Characteristics of food stamp households

              US* Characteristics of
United States Food Stamp Households
Department of
Agriculture
Food and
Consumer
Service
Office of
Analysis and
Evaluation
Fiscal Year 1995
V- 0*oW i/
Contract No.: 53-3198-3-038
MPR Reference No.: 8156-051
Do Not Reproduce Without
Permission from the Project
Officer and the Authors
CHARACTERISTICS OF
FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS
FISCAL YEAR 1995
April 11,1997
Authors:
Suzanne Smolkin
Robert Howard
Submitted to:
U.S. Department of Agriculture
Food and Consumer Service
3101 Park Center Drive
2nd Floor
Alexandria, VA 22302
Project Officer:
Alana Landey
Submitted by:
Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
600 Maryland Avenue, b.W.
Suite 550
Washington, DC 20024
Project Director:
Carole Trippe
4
This work was prepared as one task of a competitively awarded contract; the total amount of the
contract is $4,275,805.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS
FISCAL YEAR 1995
Office of Analysis and Evaluation
Food and Consumer Service
United States Department of Agriculture
7C
This report was prepared by Suzanne Smolkin and Robert Howard of Mathematica Policy Research,
Inc. for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Consumer Service, Office of Analysis and
Evaluation. Many individuals made important contributions to the report. The authors thank Carole
Trippe and Mike Stavrianos for providing guidance and reviewing the report, Mark Brinkley and Dan
O'Connor for providing programming support, and Micki Morris for preparing the manuscript. The
authors also thank Jenny Genser of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Consumer Service
for providing guidance and program information.
This work was prepared as one task of a competitively awarded contract; the total amount of the
contract is $4,275,805.
Authors:
MPR Project Director:
MPR Project Number:
FCS Project Officer:
FCS Contract Number:
Suzanne Smolkin and Robert Howard
Carole Trippe
8156-051
AI ana Landey
53-3198-3-038
March 1997
ui
CONTENTS
Chapter Page
PREFACE xix
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY xxi
1 INTRODUCTION 1
2 AN OVERVIEW OF THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM 3
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS 3
The Household 3
Income Eligibility Standards 4
Assets 5
Nonfinancial Eligibility Standards 6
APPLICATION PROCEDURES 6
BENEFIT COMPUTATION 7
FOOD STAMP ISSUANCE 8
PROGRAM CHANGES SINCE THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR 8
FSP PARTICIPATION AND COSTS 9
3 CHARACTERISTICS OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS AND
PARTICIPANTS 13
THE POVERTY STATUS OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS 13
HOUSEHOLDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS 15
Households With Children 15
Households With Elderly Persons 19
Households With Disabled Persons 19
Other Households Served by the FSP 19
CHARACTERISTICS OF FSP PARTICIPANTS 20
CHANGES IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS .. 21
CONTENTS (continued)
Page
4 CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM 23
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS 23
Age and Gender 23
Race 23
Citizenship Status 27
Household Composition and Size 27
ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN 27
Poverty and Income 27
FSP Deductions 30
FSP Benefits 34
CHILDREN AND HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN BY STATE 34
ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS FOR USE WITH APPENDICES 37
APPENDIX A: CROSSWALK AND DETAILED TABLES OF FOOD STAMP
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS IN FISCAL YEAR 1995 43
Crosswalk 45
Detailed Tables of Food Stamp Household Characteristics 51
APPENDIX B: DETAILED TABLES OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS
CONTAINING CHILDREN 87
APPENDIX C: DETAILED TABLES OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS
BY STATE 101
APPENDIX D: DETAILED TABLES OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLD
CHARACTERISTICS IN SUMMER 1995 113
APPENDIX E: POVERTY INCOME GUIDELINES FOR FISCAL YEAR 1995 121
VI
CONTENTS (continued)
Ptge
APPENDIX F- FSP MA XIMUM ALLOWABLE GROSS AND NET MONTHLY
INCOME ELIGIBILITY STANDARDS IN FISCAL YEAR 1995 .... 125
APPENDIX G VALUE OF STANDARD, MAXIMUM DEPENDENT-CARE,
AND EXCESS SHELTER EXPENSE DEDUCTIONS IN THE
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES AND OUTLYING AREAS
IN FISCAL YEAR 1995 129
APPENDIX H- VALUE OF MAXIMUM FOOD STAMP BENEFIT IN THE
CONTINENTAL UNITED STATES AND OUTLYING AREAS
IN FISCAL YEAR 1995 ,33
APPENDIX I: SOURCE AND RELIABILITY OF ESTIMATES 137
APPENDIX J: SAMPLING ERROR OF ESTIMATES '43
APPENDIX K: DATA COLLECTION INSTRUMENT '53
APPENDIX L: PREVIOUS REPORTS IN THIS SERIES 159
Vll
/"
HMZ Mi
TABLES
Text Tables Page
2.1 Major Economic Indicators, Calendar Years 1985-1995 •'
3.1 Distribution of Households and Benefits by Income as a Percentage
of Poverty Guideline, Fiscal Year 1995 14
3.2 Effect of Food Stamp Benefits on the Poverty Status of Food Stamp
Households, Fiscal Year 1995 16
3.3 Household Composition and Selected Characteristics of Participating
Households, Fiscal Year 1995 ,7
3.4 Average Values of Selected Characteristics by Household Composition,
Fiscal Year 1995 18
3.5 Average Nominal and Real Values of Selected Characteristics, Fiscal Year
1994 and Fiscal Year 1995 22
4.1 Distribution of Participants by Age 25
4.2 Distribution of Participants by Age, Race, Gender, and Citizenship Status 26
4.3 Distribution of Participants by Age and Household Composition 28
4.4 Distribution of Participating Households by Age of Children and
Household Size 29
4.5 Average Gross and Net Income, Gross and Net Income as a Percentage of
Poverty Guideline, Countable Resources, and Household Size of
Participating Household by Age of Children 3
4.6 Distribution of Participating Households by Age of Children and Type of Income .... 32
4.7 Distribution of Participating Households by Age of Children and Type of Deduction .. 33
4.8 Average Food Stamp Benefit, Food Stamp Benefit as a Percentage of the
Maximum, Per Person Food Stamp Benefit, and Household Size by Age
of Children 35
ix
TABLES (continued)
Page
Appendix A Tables
Summary Characteristics
A-1 Distribution of Participating Households, Persons, and Benefits by
Household Composition, Income Source, and Food Stamp Benefit Amount 53
A-2 Average Gross and Net Income, Total Deduction, Countable Resources,
Food Stamp Benefit, Household Size, and Certification Period of
Participating Households by Household Composition, Income Source,
and Food Stamp Benefit Amount 54
Income, Poverty Status, and Resources
A-3 Distribution of Participating Households With Children, Elderly Persons,
and Elderly or Disabled Persons by Amount of Gross and Net Income,
Countable Resources, and Gross and Net Income as a Percentage of Poverty
Guideline 55
A-4 Distribution of Participating Households by Household Size and Amount
of Gross and Net Income, Countable Resources, and Gross and Net Income
as a Percentage of Poverty Guideline 56
A-5 Average Gross and Net Income, Average Gross and Net Income as a
Percentage of Poverty Guideline, and Average Countable Resources of
Participating Households by Household Composition and Size 57
A-6 Distribution of Participating Households With Children, Elderly Persons,
and Elderly or Disabled Persons by Type of Income 58
A-7 Average Income, Total Deduction, Food Stamp Benefit, and Household Size
of Participating Households by Type of Income 59
A-8 Distribution of Participating Households With Children, Elderly Persons,
and Elderly or Disabled Persons by Earned and Unearned Income Amounts 60
FSP Deductions
A-9 Distribution of Participating Households by Type of Deduction and Household
Composition, Income Source, and Food Stamp Benefit Amount 62
TABLES (continued)
Page
A-10 Average Values of Deductions of Participating Households by Household
Composition, Income Source, and Food Stamp Benefit Amount 63
A-l 1 Distribution of Paiticipating Households by Selected Household Characteristics
and Amount of Deduction 64
A-12 Average Total Deduction for Participating Households by Amount of
Gross Income and Household Size 65
Food Stamp Benefit
A-13 Distribution of Participating Households by Selected Household
Characteristics and Food Stamp Benefit Amount, Food Stamp Benefit
as a Percentage of the Maximum Benefit, and Certification Period 66
A-14 Distribution of Participating Households by Income as a Percentage
of Poverty Guideline and Food Stamp Benefit as a Percentage of the Maximum 67
A-15 Average Food Stamp Benefit of Participating Households by Amount of
Gross Income and Household Size 68
A-16 Distribution of Participating Households by Type of Most Recent Action and
Expedited Service 69
Household Composition
A-17 Distribution of Participating Households, Persons, and Benefits by
Household Composition 70
A-18 Average Gross and Net Income, Total Deduction, Countable Resources,
Food Stamp Benefit, Household Size, and Certification Period of
Participating Households by Household Composition 71
A-19 Distribution of Participating Households by Income Type and Household
Composition 72
A-20 Distribution of Participating Households With Children, Elderly Persons,
and Disabled Persons by Selected Characteristics 73
A-21 Average Values of Selected Characteristics for Participating Households
With Children, Elderly Persons, and Disabled Persons 74
xi
TABLES (continued)
Page
A-22 Distribution of Participating Households With Earned Income and Unearned
Income by Selected Characteristics 75
A-23 Average Values of Selected Characteristics for Participating Households
With Earned and Unearned Income 76
A-24 Distribution of Participating Households With Selected Household
Characteristics by the Race and Citizenship of the Household Head and the
Presence of a Household Member With Selected Employment Characteristics 77
A-25 Distribution of Participating Households and Persons by Household Composition ... 78
A-26 Distribution of Participating Households by Household Size, Number of Elderly
Persons, Disabled Persons, Children, Preschool Age Children, and School Age
Children 79
Participants
A-27 Distribution of Participants by Sex, Age, and Race 80
A-28 Distribution of Participants by Thrifty Food Plan Sex-Age Groups and Household
Size 81
A-29 Distribution of Household Heads, All Participants, and Nonelderly
Adult Participants by Work Registration Status and Employment Status 82
