975 to 2.4 percent in 1998.

-   Elderly adults (aged 65 and older) have much higher recipiency rates
    than any other age group. The gap has narrowed, however, as the
    percentage of adults aged 65 and older has fallen from 11 percent
    (in 1974) to 6 percent (in 1998).

-   The proportion of children receiving SSI has increased gradually
    between 1975 and 1990, rising from 0.2 percent to 0.5 percent. Since
    then it has grown more rapidly, reaching 1.5 percent in 1996. The
    child recipiency rate fell to 1.3 percent in 1997 and remained at
    that level through 1998.

  ----------------------------------------------- ------------- --------- -- -- ------------- ------------- --------- -- -- ------------- ------------- --------- -- -- ------------ ------------- --------- --
  **Table IND 9c. Number and Percentage of the                                                                                                                                                               
  Population Receiving SSI, by Age: 1975-98**                                                                                                                                                                

                                                  Total                                       Adult                         Adult                                       Child                                
                                                  Recipients                                  Recipients\                   Recipients\                                 Recipients                           
                                                                                              65 & older                    18 to 64                                    ^1\                                  
                                                                                                                                                                        ^under 18                            

  Date                                            Number        Percent         Number                      Percent                       Number        Percent                      Number        Percent   
                                                  (thousands)                   (thousands)                                               (thousands)                                (thousands)             

  Dec \'75                                        4,314         2.0             2,508                       10.9                          1,678         1.3                          128           0.2       

  Dec \'76                                        4,236         1.9             2,397                       10.2                          1,686         1.3                          153           0.2       

  Dec \'77                                        4,238         1.9             2,353                       9.7                           1,709         1.3                          175           0.3       

  Dec \'78                                        4,217         1.9             2,304                       9.3                           1,716         1.3                          197           0.3       

  Dec \'79                                        4,150         1.8             2,246                       8.8                           1,692         1.2                          212           0.3       

  Dec \'80                                        4,142         1.8             2,221                       8.6                           1,693         1.2                          229           0.4       

  Dec \'81                                        4,019         1.7             2,121                       8.0                           1,668         1.2                          230           0.4       

  Dec \'82                                        3,858         1.7             2,011                       7.4                           1,618         1.1                          229           0.4       

  Dec \'83                                        3,901         1.7             2,003                       7.3                           1,662         1.1                          236           0.4       

  Dec \'84                                        4,029         1.7             2,037                       7.2                           1,743         1.2                          249           0.4       

  Dec \'85                                        4,138         1.7             2,031                       7.1                           1,841         1.2                          265           0.4       

  Dec \'86                                        4,269         1.8             2,018                       6.9                           1,972         1.3                          280           0.4       

  Dec \'87                                        4,385         1.8             2,015                       6.7                           2,081         1.4                          289           0.5       

  Dec \'88                                        4,464         1.8             2,006                       6.6                           2,168         1.4                          290           0.5       

  Dec \'89                                        4,593         1.9             2,026                       6.5                           2,271         1.5                          296           0.5       

  Dec \'90                                        4,817         1.9             2,059                       6.5                           2,418         1.6                          340           0.5       

  Dec \'91                                        5,118         2.0             2,080                       6.5                           2,600         1.7                          439           0.7       

  Dec \'92                                        5,566         2.2             2,100                       6.5                           2,843         1.8                          624           0.9       

  Dec \'93                                        5,984         2.3             2,113                       6.4                           3,101         2.0                          771           1.1       

  Dec \'94                                        6,296         2.4             2,119                       6.3                           3,284         2.1                          893           1.3       

  Dec \'95                                        6,514         2.5             2,115                       6.3                           3,425         2.1                          974           1.4       

  Dec \'96                                        6,630         2.5             2,110                       6.2                           3,503         2.1                          1,016         1.5       

  Dec \'97                                        6,495         2.4             2,054                       6.0                           3,511         2.1                          930           1.3       

  Dec \'98                                        6,566         2.4             2,033                       5.9                           3,605         2.2                          928           1.3       

  Note: December population figures used as the                                                                                                                                                              
  denominators are obtained by averaging the                                                                                                                                                                 
  Census Bureau\'s July 1 population estimate for                                                                                                                                                            
  the current and the following year. See                                                                                                                                                                    
  Appendix, Tables A-23, A-25, and A-26.                                                                                                                                                                     

  ^1^ Includes a small number of dependents 18                                                                                                                                                               
  and older who are students.                                                                                                                                                                                