A-30 Distribution of Participants by Age-Related Characteristics 83
Survey Comparisons: Fiscal Years 1989 to 1995
A-31 Comparison of Participating Households With Key Food Stamp Household
Characteristics for Fiscal Years 1989 to 1995 84
A-32 Comparison of Average Nominal and Real Values of Key Food Stamp
Household Characteristics for Fiscal Years 1989 to 1995 85
A-33 Comparison of Food Stamp Participants in Thousands by Gender and Age
for Fiscal Years 1989 to 1995 86
xii
TABLES (continued)
Page
Appendix B Tables
B-l Distribution of Participants by Age, Race, Gender, and Citizenship Status 89
B-2 Distribution of Participants by Age, Household Composition, and Household Size 90
B-3 Average Gross and Net Income, Gross and Net Income as a Percentage of
Poverty Guideline, Countable Resources, and Household Size of
Participating Households by Age of Children 91
B-4 Distribution of Participating Households by Age of Children and by Amount
of Gross and Net Income, Countable Resources, and Gross and Net Income
as a Percentage of Poverty Guideline 92
B-5 Distribution of Participating Households by Age of Children and Type of Income 93
B-6 Average Income of Participating Households by Age of Children and by
Type of Income "4
B-7 Distribution of Participating Households by Age of Children and Amount
of Deduction 95
B-8 Average Values of Deductions of Participating Households by Age of Children 96
B-9 Distribution of Participating Households by Age of Children, Food Stamp
Benefit Amount, Food Stamp Benefit as a Percentage of the Maximum
Benefit, and Certification Period 97
B-10 Effect of Food Stamp Benefits on the Poverty Status of Food Stamp Households
by Household Composition 98
B-l 1 Distribution of Participants by Age and by State 99
B-l2 Distribution of Participating Households by Household Composition and by
State 100
Appendix C Tables
C-l Distribution of Participating Households by State 103
C-2 Average Monthly Values of Selected Characteristics by State 104
xiii
TABLES (continued)
Page
C-3 Distribution of Participating Households Poverty Status and by State 105
C-4 Distribution of Participating Households by Shelter-Related Characteristics
and by State 106
C-5 Distribution of Participating Households by Selected Characteristics and by
State 107
C-6 Distribution of Participating Households by Selected Income Sources and
by State 108
C-7 Average Monthly Values of Selected Income Sources by State 109
C-8 Distribution of Entrant Households With and Without Expedited Service
by State 110
C-9 Distribution of Participating Households by Race/Ethnic Origin of
Household Head and by State Ill
C-I0 Distribution of Participants by Age and by State 112
Appendix D Tables
Summary Characteristics
D-1 Distribution of Participating Households, Persons, and Benefits by Household
Composition, Income Source, and Food Siamp Benefit Amount, Summer 1995 115
D-2 Average Gross and Net Income, Total Deduction, Countable Resources, Food
Stamp Benefit, Household Size, and Certification Period of Participating
Households by Household Composition, Income Source, and Food Stamp
Benefit Amount, Summer 1995 116
Survey Comparisons : 1980 Through 1995
D-3 Comparison of Participating Households With Key Food Stamp Household
Characteristics for August 1980 to Summer 1995 117
D-4 Comparison of Average Nominal and Real Values of Key Food Stamp
Household Characteristics for August 1980 to Summer 1995 118
xiv
TABLES (continued)
Page
D-5 Comparison of Number of Food Stamp Participants in Thousands by
Gender and Age for August 1980 to Summer 1995 119
Appendix E Table
E HHS Poverty Income Guidelines for Fiscal Year 1995 FSP 123
Appendix F Tables
F-l FSP Maximum Allowable Gross Monthly Income Eligibility Standards in
Fiscal Year 1995 127
F-2 FSP Maximum Allowable Net Monthly Income Eligibility Standards in
Fiscal Year 1995 128
Appendix G Table
G Value of Standard, Maximum Dependent-Care, and Excess Shelter Expense
Deductions in the Continental United States and Outlying Areas in Fiscal
Year 1995 131
Appendix H Table
II Value of Maximum Food Stamp Benefit in the Continental United States
and Outlying Areas in Fiscal Year 1995 135
Appendix I Table
I Comparison of Calculated and Reported Values for Selected Variables of
Participating Households, Fiscal Year 1995 142
Appendix J Tables
J-1 Standard Errors of Estimated Numbers of Food Stamp Households
(Thousands), Fiscal Year 1995 149
xv
TABLES (continued)
Page
J-2 Design Effects (d) for Standard Errors of Estimated Numbers or Percentages
of Food Stamp Households, Fiscal Year 1995 150
J-3 Standard Errors of Estimated Means, Fiscal Year 1995 151
J-4 Range of Standard Errors of Mean Amounts Expressed as a Percentage of
the Mean Amount, Fiscal Year 1995 152
xvi
FIGURES
Figure
2.1 Food Stamp Program Participants, Unemployed Persons, and Poor
Persons (1985 -1995) 10
4.1 Poverty Rates by Age (1959 - 1995) 24
XVII
y/«»
PREFACE
The Food Stamp Program has undergone major changes since the end of fiscal year 1995 due to the
passage of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of1996 (PRWORA).
This legislation, enacted August 22, 1996, makes the following significant modifications to the FSP:
• Most legal permanent resident aliens are disqualified from the FSP
• Most able-bodied, non-working, childless adults are limited to three months of FSP
benefits in any 36-month period
• The maximum food stamp benefit is reduced from 103 percent to 100 percent of the
Thrifty Food Plan
• The standard deduction is frozen at fiscal year 1996 levels indefinitely
• New shelter deduction caps are established for fiscal years 1997 through 2001, with the cap
frozen at fiscal year 2001 levels in subsequent years
Because these changes were not in effect in fiscal year 1995, they are not reflected in this report.
Specifically, FSP participation counts include individuals who were participants in fiscal year 1995
but would be disqualified under PRWORA, and discussions of program eligibility and benefit
computation rules refer to the status of these rules in fiscal year 1995. Future reports in this series will
incorporate descriptions of the PRWORA rules as they are implemented.1
'A summary of PRWORA provisions that affect the FSP is available from the FCS World Wide
Web site. For more details on how the alien and able-bodied provisions of PRWORA impact the FSP,
consult Characteristics of Childless Unemployed Adult and Legal Immigrant Food Stamp
Participants: Fiscal Year 1995. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Consumer Service, Office
of Analysis and Evaluation; 1997.
xix
xi mmmm
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Food Stamp Program (FSP) provides millions of Americans with the means to purchase food for
a nutritious diet. The FSP is the largest of the 15 domestic food and nutrition assistance programs
administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Consumer Service (FCS). In an
average month in fiscal year 1995, the FSP served approximately 26.6 million persons.1 This report
presents the characteristics of food stamp households nationwide in fiscal year 1995 (October 1994
to September 1995) based on FSP household data for that period collected by FCS for quality control
purposes.
FSP Participation and Costs
In an average month of fiscal year 1995 the FSP provided benefits to 26.6 million persons living in
10.9 million households across the United States. The total cost for the program over fiscal year 1995
was $24.6 billion, $22.8 billion of which were for food stamp benefits. The average monthly food
stamp benefit per household in fiscal year 1995 was $175. Compared with fiscal year 1994, the level
of FSP participation decreased by about three percent, and FSP benefit costs increased less than one
percent.
Characteristics of Food Stamp Households and Participants
In fiscal year 1995 slightly over half of all food stamp participants were children, 41 percent were
nonelderly adults, and 7 percent were elderly persons. About 60 percent of the children were school
age, and over two-thirds of the adults were women.
Over 90 percent of food stamp households lived in poverty, according to the fiscal year 1995 federal
government poverty guidelines issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (see
Appendix F). Food stamp benefits were concentrated among poorer households: while the gross
income of 43 percent of all food stamp households was less than or equal to half of the poverty
guideline, they received 58 percent of all benefits. If the value of food stamps is included as income,
7 percent of all food stamp households moved above the poverty guideline as a result of receiving food
stamps, and 24 percent moved from below to above half of the poverty guideline.
Ofall food stamp households, 84 percent contained either a child or an elderly or disabled person, and
these households received 89 percent of all benefits. Households with children received a relatively
large average monthly food stamp benefit ($233), reflecting their relatively large average household
size (3.4 persons, compared with 2.5 persons on average overall). Most of the food stamp households
with children were single-parent households, and the majority of these single-parent households
'The figure 26.6 million persons is based on FCS administrative records. The participant count
of 27.0 million cited later in the report and the other figures provided throughout the report are
estimates from the Food Stamp Qualil> Control sample. For an explanation of the difference in the
counts see Appendix I.
xxi
received support from Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC). About 30 percent of food
stamp households with children had earned income; 24 percent of single-parent households and 50
percent of multiple-adult households with children had earnings.
More than three-quarters (76 percent) of food stamp households with an elderly member consisted of
an elderly person living alone. These individuals received an average benefit of $49. The average
food stamp benefit for all households containing an elderly person was $68, reflecting their smaller-than-
average household size.
Characteristics of Children in the Food Stamp Program
In each report in this series, FCS includes a chapter highlighting the circumstances of a particular
subgroup of the FSP population of interest to policymakers. This year, the report examines food stamp
participants who are children and the households in which they live.
In fiscal year 1995, the FSP served an average of over 13.8 million children each month, with children
constituting over half of all food stamp participants. Approximately 40 percent of those children were
preschool age (age 0 to 4), and almost 20 percent were infants (age 1 or less). In contrast with adult
FSP participants, about 70 percent of whom were female, FSP children were split evenly by gender.
Child participants were more likely than adult participants to be African American (37 percent versus
32 percent) or Hispanic (21 percent versus 16 percent), and less likely to be white (36 percent versus
46 percent). Approximately 96 percent of FSP children were native-born citizens, and younger
children were more likely than school-age children to be citizens.
The majority of children (64 percent) lived in households headed by a single adult female. Ofthe 28
percent of children who lived in households with multiple adults, three-quarters lived with a household
head and his or her spouse. On average, households with children were considerably larger (3.4
persons) than households with no children (1.2 persons).
FSP households with children tended to have considerably higher monthly gross income than
households with no children ($600 and $387, respectively). Due to their relatively large size, however,
households with children actually had lower average gross income relative to the poverty level than
households without children (54 percent and 59 percent, respectively). Households with children
received income from a variety of sources. Almost two-thirds received AFDC income, averaging $381
each month, and almost one-third received earned income, averaging $744 each month. FSP
households with children were more likely than other households to receive dependent-care and
earnings deductions, but were less likely to receive a medical deduction.
Food stamps had a substantial influence on households with children, accounting for 34 percent of
their total purchasing power. In fiscal year 1995, households with children received an average
monthly food stamp benefit of $233, compared with only $82 for households with no children. The
relatively high benefit among households with children primarily reflected their relatively large size,
however, as households with children received only slightly higher per-person benefits ($72) than
households with no children ($70).
xxu
The proportion ofthe FSP caseload composed of children varied considerably by State in fiscal year
1995. The caseloads in California, Arizona, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and Wisconsin contained a
large percentage of children, while Maine and New York reported a relatively small percentage of
children among their FSP participants.
xxni
CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION
The Food Stamp Program (FSP) is a central component of America's antipoverty program. The major
purpose of the FSP is "to permit low-income households to obtain a more nutritious diet ... by
increasing their purchasing power" (The Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, P.L. 95-113). The FSP
is the largest of the domestic food and nutrition assistance programs administered by the U.S.
Department of Agriculture's Food and Consumer Service (FCS). During fiscal year 1995 the FSP
served approximately 26.6 million persons in an average month at a total cost of $24.6 billion.
The FSP is the only low-income assistance program that is made available nationwide to essentially
all financially needy households, imposing few nonfinancial categorical criteria. The FSP provides
benefits in the form of coupons or electronic benefits. Food stamp benefits can be redeemed for food
in any of over 200,000 authorized stores across the Nation.
The Federal Government and State and local governments share the costs and administration of the
FSP. The U.S. Congress authorizes the FSP and appropriates necessary funds, while the U.S.
Department of Agriculture establishes FSP regulations pursuant to the Food Stamp Act of 1977 as
amended. FCS administers the FSP nationally, while State and local welfare agencies operate the
program locally. The Federal Government fully funds the benefits of the FSP. Administrative costs
are shared by the cooperating agencies, with FCS usually paying 50 percent of the costs.
Since food stamps are available to all persons who meet the income and resource standards set by
Congress, the FSP serves a broad spectrum of needy persons. Using FSP household data, which FCS
periodically collects for quality control review purposes, FCS produces a series of reports (see
Appendix L. for a list of titles) that present food stamp household characteristics to enhance
understanding of those served by the program. While previous reports have been based on data from
summer months (July and August), this report presents a picture of households and individuals
participating in the FSP in fiscal year 1995.'
Chapter 2 provides an overview of the FSP and the regulations used to determine eligibility and food
stamp benefits, as well as the factors that affect program participation and costs, such as legislative
changes and trends in the national economy. Chapter 3 describes the characteristics of individuals and
households participating in the FSP in fiscal year 1995. Chapter 4 looks at the characteristics of food
stamp households containing children in fiscal year 1995. The appendices include supplemental tables,
detailed tabulations of household characteristics for the Nation and by State, and a brief description
of the sample design and the sampling error associated with the estimates.
'The tables in Appendix D have been added to provide consistency with earlier reports in this
series. These tables show the characteristics of FSP households in summer 1995.
1
£
CHAPTER 2: AN OVERVIEW OF THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
The characteristics of food stamp households and the level of FSP participation change over time in
response to economic and demographic trends and to legislative changes in eligibility requirements.
This chapter begins by explaining FSP eligibility requirements, application procedures, benefit
computation, and food stamp issuance. The chapter then describes how the program changed from
fiscal year 1994 to fiscal year 1995 and concludes with a summary of program participation and costs
and their relationship to the economy in fiscal year 1995.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
The Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, establishes uniform national eligibility standards for the
FSP and defines the basic FSP unit, the "household." The eligibility criteria include gross and net
income limits, an asset limit, and various nonfinancial criteria. Some exceptions to these uniform
standards exist for certain high-cost areas, such as Alaska and Hawaii, and for certain individuals such
as elderly persons (age 60 and over) and disabled persons. Below we discuss the FSP's definition of
a household and its eligibility criteria
The Household
In general, individuals who live in a residential unit and purchase and prepare food together constitute
a household as defined in the FSP. The income and assets of each household member are aggregated
to determine eligibility and benefits. Individuals who live together in a residential unit but do not
purchase and prepare food together can apply as separate household units; thus, their income and assets
are considered separately in eligibility and benefit determinations, with some exceptions. Special
provisions allow elderly and disabled persons who cannot prepare and purchase food because of a
substantial disability to apply as a separate household as long as the gross monthly income of the
remainder of their residential unit is less than 165 percent of the official Federal Government poverty
guidelines.2 Groups that were always considered one household in fiscal year 1995 regardless of their
food purchasing and preparation arrangements included married couples and parents living with their
minor children.3
2Federal Government poverty guidelines for many assistance programs are established annually
by the Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The FSP used 1994 poverty
guidelines (published in the February 1994 Federal Register) for all fiscal year 1995 income eligibility
tests. These guidelines were developed on the basis of the 1993 Census poverty thresholds. This
means that the income eligibility tests applied to food stamp households in fiscal year 1995 are based
on 1993 poverty measures. See Appendix E for a listing of the fiscal year 1995 FSP poverty
guidelines.
'Prior to September 1994, childless individuals living with their nonelderly parents and childless
nonelderly siblings living together were also groups that were always considered one household.
Income Eligibility Standards
Monthly income is the most important determinant of a household's FSP eligibility. The majority of
households that apply for food stamps must meet two income eligibility standards—a gross income
standard and a net income standard. As defined in the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, gross
income includes most cash income (with the exception of specific types of income such as loans) and
excludes most noncash income, or in-kind benefits. The specific standards are identified below.
First, the gross monthly income of all households without an elderly or disabled member must be at
or below 130 percent of the poverty guideline ($1,604 for a family of four in the contiguous United
States in fiscal year 1995). Households that contain elderly and disabled members are not subject to
the gross income test. Second, all households must meet a net income eligibility standard, defined as
net monthly income at or below 100 percent of the poverty guideline ($1,234 for a family of four in
the contiguous United States in fiscal year 1995). Net income is determined by subtracting deductions
permitted under the FSP from monthly gross income. Both the gross and net income eligibility
standards are established for various household sizes (Appendix F). Households are exempt from
these income tests, as well as the asset test, if all members of a household receive Aid to Families with
Dependent Children (AFDC) income, State General Assistance (GA), or Supplemental Security
Income (SSI).
The FSP deducts the following from a household's gross monthly income to arrive at the net monthly
income:4
Standard deduction. All households automatically receive a standard deduction, equal
to $134 in the contiguous United States and the District of Columbia in fiscal year 1995.
The standard deduction for outlying States and territories varies to reflect price
differences between these areas and the contiguous United States (Appendix G). The
standard deduction amounts are adjusted annually to reflect changes in the cost of living.
Earned income deduction. Households with earnings receive an earned income
deduction equal to 20 percent of the combined earnings of household members.
Dependent-care deduction. Households with dependents receive a dependent-care
deduction for expenses involved in caring for children and other dependents while
household members work, seek employment, or go to school. The maximum dependent-care
deduction in fiscal year 1995 was $200 per month per dependent under age 2 and
$175 per month per dependent age 2 or more (Appendix G).
4There is a distinction between a household's deduction entitlement and the amount actually used
to compute food stamp benefits. The entitlement is the deduction that a household would receive on
the basis of its earned income and dependent-care, shelter, and medical expenses if the total of these
allowable deductions was less than the household's gross income. Because net income cannot be less
than zero, households with total deductions greater than their gross incomes can only claim a portion
of their deduction entitlement.
Medical deduction. A medical deduction is available only to households that contain
elderly or disabled members. These households can deduct all medical costs incurred
by the elderly or disabled person that exceed $35. Medical expenses reimbursed by
insurance or government programs are not deductible. If a household contains more than
one disabled or elderly person, then it can deduct the combined medical expenses for
those disabled or elderly persons that exceed each elderly or disabled person's initial $35
expense.
Excess shelter expense deduction. All households are entitled to an excess shelter
expense deduction equal to shelter costs (such as rent, mortgage payments, utility bills,
property taxes, and insurance) that exceed 50 percent of a household's countable income
after all other potential deductions are subtracted from gross income. This deduction is
subject to a limit except for households that contain eiderly or disabled members, which
are entitled to subtract the full value of shelter costs that exceed 50 percent of their
adjusted income. The limit on the excess shelter expense deduction for households
without elderly or disabled members for fiscal year 1995 was $231 for the contiguous
United States and the District of Columbia. The excess shelter expense deduction for
outlying States and territories varies to reflect price differences between these areas and
the contiguous United States (Appendix G).