  Source: Social Security Administration, Office                                                                                                                                                             
  of Research, Evaluation, and Statistics (data                                                                                                                                                              
  available online at                                                                                                                                                                                        
  http://www.ssa.gov/statistics/ores_home.html)                                                                                                                                                              
  and U.S. Bureau of the Census, Resident                                                                                                                                                                    
  Population Estimates of the United States by                                                                                                                                                               
  Age and Sex, April 1, 1990 to November 1, 1999,                                                                                                                                                            
  Internet release date December 23, 1999                                                                                                                                                                    
  (Available online at http://www.census.gov).                                                                                                                                                               
  ----------------------------------------------- ------------- --------- -- -- ------------- ------------- --------- -- -- ------------- ------------- --------- -- -- ------------ ------------- --------- --

![](media/image15.wmf)INDICATOR 10. RATES OF PARTICIPATION IN
MEANS-TESTED ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS

# Figure IND 10. Participation Rates in the AFDC/TANF, Food Stamp and SSI Programs: {#figure-ind-10.-participation-rates-in-the-afdctanf-food-stamp-and-ssi-programs .unnumbered}

# Selected Years {#selected-years-1 .unnumbered}

Sources: AFDC and SSI participation rates are from the Urban Institute
TRIM microsimulation model, while food stamp participation rates are
from a Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. model. See Tables IND 10a, IND
10b, and IND 10c for details.

-   Whereas Indicator 9 examined participants as a percentage of the
    total population (recipiency rates), this Indicator examines
    participating families or households as a percentage of the
    estimated eligible population (participation rates, also known as
    "take up" rates).

-   Participation rates for both AFDC/TANF and the Food Stamp program
    fell significantly between 1995 and 1997. In contrast, SSI
    participation rates have risen slightly over this time period.

-   Only 69 percent of the families estimated as eligible for AFDC/TANF
    actually enrolled and received benefits in an average month in 1997.
    This was significantly lower than traditional participation rates,
    which ranged from 77 to 86 percent between 1981 and 1996.

-   The SSI participation rate in 1997 was slightly higher than the AFDC
    rate -- 71 percent -- while the food stamp participation rate was
    lower -- 56 percent.

**Table IND 10a.** **Number and Percentage of Eligible Families
Participating in AFDC/TANF:\
Selected Years**

+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| Calendar Year      | Eligible      | Participating | Participation |
|                    | Families\     | Families\     | Rate\         |
|                    | (in millions) | (in millions) | (percent)     |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1981..........     | 4.8           | 3.9           | 80            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1983..........     | 4.7           | 3.7           | 78            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1985..........     | 4.7           | 3.7           | 79            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1987..........     | 4.9           | 3.8           | 77            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1988..........     | 4.8           | 3.7           | 78            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1989..........     | 4.5           | 3.8           | 84            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1990..........     | 4.8           | 4.0           | 82            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1992..........     | 5.6           | 4.8           | 86            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1993..........     | 6.1           | 5.0           | 82            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1994               | 6.0           | 5.0           | 83            |
| ..........         |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1995..........     | 5.8           | 4.9           | 84            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1996..........     | 5.8           | 4.6           | 79            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| 1997..........     | 5.7           | 4.0           | 69            |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| Notes: Eligible    |               |               |               |
| families estimated |               |               |               |
| by an Urban        |               |               |               |
| Institute model    |               |               |               |
| (TRIM) which uses  |               |               |               |
| CPS data to        |               |               |               |
| simulate AFDC/TANF |               |               |               |
| eligibility for an |               |               |               |
| average month, by  |               |               |               |
| calendar year.     |               |               |               |
| Caseload data are  |               |               |               |
| reported by        |               |               |               |
| calendar year and  |               |               |               |
| adjusted to        |               |               |               |
| exclude the        |               |               |               |
| territories and    |               |               |               |
| pregnant women     |               |               |               |
| with no other      |               |               |               |
| children because   |               |               |               |
| these cases are    |               |               |               |
| not identified in  |               |               |               |
| the TRIM-based     |               |               |               |
| eligibility        |               |               |               |
| estimates. There   |               |               |               |
| have been small    |               |               |               |
| changes in         |               |               |               |
| estimating         |               |               |               |
| methodology over   |               |               |               |
| time, due to model |               |               |               |
| improvements and   |               |               |               |
| revisions to the   |               |               |               |
| CPS. Most notably, |               |               |               |
| the model was      |               |               |               |
| revised in 1997 to |               |               |               |
| more accurately    |               |               |               |
| exclude ineligible |               |               |               |
| immigrants. This   |               |               |               |
| change has the     |               |               |               |
| effect of          |               |               |               |
| increasing the     |               |               |               |
| 1997 participation |               |               |               |
| rates relative to  |               |               |               |
| rates for prior    |               |               |               |
| years.             |               |               |               |
|                    |               |               |               |
| Source: DHHS,      |               |               |               |
| Administration for |               |               |               |
| Children and       |               |               |               |
| Families caseload  |               |               |               |
| tabulations and    |               |               |               |
| unpublished data   |               |               |               |
| from the Urban     |               |               |               |
| Institute TRIM     |               |               |               |
| microsimulation    |               |               |               |
| model.             |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+

-   There was little change in the size of the eligible population for
    AFDC/TANF between 1995 and 1997, according to estimates shown in
    Table IND 10a. Thus the large caseload declines over that period
    were largely a result of declining participation or "take up" rates
    among the eligible populations.