Child support payment deduction. This deduction covers any legally-owed child
support payments made by a noncustodial! parent of a child living outside the food stamp
household. The intent of the deduction is to ensure that households that pay child
support receive food stamp benefits based on the actual income they have available to
purchase food. States had the option to apply the child support payment deduction at any
time during Fiscal Year 1995, with implementation becoming mandatory on October I,
1995. Fourteen states instituted the deduction before the October deadline.5
Assets
The second most important determinant of FSP eligibility is a household's assets. Most households
are permitted up to $2,000 in countable assets; however, households that contain elderly persons are
allowed up to $3,000. Countable assets include cash, assets that can easily be converted into cash
(such as money in checking or savings accounts, savings certificates, stocks or bonds, and lump-sum
payments), and nonliquid resources. However, selected pieces of property such as family homes, tools
of a trade, or business property used to earn income are not counted. Assets also do not include any
vehicles used as a home, to produce income, or to transport disabled persons. Vehicles not used for
these purposes are counted in the following way: for the first vehicle and any additional vehicles used
to commute to work or qualifying job training programs, any fair market value exceeding $4,550 is
sThis report does not contain any information on households that claimed the child support
payment deduction because the IQCS data did not capture the deduction until October 1995, after the
end of Fiscal Year 1995.
counted toward the asset limit; for all other vehicles, the higher of either any fair market value in
excess of $4,550 or any equity (fair market value minus remaining liens) is counted.
Nonfinancial Eligibility Standards
While the FSP does not impose categorical eligibility standards, some specific nonfinancial restrictions
are placed on the participation of aliens, students, strikers, and persons who are institutionalized. In
addition, able-bodied food stamp participants are required to register for work and accept suitable
employment. The following individuals are exempt from this work registration requirement:
• Persons younger than age 16 or older than age 59
• Persons who are physically or mentally disabled
• Caretakers of dependent children younger than age 6 or of incapacitated adults
• Persons who work at least 30 hours per week
• Persons subject to the work requirements of the AFDC program
• Persons who receive unemployment insurance
• Persons ages 16 and 17 who are not household heads or who are attending school
• Persons in drug addiction or alcoholic treatment and rehabilitation programs
• Students enrolled in school at least half-time
Since April 1987, most work registrants have been required to participate in State Employment and
Training (E&T) programs, which provide work experience, educational programs, and job search
training. Not all work registrants are required to participate in E&T programs, however. For example,
States may exempt pregnant women and persons living in areas where E&T programs are not
available.
APPLICATION PROCEDURES
To apply for food stamps, individuals are required to appear in person at their local food stamp offices.
However, elderly and disabled persons and persons who have transportation problems can be
interviewed by telephone or at their homes. All States must allow individuals to apply for food stamps
when they apply for AFDC. Individuals applying for SSI benefits can simultaneously apply for food
stamps.
The Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, requires that local offices process applications for food
stamps within 30 days after their receipt. However, households without significant income or
resources can receive expedited food stamp eligibility verification and acquire food stamp benefits
within five calendar days after they apply. Those eligible for expedited service include (I) homeless
persons, (2) migrant or seasonal farm workers with assets equal to or less than $100, (3) households
with gross income equal to or less than $150 and assets equal to or less than $100, and (4) households
with shelter costs that exceed their gross income and assets combined.
FSP participants are required to appear in person at their local food stamp offices periodically for
recertification. The certification period varies according to the likelihood of a change in a food stamp
household's financial circumstances. In fiscal year 1995 food stamp households were certified for
food stamps for an average of 10 months.
BENEFIT COMPUTATION
After a household is certified for food stamps, its monthly food stamp benefit is computed on the basis
of its net monthly income, the benefit reduction rate, and the maximum food stamp benefit for its
household size and location. The maximum benefit to which a household is entitled is based on the
June cost of the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP) for a family of four, adjusted for different household sizes
and geographic areas outside the contiguous United States. The cost of the TFP is based on an
economical and nutritious diet, adjusted for household size and composition. Maximum benefits are
revised annually to reflect changes in the cost of the foods included in the TFP. As specified in the
Food Stamp Act of 1977, as amended, the maximum benefit was 100 percent of the TFP through 1988,
100.65 percent in 1989, 102.05 percent in 1990, and 103 percent in 1991, 1992, 1994 and I995.6
Thus, in fiscal year 1995 the maximum monthly benefit for a family of four in the contiguous U.S. was
$386 (Appendix H).
The benefit reduction rate is the rate at which benefits are reduced for every additional dollar of net
income. The benefit reduction rate is 30 percent, reflecting the assumption that a household will spend
30 percent of its net income on food, and that the FSP will provide the difference between that amount
and the maximum benefit. Thus, benefits are reduced by 30 cents for every additional dollar of net
income.
A household's monthly food stamp benefit is computed by subtracting 30 percent of its net income
from the maximum benefit. If a household has zero net income, it receives the maximum food stamp
benefit. All eligible one- and two-person households are guaranteed a minimum benefit of at least $ 10
per month (except during the initial month of participation). For new participants, benefits are
prorated for the first month.
6ln 1995 legislation was adopted to freeze maximum benefit amounts for Alaska at their 1994
levels. In 1993 an additional amendment to the Act required that 1993 maximum benefit amounts in
the contiguous U.S. remain constant at 1992 values despite a drop in the value of the TFP in June
1992.
FOOD STAMP ISSUANCE
Local and State food stamp offices use various systems to provide food stamp benefits to food stamp
participants. The following are the four main methods of issuance:
• ATP card system. An authorization to participate identification card (ATP card) is
mailed to the participant each month; the participant then exchanges the card for food
stamps at an authorized issuance office.
• Mail system. State and local offices mail the food stamps directly to the participant.
• Manual system The FSP participant obtains food stamps directly from the food stamp
office.
• Electronic benefit transfer. The FSP participant receives a "debit" card, similar to a
bank card, which is used when making food purchases at authorized retail stores. The
household's monthly benefit is electronically transferred to a benefit account created
specifically for FSP benefits. When a purchase is made, the amount of the purchase is
debited electronically from the household's FSP account.
PROGRAM CHANGES SINCE THE PREVIOUS FISCAL YEAR
The Mickey Leland Childhood Hunger Relief Act, which was enacted on August 10, 1993, affected
the FSP in several ways in fiscal year 1995. The following provisions of the Act went into effect in
September 1994, shortly before the beginning of fiscal year 1995:
• An optional income deduction was established for child support payments made to
persons outside of the food stamp unit7
• Earnings of elementary or secondary students between the ages of 18 and 21 living with
their parents were excluded from income
• Earned income tax credits were excluded from countable resources for one year for
current FSP participants
• The entire amount of vendor payments for transitional housing was excluded from the
income of homeless persons
• Income from General Assistance vendor payments for certain energy or utility expenses
were excluded from income
'Fourteen States implemented the optional deduction on September 1, 1994. The provision
became mandatory on October 1,1995.
Proration of benefits for households off of the FSP for less than one month was
eliminated
The dependent care deduction and the E&T dependent care reimbursement were
increased to $200 for children under age 2 and $175 for all other children
The Fair Market Value limit for vehicles was increased to $4,550 and vehicles needed
to carry fuel or water were excluded from countable resources
Eligibility was extended to children living with their parents in drug or alcohol
rehabilitation centers
Certain households consisting of siblings living together or parents living with their adult
children were permitted to apply and receive benefits as separate households if they
purchase and prepare food separately
FSP recipients caught trading food stamps for drugs or firearms were disqualified from
the program
FSP PARTICIPATION AND COSTS
After declining steadily from 1983 to 1989, FSP participation grew substantially during the early
1990s. As illustrated in figure 2.1, FSP participation increased by 35 percent between fiscal year 1990
and fiscal year 1993. FSP participation increased slowly during the early months of fiscal year 1994,
peaked at 28.0 million people in March 1994, and declined thereafter. The number of FSP participants
in an average month rose two percent between fiscal year 1993 and fiscal year 1994.
The number of people served by the FSP hovered around 27.0 million during the first half of fiscal
year 1995, then dropped to slightly less than 25.9 million by the end of the year. FSP participation
continued to fall during fiscal year 1996 and was estimated at 24.9 million in September 1996.
Over the past ten years, trends in FSP participation levels have been similar to trends in major
economic indicators (table 2.1). The increase in FSP participation beginning in 1989 and continuing
into 1993 was associated with the economic recession that began in 1990. Major economic indicators
for most ofthis period portray a downturn in the economy. As the economy improved between 1993
and 1995, FSP participation leveled off and then began to decline. The rate of decline in FSP
participation has not been as dramatic, however, as the concurrent decline in persons living in poverty.
Despite the decrease in FSP participation from 27.5 million in an average month in fiscal year 1994
to 26.6 million in an average month in fiscal year 1995, total FSP costs increased from $24.5 billion
in fiscal year 1994 to $24.6 billion in fiscal year 1995. The reduced costs ordinarily associated with
a smaller caseload were not realized in part because of an increase from $69 to $71 in the average
monthly food stamp benefit per person. The total cost of the FSP in fiscal year 1995 included $22.8
billion in benefits, $1.7 billion in state administrative costs, and $118 million in other costs.
Figure 2.1
Food Stamp Program Participants, Unemployed Persons, and Poor Persons
(1985-1995)
Millions
40
30
20
10
Persons in poverty
Unemployed personsc
1983 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990
Year
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
■Source: Bureau of the Census, Poverty in the United States, P60-194.
"•Average monthly value. Source: FCS, FSP Participants a. \d Issuance, Fiscal Years 1985 to 1995.
'Average monthly value. Source: Economic Report ofthe President, February 19%, Table B-32.
10
Table 2.1-Major Economic Indicators, Calendar Years 1M5-199S
Calendar Year
Economic Indicator 1983 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995
Productivity Increase''
3.7
1.8
7.2
3.3
11.4
33,064
14.0
3.0
2.5
7.0
2.7
9.0
32.370
13.6
2.9
-0.2
6.2
3.1
9.4
32.221
13.4
3.8
0.5
5.5
3.7
9.7
31.745
13.0
3.4
0.8
5.3
4.2
9.3
31.528
12.8
1.3
0.8
5.5
4.3
9.3
33,585
13.5
-1.0
0.6
6.7
4.0
8.8
35.708
14.2
2.7
3.4
7.4
2.7
8.1
38.014
14.8
2.3
0.2
6.8
2.6
7.2
39.265
15.1
3.5
0.5
6.1
2.3
8.0
38.059
14.5
2.0
0.1
5.6
2 5
Interest Rale* 7 6
Persons Below 100 Percent of
Poverty Line
Number in Thousands ....
Percentage of Total
36.425
13.8
'Percent change from preceding year.
kPercent change from preceding year in output per hour, business sector.
'Unemployment rase for all civilian workers.
'Change from preceding year in the implicit price deflator for Gross Domestic Product.
•Corporate Aaa bond yield.
Source for first line of data: Department of Commerce. Bureau of Economic Analysis. Ihtsp://www.bea.(kx.|ov/bea/surnrup-d html]. - Real Gross Domestic Product "
Source for second line of data: Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics [hnp://suu.Wj.|ov:80/c|i-bin/surveymostl. "Major Sector Productivity and Costs Index."
Source for third and fifth lines of data: Economic Report of ike President, Washington, DC, February 1996.
Source for fourth line of data: Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis. [htm://www.bca.(ioc.tov/bea/sumna]>-d.btml]. "Price Indexes and Implicit Deflators."
Source for last two lines of data: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Poverty in the United Statet, P60-194.
//
/*- mm wn
CHAPTER 3: CHARACTERISTICS OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS
AND PARTICIPANTS
The FSP serves the nutritional needs of a broad spectrum of low-income Americans.' In an average
month in fiscal year 1995 the FSP provided benefits to 27.0 million persons living in 10.9 million
households.9 Almost all food stamp households lived in poverty (according to the official Federal
Government poverty guidelines used for program eligibility in fiscal year 1995). The vast majority
of food stamp households contained either a child (under age 18), an elderly person (over age 59), or
a disabled person. The average food stamp household received a monthly food stamp benefit of $ 172,
had an average gross monthly income of $514 and an average net monthly income of $265, was
entitled to an average total deduction of $283 a month, and had an average household size of 2.5
persons. This chapter elaborates on the economic status of food stamp households and discusses the
composition of food stamp households, the characteristics of food stamp participants, and changes in
the characteristics of food stamp households between fiscal year 1994 and fiscal year 1995.
THE POVERTY STATUS OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS10
The FSP provides benefits to households in need. As shown in table 3.1, the gross monthly income
of 92 percent offood stamp households in fiscal year 1995 was less than or equal to 100 percent ofthe
Federal Government poverty guidelines (Appendix F). The gross monthly income of approximately
two-thirds of all food stamp households was less than or equal to 75 percent of the poverty guideline,
and the income of43 percent ofall food stamp households was less than or equal to 50 percent of the
poverty guideline.
The FSP effectively targets benefits to the most needy households. That is, poorer households receive
larger food stamp benefits than do households with more income. While only 43 percent of all food
stamp households had a gross monthly income below 51 percent of the poverty guideline, they
received 58 percent of all benefits. In contrast, the households that had gross monthly income over
The information provided in this chapter and the estimates in Appendices A, B, and C are based
on a sample of 51,229 households that participated in the FSP in fiscal year 1995. The sample was
drawn from food stamp households in the 50 States, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the Virgin
Isla-xls. Households in Puerto Rico and the Northern Mariana Islands were not included in the sample
because Puerto Rico has its own Nutritional Assistance Program which replaced the FSP there in July
1982, and the Northern Mariana Islands participate in another block grant program instead of the FSP.
The figure of 27.0 million participants differs from the number of food stamp participants
according to FCS administrative records, 26.6 million persons, because the sample estimate is
weighted by households rather than by individuals (see Appendix I).
l0For more information on the economic status of food stamp households, see appendix tables A-3
through A-8.
13
Table 3.1- Distribution of Households and Benefits by Income at a
Percentage of Poverty Guideline, Fiscal Year 1995
Gross Income as i
mtage of Poverty Guideline*
Percentage of:
Pen*
All Households All Benefits
Total* 100.0
18.4
24.1
27.0
22.2
7.8
0.5
100.0
25% or less 22.8
26 - 50* 35.1
51 - 75% 27.2
76 - 100% 11.8
101 - 130% 3.1
0.1
1 Defined as the fiscal year 1995 poverty guidelines published by the Department of
Health and Human Services (see Appendix E).
b Due to rounding, the sum of individual categories may not match the table total.
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
14
the poverty guideline, which accounted for 8 percent of all food stamp households, received only 3
percent of all benefits.
To estimate the impact of food stamps on a household's purchasing power, we can add the dollar value
of the food stamps to household income and then examine the distribution of households by poverty
status." As shown in table 3.2, the combination of cash and food stamps--an alternative measure of
gross income that includes food stamp benefits-yields a significantly different distribution of food
stamp households by poverty status. Specifically, the alternative measure of income sufficiently
increased the income of food stamp households to move 7 percent ofthem above the poverty guideline.
Food stamp benefits had an even greater impact on the poorest households, moving 24 percent of food
stamp households above 50 percent of the poverty guideline.
HOUSEHOLDS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
While the FSP does not restrict eligibility for food stamps to certain individuals, it effectively serves
many households that contain persons with special needs-that is, children and elderly or disabled
persons. In fiscal year 1995, 84 percent of all food stamp households contained either a child, an
elderly person, or a disabled person. These households received 89 percent of all food stamp benefits.
This section describes the characteristics of food stamp households containing children, elderly
persons, or disabled persons.
Households with Children
In fiscal year 1995 the FSP served approximately 14 million children each month, representing over
half of all participants. Of all food stamp households, 60 percent contained children (table 3.3).
Compared with other food stamp households, households that contained children received a relatively
high average food stamp benefit of $233 per month (table 3.4). This relatively high benefit primarily
reflects the fact that the average household size among food stamp households containing children (3.4
persons) was larger than the average household size among all food stamp households (2.5 persons).
Children who received food stamps in fiscal year 1995 tended to live in households which were headed
by single parents and which received AFDC benefits in addition to food stamp benefits. Of all food
stamp households with children, 70 percent were headed by a single parent, representing 42 percent
of all food stamp households. Since the AFDC program serves predominantly single-parent families,
a large percentage (71 percent) of these single-parent food stamp households also received AFDC.
Almost one-quarter of the single-parent food stamp households had earnings.
"This comparison assumes that program participants value their food stamp benefits at face value.
15
A substantial proportion (15 percent) offood stamp households contained multiple adults and children,
representing one-quarter of all food stamp households with children. In multiple-adult households
with children, the second adult may not necessarily be a parent. He or she may be an adult child of
the head, a grandparent, or even an unrelated person. Seventy-two percent of multiple-adult
households with children contained a household head and his or her spouse. The characteristics of
multiple-adult households with children varied considerably from those ofsingle adult households with
children. Among households with children, the average monthly food stamp benefit for single-adult
households was lower than that of multiple-adult households, although the per capita benefit was
higher for persons in single-adult households than persons in multiple-adult households ($74 versus
$59) because single-adult households were poorer. Single-adult households with children had
substantially lower gross monthly incomes ($531 versus $852). Of all multiple-adult households with
children, half received income from earnings, 43 percent received AFDC, 62 percent received income
from other sources, and 4 percent had no income from any source. Households with children
constituted 84 percent of all food stamp households with earnings.
Table 3.2-Effect or Food Stamp Benefits on the Poverty Status of Food Stamp Households,
Fiscal Year 1995
Distribution of Households in
Relation to Poverty Guideline
Gross Income as a
Percentage of Poverty
Guideline'
Based on
Cash Only
Based on Cash
and Food Sumps
Change in
Percentage Points
Total"
50% or less
51-100
100%
43
49
8
100%
18
67
15
0
-24
18
7
•Defined as the fiscal year 1995 poverty guidelines published by the Department of Health and Humai Services
(see Appendix E).
"Due to rounding, the sum of individual categories may not add to 100 percent.
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
16
BLANK
PAGE
Table 33- Household Competition and Selected Characteristics of Participating Households, Fiscal Year 1995
All Households Households With:
Households With:
Number
(000)
Percent
Earned Income Social Security AFDC General Assistance SSI
Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent
Total* 10.883
6.492
4.531
1.616
331
13
1.741
1.321
420
2,052
1.066
986
1.722
1.529
193
100.0
59.7
41.6
14.9
3.0
0.1
16.0
12.1
3.9
18.9
9.8
9.1
15.8
14.0
1.8
2.329
1.951
1.080
816
54
1
68
25
43
159
42
116
277
193
83
100.0
83.8
46.4
35.0
2.3
0.0
2.9
I.I
1.8
6.8
1.8
5.0
11.9
8.3
3.6
2.019
446
270
168
8
0
1,208
944
264
806
465
341
0
0
100.0
22.1
13.4
8.3
0.4
0.0
59.8
46.7
13.1
39.9
23.0
16.9
0.0
0.0
4.171
4.091
3,212
702
166
II
69
3
66
497
1
496
69
48
20
100.0
98.1
77.0
16.8
4.0
0.3
1.7
0.1
1.6
11.9
0.0
11.9
1.6
1.2
0.5
786
89
40
47
3
93
66
27
93
54
39
545
512
33
100.0
11.4
5.1
6.0
0.3
11.9
8.4
3.5
11.8
6.8
4.9
69.3
65.1
4.2
2.461
693
424
266
3
0
1.010
770
240
1.699
851
849
0
0
100.0
Chbdrta 28.2
Single-Adult Household
Multiple-Adult Household ...