**Table IND 10b.** **Number and Percentage of Eligible Households
Participating in the**

**Food Stamp Program: Selected Years**

+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| Date               | Eligible\     | P             | Participation |
|                    | Households\   | articipating\ | Rate\         |
|                    | (in millions) | Households\   | (percent)     |
|                    |               | (in millions) |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| September          | 16.3          | 5.3           | 33            |
| 76                 |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| February           | 14.0          | 5.3           | 38            |
| 78..               |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 14.0          | 7.4           | 52            |
| 80.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 14.5          | 7.5           | 51            |
| 82.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 14.2          | 7.3           | 52            |
| 84.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 15.3          | 7.1           | 47            |
| 86.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 14.9          | 7.0           | 47            |
| 88.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 14.5          | 8.0           | 55            |
| 90.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 15.6          | 9.2           | 59            |
| 91.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 16.7          | 10.2          | 62            |
| 92.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 17.0          | 10.9          | 64            |
| 93.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August 94          | 17.0          | 11.0          | 65            |
| (o).               |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August 94 (r)      | 15.9          | 10.7          | 67            |
| .                  |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 15.5          | 10.4          | 67            |
| 95.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| August             | 15.9          | 10.1          | 63            |
| 96.....            |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| September          | 15.0          | 8.5           | 56            |
| 97.                |               |               |               |
| .................. |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+
| Note: Eligible     |               |               |               |
| households         |               |               |               |
| estimated from a   |               |               |               |
| Mathematica Policy |               |               |               |
| Research, Inc.     |               |               |               |
| model that uses    |               |               |               |
| CPS data to        |               |               |               |
| simulate the Food  |               |               |               |
| Stamp Program.     |               |               |               |
| Caseload data are  |               |               |               |
| from USDA, FNS     |               |               |               |
| program operations |               |               |               |
| caseload data.     |               |               |               |
| There have been    |               |               |               |
| small changes in   |               |               |               |
| estimating         |               |               |               |
| methodology over   |               |               |               |
| time, due to model |               |               |               |
| improvements and   |               |               |               |
| revisions to the   |               |               |               |
| CPS. Most notably, |               |               |               |
| the model was      |               |               |               |
| revised in 1994 to |               |               |               |
| produce more       |               |               |               |
| accurate (and      |               |               |               |
| lower) estimates   |               |               |               |
| of eligible        |               |               |               |
| households. The    |               |               |               |
| original 1994      |               |               |               |
| estimate and       |               |               |               |
| estimates for      |               |               |               |
| previous years     |               |               |               |
| show higher        |               |               |               |
| estimates of       |               |               |               |
| eligibles and      |               |               |               |
| lower              |               |               |               |
| participation      |               |               |               |
| rates relative to  |               |               |               |
| the revised        |               |               |               |
| estimate for 1994  |               |               |               |
| and estimates for  |               |               |               |
| subsequent years.  |               |               |               |
|                    |               |               |               |
| Source: U.S.       |               |               |               |
| Department of      |               |               |               |
| Agriculture, Food  |               |               |               |
| and Nutrition      |               |               |               |
| Service, *Trends   |               |               |               |
| in Food Stamp      |               |               |               |
| Program            |               |               |               |
| Participation      |               |               |               |
| Rates: Focus on    |               |               |               |
| September 1997*.   |               |               |               |
+--------------------+---------------+---------------+---------------+

-   The proportion of eligible households who participated in the Food
    Stamp program fell from 63 percent in 1996 to 56 percent in 1997, a
    drop of 7 percentage points. This is the second year in a row that
    there has been a decline in Food Stamp participation rates.

-   In addition, there was a decline in the number of households
    eligible for the Food Stamp program, from close to 16 million in
    August 1994, to 15 million in September 1997. This decline was
    driven by new eligibility restrictions on aliens and able-bodied
    adults without dependent children, growth in the economy, changes in
    the TANF program, and other factors.

-   The significant drop in participating households, from 10.1 million
    households in August 1996 to 8.5 million households in September
    1997, reflects the combined effect of a decline in the eligible
    population and lower participation rates.