Other
17.2
10.8
0.1
0.0
Elderly 41.1
31.3
9.8
Disabled 69.1
34.6
34.5
Other Household^ 0.0
Single-Person Household
Multi-Person Household
0.0
* The sum of individual categories does not match the table total because a household can have more than one of the characteristics in the table.
b Households not containing children, elderly persons, or disabled persons.
" No sample households are found in this category
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
/7
Table 3.4-- Average Values of Selected Characteristic by Household Compos!lion, Fiscal Year 1995
Avenge Values
Households With: Grots
Monthly
Income
(Dollars)
Net
Monthly
Income
(Dollars)
Monthly
Pood Stamp
Benefit
(Dollars)
Household
Size
(Persons)
Total 514
600
S3I
832
328
456
545
493
711
655
500
823
174
149
377
265
326
264
538
141
222
288
237
449
392
227
570
40
27
146
172
233
226
267
149
292
68
49
125
105
52
163
116
!08
180
2.5
Children 3.4
Sinele-Adult Household 3.1
Mutoole-Adult Household ... 4.5
1.8
3.7
Elderly 1.4
1.0
2.5
2.2
1.0
Not Living Alone 3.4
Other Households* 1 \
l.u)
Multi-Person Household 2.1
* Households not containing children, elderly persons, or disabled persons
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
18
Households With Elderly Persons
In fiscal year 1995 the FSP served an average of 1.9 million elderly persons each month.12 Food stamp
households containing elderly members represented 16 percent of all food stamp households. These
households received an average food stamp benefit of $68 per month.
Elderly persons who received food stamps tended to live alone, and thus received relatively small food
stamp benefits. In fiscal year 199S, 76 percent of all food stamp households with elderly members
were single-person households. These households received an average food stamp benefit of $49 per
month compared with $125 in benefits for households with elderly persons not living alone. Elderly
persons not living alone lived in households averaging 2.5 persons.
Food stamp households that contained elderly persons tended to receive SSI and Social Security
income. In fiscal year 1995, 58 percent of all food stamp households with elderly members received
SSI, 69 percent received Social Security, and 37 percent received both SSI and Social Security income.
Food stamp households with elderly members represented 41 percent of all food stamp households
with SSI and 60 percent of food stamp households with Social Security income.
Households With Disabled Persons
In fiscal year 1995 households that contained disabled persons represented 19 percent of all food stamp
households.13 These households received an average monthly food stamp benefit of $105.
Similar to households with elderly members, households containing a disabled person living alone
received a lower average monthly food stamp benefit than did households that contained disabled
persons not living alone ($52 compared with $163). About 52 percent of food stamp households that
contained disabled persons were single-person households, while 48 percent were multiple-person
households. Once again the difference in benefits between the two groups reflects differences in
average household size. Disabled persons who did not live alone lived in households averaging 3.4
persons.
Other Households Served by the FSP
The FSP serves other needy households besides those that contain children, elderly persons, or
disabled persons. In fiscal year 1995, 16 percent of all food stamp households consisted solely of one
or more nonelderly, nondisabled adults. These households received an average food stamp benefit of
12Elderly persons are those age 60 or over.
"In this report, disabled persons are defined as those under age 65 who receive SSI and those age
18 to 61 who receive Social Security, veterans benefits, or other governmental benefits as a result of
disability. Prior to 1995 disabled persons were defined as those who receive SSI but are not elderly.
The new definition allows individuals to be classified as both elderly and disabled when applicable and
has the effect of increasing the number of FSP participants who are considered disabled.
19
$116 per month. They tended to be single-person households (89 percent) and represented the
majority (69 percent) of households that received General Assistance (GA).
Ofall food stamp households in fiscal year 1995,36 percent consisted of individuals who lived alone.
Because these households only contained one individual, the average monthly food stamp benefit was
only $75. Most of these individuals (59 percent) were female, and 34 percent were elderly. Compared
with all food stamp households, a relatively small proportion of food stamp participants living alone
received earnings (7 percent), and a relatively high proportion had zero gross income (19 percent).
CHARACTERISTICS OF FSP PARTICIPANTS
The FSP serves a broad spectrum of individuals. In fiscal year 1995 more than half were children (less
than 18 years old), 41 percent were nonelderly adults (age 18 to 59), and 7 percent were elderly
adults.14 Approximately 63 percent of the children served by the FSP were school age (between ages
5 and 17). Seventy-one percent of elderly adults and 69 percent of nonelderly adults were female. The
majority (70 percent) of nonelderly adult food stamp participants lived in households with children-approximately
58 percent were single parents, and approximately 42 percent lived in households
containing at least one other adult and one child.
With the exception of certain groups of individuals, such as caretakers of small children and people
working at least 30 hours a week, all able-bodied nonelderly adult food stamp participants are required
to register for work and accept suitable employment as a condition of receiving food stamps. As with
participants in the FSP, participants in other assistance programs often are required to register for
work. In fiscal year 1995, 26 percent of all food stamp household heads were registered for work
under the FSP or another assistance program.13 Most food stamp household heads (70 percent) were
exempt from work registration requirements~20 percent of household heads were disabled, 12 percent
were younger or older than the required ages, 20 percent were the caretakers of a child or an
incapacitated adult, 9 percent were already employed full time, and 8 percent were exempt for other
reasons.16
MFor more information on FSP participants and household heads, see appendix tables A-24 and
A-27 through A-30.
"Reports in this series prior to summer 1989 included as work registrants only persons required
to register for work under the FSP; the summer 1989 through fiscal year 1995 reports include as work
registrants food stamp participants registered for work under the FSP and food stamp participants
registered for the Job Opportunities and Basic Skills (JOBS) program. For more information on the
work registration status of food stamp participants and household heads, see appendix table A-29.
l6The work registration status of 3 percent of household heads was unknown.
20
CHANGES IN THE CHARACTERISTICS OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLDS
The number of households receiving food stamps decreased slightly (by two percent) between fiscal
year 1994 and fiscal year 1995." Many of the characteristics of food stamp households remained
constant or changed little during that time.'1 For example, the percentage of households with an
elderly member remained constant at 16 percent between fiscal year 1994 and fiscal year 1995, and
the percentage of households with children decreased only marginally from 61 to 60 percent. The
percentage of households with only one member increased from 34 to 36 percent, but the average size
of food stamp households remained unchanged at 2.5 persons. The change in the percentage of
households with a disabled member appeared to be sizable, increasing from slightly less than 13
percent in fiscal year 1994 to 19 percent in fiscal year 1995, but most of this jump resulted from a
revision in the definition of disabled.19
The average food stamp household was worse off in fiscal year 1995 than in fiscal year 1994 (table
3.5). The average net income of food stamp households decreased by almost four percent in real
dollars, and the percentage of households with zero net income increased from 24 to 25 percent. The
percentage of households with earnings remained constant at approximately 21 percent, however, and
the small decrease in the percentage of households with children did not reduce the percentage of
households receiving AFDC, which was steady at 38 percent. The increase in the percentage of
households with a disabled member was associated with an increase in the percentage of households
receiving SSI (from 21 percent to 23 percent).
The average food stamp benefit decreased in real dollars from $ 168 in fiscal year i 994 to $ 166 in fiscal
year 1995, a reduction of one percent. The real value of the maximum food stamp benefit for a family
of four in the continental United States also decreased, from $379 to $374. The percentage of food
stamp households receiving the maximum benefit increased slightly, however, from 24 percent in fiscal
year 1994 to 25 percent in fiscal year 1995.
"For more information on trends in the characteristics of food stamp households, see appendix
tables A-31 and A-32.
"This analysis is based on cross-sectional samples from fiscal year 1994 and fiscal year 1995.
Thus, whether changes in the characteristics of food stamp households reflect changes in the
circumstances of continuing participants, of new participants, or both is not known. In addition, the
differences may be the result of several factors including FSP legislation, changes in the economy, or
changes in other social programs.
"For fiscal year 1995, households with a disabled member were defined as those containing at
least one person under age 65 who received SSI or at least one person age 18 to 61 who received
Social Security, veterans benefits, or other government benefits as a result of disability. Prior to fiscal
year 1995 households with a disabled member were defined as those that received SSI but contained
no members over age 59. Based on the old definition, slightly over 13 percent of food stamp
households contained a disabled member in fiscal year 1995.
21
Table 3.5-Averagc Nominal aid Real Values of Selected Characteristics, Fiscal Year 1994 and Fiscal Year 1995
Nominal Values Real Values
Selected
Characteristics Fiscal Year
1994
Fiscal Year
1995
Percentage
Change
Fiscal Year
1995
Percentage
Change
Average Gross Income'
Per Household $507
201
268
106
272
168
375
147.3
143.0
$514
208
265
107
283
172
386
151.4
147.7
+ 1.4
+ 3.4
-1.1
+0.8
+4.0
+2.2
+2.9
+2.8
+ 3.3
$500
202
258
104
275
166
374
-1.4
+0 5
Average Net Income*
Per Household -3.8
-1.9
Average Total Deduction'
Average Household Benefit" ....
Maximum Coupon Benefit
for a Family of Four in the
Continental U.S."
Consumer Price Index
All Items
+ 1.2
-1.0
-0.4
Food at Home
'Real values are in constant fiscal year 1994 dollars. Fiscal year 1995 values were deflated by the change in the CPI-U for
all items between fiscal year 1994 and fiscal year 1995 (2.8 percent).
'Real values are in constant fiscal year 1994 dollars. Fiscal year 1995 values were deflated by the change in the CPI-U for
food at home between fiscal year 1994 and fiscal year 1995 (3.3 percent).
Source of CPI-U average values: U.S. Department of Labor. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Monthly Labor Review, December
1994 and December 1995. Table 31.
Source of nominal values: Fiscal Year 1994 and Fiscal Year 1995 Food Sump Quality Control samples.
22
CHAPTER 4: CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN
IN THE FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Children (age 17 or less) constitute the age group with the highest poverty rate in the United States.
In 1995, approximately one in five children lived in poverty, and the poverty rate among children (20.8
percent) was nearly double the rate among elderly persons (10.S percent) or nonelderly adults (11.4
percent) (figure 4.1). The poverty rate for children rose sharply in the 1970s and early 1980s--from
14.4 percent in 1973 to a high of 22.3 percent in 1983. Since that time, the rate has fluctuated, but
remains over 20 percent. In contrast, the poverty rate for elderly declined from 16.3 percent in 1973
to 10.5 percent in 1995.
Along with other food assistance programs, the FSP helps meet the nutritional needs of many poor
children. In fiscal year 1995, the FSP served an average of over 13.8 million children each month,
with children constituting over half of all food stamp participants. This chapter profiles the
demographic and economic characteristics of food stamp participants who are children and the FSP
households in which they live. The first section compares children and other participants in terms of
demographic characteristics. The second section compares households with children and other
households in terms of economic characteristics. The last section looks at the distribution of children
and households with children by state.
DEMOGRAPHIC CHARACTERISTICS
Age and Gender
Almost 52 percent of all food stamp participants in fiscal year 1995 were children (table 4.1). This
is in sharp contrast to the U.S. population of which only about a quarter were children. Of the
approximately 13.9 million children in the FSP, 60 percent were school age (age 5 to 17) and 40
percent were preschool age. Of the preschool age children, 38 percent were infants (age I or less).
FSP children were split evenly by gender (table 4.2). Among adult FSP participants, however, females
outnumbered males by over two to one (appendix table B-l). The substantially larger percentage of
females among adult participants is consistent with the fact that female-headed households are
considerably more likely to live in poverty than households headed by a married couple or by a single
male.
Race
Compared with adult FSP participants, child participants were less likely to be white (36 percent
versus 46 percent), but more likely to be either African American (37 percent versus 32 percent) or
Hispanic (21 percent versus 16 percent) (appendix table B-l). Asian, Native American and other
children comprised 7 percent ofFSP children. The distribution by race was relatively consistent across
children of different ages (table 4.2).
23
40
Percent
30
20
10
18 to 64 Years
1959 1965
Figure 4.1
Poverty Rates by Age
(1959-1995)
1975
Year
Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, March CPS.
I i 1 i
1985 1995
24
Table 4.1 - Distribution of Participants by Age
Participants
(000)
Percent
Total
ChiMrea
Preschool Age Children
0-1
2-4
School Age Children
5-7
Ml
12-15
16-17
NoneWeriy Adults (18-59)
Elderly Adults (60 or more)
Unknown Age
26.955 100.0
13.88: 51.5
5.098 18.9
1.921 7.1
3.178 11.8
8.784 32.6
2.699 10.0
2.889 10.7
2.305 8.6
892 3.3
11.118 41.2
1.923 7.1
32 0.1
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Pood Stamp Quality Control sample.
25
Table 4J. - Distribution of Participants by Age, Race, Gender, and Citizenship Status
Participant Characteristic
All Participants
Number
(000)
Percent
All Children
Number
(000)
Percent
Age 0-1
Number
(000)
Percent
Ate 2-4
Number
(000)
Percent
Age 5-11
Number
(000)
Percent
Age 12-17
Number
(000)
Percent
Tatal
Gender
Male
Female
Race
White
African-American
Hispanic
Asian
Native American
Unknown Race
Clttsenship Status
Citizen, Bom in US
Naturalized Citizen
Permanent Resident Alien
Other Alien
26.955
10.926
16.025
10.956
9.292
4.960
878
372
498
24.508
244
1.414
431
100.0
40.5
59.5
40.6
34.5
18.4
3.3
1.4
1.8
90.9
0.9
5.2
1.6
13.883
6.952
6.927
4.923
5.072
2.897
487
210
295
13.372
II
245
148
100.0
SOI
49.9
35.5
36.5
20.9
3.5
1.5
2.1
96.3
0.1
1.8
I.I
1.921
992
927
683
687
435
56
22
37
1.894
0
26
100.0
51.6
48.3
35.6
35.8
22.6
2.9
1.2
1.9
98.6
0.0
0.1
0.3
3.178
1.562
1.616
1.122
1.158
700
92
49
57
3,129
2
13
II
100.0
49.1
50.9
35.3
36.4
22.0
2.9
1.5
1.8
98.5
0.1
0.4
0.4
5.588
2.825
2.761
2.043
2.026
1.114
197
83
124
5,385
4
94
64
100.0
50.6
49.4
36.6
36.3
19.9
3.5
1.5
2.2
96.4
0.1
1.7
1.1
3.197
1.573
1.622
1,075
1.200
647
142
55
77
2.964
4
136
67
100.0
49.2
50.7
33.6
37.5
20.2
4.4
1.7
2.4
92.7
0.1
4.2
2.1
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
26
Citizenship Status
Approximately 13 percent of children in the FSP lived in households that contained a permanent
resident or other type of alien, and in 84 percent of those cases the household head was an alien.
Children in the FSP were considerably more likely than adult FSP participants to be citizens born in
the U.S. In fiscal year 1995, approximately 96 percent of FSP children were native-born citizens,
versus only 85 percent of adult participants. Even among children in the FSP, younger children were
more likely to be citizens. Almost 99 percent of infant participants were citizens, compared with 96
percent of 5-11 year olds and only 93 percent of 12-17 year olds. This may be because infant
participants are more likely to have been born in the U.S., thus gaining automatic citizenship, while
older child participants are more likely to have been bom out of the country and then brought into the
U.S.
Household Composition and Size
The majority of children (67 percent) lived in households headed by a single adult, and in 95 percent
of those households, the head was a woman (table 4.3). Only three percent of children lived in
households headed by a single male. Of the 28 percent of children living in a household with more
than one adult, about half (51 percent) lived with a female household head and her spouse (appendix
table B-2). Interestingly, preschool age children were more likely than older children to live in a
single-adult household (69 percent versus 66 percent). Preschool children, and in particular infants,
were considerably more likely to live in a household without any adult FSP participants. Specifically,
six percent of preschool age children, and nine percent of infants lived in "children-only" households,
compared with only three percent of school age children.20
Households that contained children tended to be considerably larger than households with no children.
In fiscal year 1995, the average size of households with children was 3.4 persons, compared with 1.2
persons in all-adult households (appendix table B-3). Furthermore, 70 percent of all households with
children contained 3 or more members, compared with less than 2 percent of households that did not
contain a child, and households that contained older children tended to have more members than those
with preschool age children (table 4.4).
ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS OF HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN
Poverty and Income
On average, FSP households with children had a considerably higher monthly gross income (S600)
than households with no children ($387), and very few households with children (5 percent) had zero
gross income compared with households with no children (17 percent) (table 4.5, appendix table B-4).
Similarly, the average monthly net income of households with children was nearly twice that of
20 While about 12 percent of these "children-only" households contained a teen living alone or with
a young child, the majority contained an adult who was not an FSP participant. Of the households
with adults outside of the food stamp unit, three-quarters contained a noncitizen adult.
27
Table 4J - Distribution of Participants by Age and Household Composition
All Participants* Adults Children Infants Preschool Age
Children
School Age
Children
Household Composition
Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent
Total 26.955
21.849
13.867
13.120
591
156
7.332
5.443
1.863
27
599
100.0
81.1
51.4
48.7
2.2
0.6
27.2
20.2
6.9
0.1
2.2
13.041
7.947
4.531
4.276
207
48
3.403
2.521
867
15
0
100.0
60.9
34.7
32.8
1.6
0.4
26.1
19.3
6.7
0.1
0.0
13.883
13.883
9.336
8.844
384
108
3.924
2.917
995
12
599
100.0
100.0
67.2
63.7
2.8
0.8
28.3
21.0
7.2
0.1
4.3
1.921
1.921
1051
1.196
36
19
499
382
118
0
167
100.0
100.0
65.1
62.3
1.9
1.0
26.0
19.9
6.1
0.0
8.7
5.098
5.098
3.504
3.347
109
48
1.262
970
293
0
320
100.0
100.0
68.7
65.6
2.1
0.9
24.8
19.0
5.7
0.0
6.3
8.784
8.784
5.832
5.497
275
60
2.661
1,947
702
12
279
100.0
Households With Children 100.0
Single Adull 66.4
62.6
Male Head 3.1
0.7
Multiple Adults 303
female Head ... 222
Male Head 80
0.1
Children Only 3.2
' Number of participants in households with given household characteristic.
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
28
Table 44 - Distribution of Participating Households by Age of Children and Household Size
Total Households Households With:
Household Composition Number
(000)
Percent
No Children Children Infants* Preschool Age
Children1
School Age
Children*
Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent
Total 10.883
3.902
2.469
1.956
1.379
667
510
100.0
35.9
22.7
18.0
12.7
6.1
4.7
4,391
3.748
581
54
421
100.0
85.4
13.2
1.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
6.492
153
1.888
1.902
1.375
665
509
100.0
2.4
29.1
29.3
21.2
10.3
7.8
1.798
34
497
494
391
186
175
100.0
3.0
27.6
27.5
21.8
10.4
9.8
3.719
93
1.034
1.043
7%
406
347
100.0
2.5
27.8
28.0
21.4
10.9
9.3
4.622
61
915
1.344
1.166
633
502
100.0
Household Sizt
1 1.3
2 19.8
3 29.1
4 25.2
5 13.7
6+ 10.9
1 These categories are not mutually exclusive, as a household may contain preschool age and school age children. Since infants are preschool age, all
households with infants are also households with preschool age children.