**Table IND 10c. Percentage of Eligible Adult Units Participating in the
SSI Program, by Type:**

1993-97

+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Date       | All Adult   | One-Person  |             | Marr        |
|            | Units       | Units       |             | ied-Couple\ |
|            |             |             |             | Units       |
+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
|            |             | Aged        | Disabled    |             |
+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 1993....   | 62.0        | 57.0        | 71.0        | 37.0        |
| .......... |             |             |             |             |
+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 1994....   | 65.0        | 58.4        | 73.0        | 43.9        |
| .......... |             |             |             |             |
+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 1995....   | 69.1        | 64.9        | 74.0        | 52.2        |
| .......... |             |             |             |             |
+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 1996....   | 66.6        | 60.4        | 73.5        | 46.7        |
| .......... |             |             |             |             |
+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| 1997....   | 71.1        | 62.7        | 79.4        | 49.1        |
| .......... |             |             |             |             |
+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+
| Notes:     |             |             |             |             |
| Par        |             |             |             |             |
| ticipation |             |             |             |             |
| rates      |             |             |             |             |
| estimated  |             |             |             |             |
| by an      |             |             |             |             |
| Urban      |             |             |             |             |
| Institute  |             |             |             |             |
| model      |             |             |             |             |
| (TRIM)     |             |             |             |             |
| which uses |             |             |             |             |
| CPS data   |             |             |             |             |
| to         |             |             |             |             |
| simulate   |             |             |             |             |
| SSI        |             |             |             |             |
| e          |             |             |             |             |
| ligibility |             |             |             |             |
| for an     |             |             |             |             |
| average    |             |             |             |             |
| month, by  |             |             |             |             |
| calendar   |             |             |             |             |
| year.      |             |             |             |             |
| There have |             |             |             |             |
| been small |             |             |             |             |
| changes in |             |             |             |             |
| estimating |             |             |             |             |
| m          |             |             |             |             |
| ethodology |             |             |             |             |
| over time, |             |             |             |             |
| due to     |             |             |             |             |
| model      |             |             |             |             |
| im         |             |             |             |             |
| provements |             |             |             |             |
| and        |             |             |             |             |
| revisions  |             |             |             |             |
| to the     |             |             |             |             |
| CPS. In    |             |             |             |             |
| p          |             |             |             |             |
| articular, |             |             |             |             |
| the model  |             |             |             |             |
| was        |             |             |             |             |
| revised in |             |             |             |             |
| 1997 to    |             |             |             |             |
| more       |             |             |             |             |
| accurately |             |             |             |             |
| exclude    |             |             |             |             |
| ineligible |             |             |             |             |
| i          |             |             |             |             |
| mmigrants. |             |             |             |             |
| Thus the   |             |             |             |             |
| increased  |             |             |             |             |
| par        |             |             |             |             |
| ticipation |             |             |             |             |
| rate in    |             |             |             |             |
| 1997 is    |             |             |             |             |
| partly due |             |             |             |             |
| to a       |             |             |             |             |
| revision   |             |             |             |             |
| in         |             |             |             |             |
| estimating |             |             |             |             |
| me         |             |             |             |             |
| thodology. |             |             |             |             |
| Also note  |             |             |             |             |
| that the   |             |             |             |             |
| figure for |             |             |             |             |
| marr       |             |             |             |             |
| ied-couple |             |             |             |             |
| units is   |             |             |             |             |
| based on   |             |             |             |             |
| very small |             |             |             |             |
| sample     |             |             |             |             |
| size       |             |             |             |             |
| s--married |             |             |             |             |
| couple     |             |             |             |             |
| units were |             |             |             |             |
| only about |             |             |             |             |
| 7 percent  |             |             |             |             |
| of the     |             |             |             |             |
| adults     |             |             |             |             |
| units in   |             |             |             |             |
| the        |             |             |             |             |
| average    |             |             |             |             |
| month of   |             |             |             |             |
| 1997.      |             |             |             |             |
|            |             |             |             |             |
| Source:    |             |             |             |             |
| U          |             |             |             |             |
| npublished |             |             |             |             |
| data from  |             |             |             |             |
| the Urban  |             |             |             |             |
| Institute  |             |             |             |             |
| TRIM       |             |             |             |             |
| micro      |             |             |             |             |
| simulation |             |             |             |             |
| model.     |             |             |             |             |
+------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+-------------+

-   In contrast to the declining participation rates for the AFDC/TANF
    and Food Stamp programs, the participation rate for adult units in
    the SSI Program has been increasing, from 62 percent in 1993, to 71
    percent in 1997. Note, however, that some of the apparent growth
    between 1996 and 1997 may be due to a revision in estimating
    methodology, as noted above.

```{=html}
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-   In 1997, as in past years, disabled adults in one-person units had a
    higher participation rate (79 percent) than both aged adults in
    one-person units (63 percent) and adults in married-couple units (49
    percent).