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
29
households without children ($326 and $174, respectively). Due to the relatively large size of
households with children, however, these households actually had lower average gross income relative
to the poverty level than did households without children. On average, the gross income of households
with children was 54 percent of the poverty level, while that of households without children was 59
percent of the poverty level. Households with infants had lower average gross income as a percentage
of the poverty level (49 percent) than either households with preschool age children (51 percent) or
households with school age children (56 percent).
Households with children received most of their income from AFDC and earnings (table 4.6, appendix
table B-5). Almost two-thirds of households with children received AFDC, and almost one-third
received income from earnings. On average, households with children had considerably higher
monthly earnings than households with no children ($744 versus $368) (appendix table B-6). Nearly
11 percent of households with children received SSI, but households with infants were considerably
less likely than households with school age children to do so (7 percent versus 13 percent). Since GA
and Social Security are generally targeted towards adults rather than children, only a small proportion
of FSP households with children received income from these sources.
FSP Deductions
The FSP allows deductions for shelter expenses, dependent-care expenses, medical expenses, and
earnings. Consistent with other food stamp households in fiscal year 1995, about two-thirds of
households with children were entitled to an excess shelter expense deduction (table 4.7, appendix
table B-7). Households with children were more likely than other households to receive dependent-care
and earnings deductions, but less likely to receive a medical deduction, which is only available
to households containing an elderly member.
The excess shelter expense deduction is available to all households whose shelter costs exceed 50
percent oftheir countable income after all other potential deductions are subtracted from gross income.
The deduction is subject to a cap. The average excess shelter expense deduction as a percentage of
the cap was considerably lower for households with children (69 percent) than for households with no
children (77 percent) (appendix table B-8). On the other hand, households with children were
considerably more likely than other households to have an excess shelter expense deduction equal to
the cap (23 percent versus 9 percent).
In determining eligibility and benefits, the FSP takes into account expenses incurred for caring for
children and other dependents while household members work, seek employment, or go to school in
fiscal year 1995. The maximum dependent-care deduction was $200 for each dependent under 2 years
old and $175 for each dependent age 2 and over. Among FSP households with children, 6 percent
received a dependent-care deduction, and the average deduction among those households was $145.
Some FSP households are also entitled to an earned income deduction and/or a medical expense
deduction. The earned income deduction is equal to 20 percent of household earnings. Since 30
percent of FSP households with children had earnings, 30 percent received an earned income
deduction. The average earnings deduction was $149 among households with children that received
an earnings deduction. Very few households with children (one percent) received a medical expense
30
Table 4.5 - Average Gross and Net Income, Gross and Net Income aa a Percentage of Poverty Guideline, Countable
Resources, and Household Siae of Participating Households by Age of Children
Total Households Average Monthly Values
Household Characteristic
Number
(000)
Percent Gross Income
(Dollars)
Net Income
(DoUars)
Gross Income
as a
Percentage of
Poverty
Guideline
(Percent)
Net Income as
a Percentage
of Poverty
Guideline
(Percent)
Countable
Resources
(Dollars)
Household
Size
(Persons)
Tatal 10.883
4.391
6.492
1.798
3.719
4.622
100.0
40.3
59.7
16.5
34.2
42.5
514
387
600
567
586
654
265
174
326
309
315
372
56.0
59.3
53.7
49.3
51.3
55.5
27.2
26.2
27.8
25.4
26.2
30.3
83
III
64
59
57
71
2.5
No Children 1.2
Children 3.4
Infants 3.5
Preschool Are Children
School Age Children
3.5
3.7
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample
31
Table 4.6 - Distribution of Participating Households by Age of Children and Type of Income
Type of Income
Total Household!
Number
(000)«
Percent
Households Wi:h:
NoChildien
Number
(000)
Percent
Children
Number
(000)
Percent
Infants''
Number
(000)
Percent
Preschool Age
Children*1
Number
(000)
Percent
School Age
Children"
Number
(000)
Percent
Tatal
Earned Income
Wafts and Salaries
Self-Employment
Other Earned Income ...
Unearned Income
Aid to Families with
Dependent Children .
General Assistance
AFDC or GA Income ...
Supplemental Security
Income
Social Security
Unemployment Income
Veterans' Benefits
Workers' Compensation
Other Government
Benefits
Household
Contributions
Household Deemed
Income
Educational Loans
Child Support
Enforcement
Payments
Other Unearned Income
No
10.883
2.329
2.128
141
84
9.451
4.171
786
4,926
2.461
2.019
199
140
41
110
397
2
18
552
1.457
1.053
100.0
21.4
19.6
1.3
0.8
86.8
38.3
7.2
45.3
22.6
18.6
1.8
1.3
0.4
1.0
3.6
0.0
0.2
5.1
13.4
9.7
4.391
378
326
43
II
3.533
80
697
775
1.768
1.573
43
119
10
43
68
13
6
383
763
100.0
8.6
7.4
1.0
0.2
80.5
1.8
15.9
17.7
40.3
35.8
1.0
2.7
0.2
1.0
1.6
0.0
0.1
0.1
8.7
17.4
6.492
1.951
1.801
98
73
5.918
4,091
89
4.1SI
693
446
157
21
31
67
329
I
15
546
1.074
289
100.0
30.1
27.7
1.5
I.I
91.2
63.0
1.4
63.9
10.7
6.9
2.4
0.3
0.5
1.0
5.1
0.0
0.2
8.4
16.5
4.5
1.798
515
469
20
32
1.602
1.156
30
1.175
117
67
39
25
II
68
03
113
299
116
1000
28.6
26.1
1.1
1.8
89.1
64.3
1.7
65.4
6.5
3.7
2.2
0.1
0.3
0.6
3.8
0.0
0.2
6.3
16.6
6.4
3.719
1.104
1.012
46
56
3.363
2.415
48
2.446
265
149
87
6
14
36
173
273
610
185
100.0
29.7
27.2
1.2
1.5
90.4
64.9
1.3
65.8
7.1
4.0
2.3
0.2
0.4
!0
4.7
0.0
0.2
7.3
16.4
5.0
4.622
1.438
1.340
80
34
4.258
2.850
67
2.894
608
404
120
20
25
52
257
0
10
451
786
169
100.0
31.1
29.0
1.7
0.7
92.1
61.7
1.4
62.6
13.2
8.7
2.6
0.4
0.5
1.1
5.6
0.0
0.2
9.8
17.0
3.7
* The sum of individual income sources does not add to the total because households can receive income from more than one source.
b These categories are not mutually exclusive, at a household may contain preschool age and school age children. Since infants are preschool
age, all households with infants are also households with preschool age children.
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample
32
Table 4.7 - Distribution of Partkipatinf Households by Age of Children and Type of Deduction
Households With:
Type of Deduction No ChiWren Children Infant! Preschool Age
Children School A«e Children
Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent
Tetal 4.391
378
9
2.841
344
100.0
8.6
0.2
64.7
7.8
6.492
1.951
3S8
4.405
34
100.0
30.1
5.5
67.9
0.5
1.798
515
91
1.118
3
100.0
28.6
5.1
62.2
0.2
3.719
1.104
247
2.449
9
100.0
29.7
6.6
65.8
0.2
4.622
1.438
236
3.147
32
1000
31 1
Dependent C»re 5.1
Excess Shelter Expense 68.1
Medical 0.7
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Sump Quality Control sample
33
deduction, which is available only to households that contain elderly or disabled members and have
monthly medical expenses in excess of $35.
FSP Benefits
In fiscal year 1995, households with children received relatively large average monthly food stamp
benefits ($233 versus $82 for households without children) (table 4.8). In addition, over one-quarter
of households with children received a monthly benefit over $300, compared with less than 1 percent
of households without children (appendix table B-9). The relatively high food stamp benefit received
by households with children primarily reflects the large size of those households relative to households
without children (3.7 persons versus 1.2 persons). In fact, households with children receive only
slightly higher per person benefits ($72) than households with no children ($70).
While food stamps increased the purchasing power of all food stamp households, FSP benefits had a
more substantial influence on households with children than on households with no children. On
average, food stamps accounted for 34 percent of the purchasing power (cash income plus food
stamps) of households with children, compared with 31 percent for households with no children.
Adding food stamps to cash income would move 35 percent of households with children from below
to above 50 percent of the poverty line, compared with only 9 percent of households with no children
(appendix table B-10).
CHILDREN AND HOUSEHOLDS WITH CHILDREN BY STATE
The proportion of the FSP caseload composed of children varied considerably by State in fiscal year
1995, ranging from 62 percent in California to only 41 percent in West Virginia (appendix table B-
11 ).21 Arizona, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and Wisconsin also contained a large percentage of children
(over 55 percent) among their food stamp participants, while the FSP caseloads in Maine and New
York contained a relatively small percentage of children (under 45 percent).
The distribution of FSP households with children also varied by State (appendix table B-12). Of the
10.9 million FSP households in fiscal year 1995, 60 percent contained children. Among the States,
however, households with children as a percentage of all FSP households in the State ranged from 80
percent in California to only 45 percent in New York. Alaska and Wyoming are other states that
contained a large percentage of FSP households with children (70 percent).
"California's high percentage of children is explained in part by the fact that California's IQCS
sample excludes the SSI/FSP population, a group that is disproportionately elderly.
34
Table 4J - Average Food Stamp Benefit, Food Stamp Benefit at a Percentage of the Mnimom,
Per Peraon Food Stamp Benefit, and Household Slie by Age of Children
Total Households Average Monthly Value*
Household Characteristic
Number
(000)
Percent
Pood Stamp
Benefit
(Dollars)
Pood Stamp
Benefit as*
Percentage of
Maximum
(Percent)
Pood Stamp
Benefit
Per Person
(Dollars)
Household
Size
(Persons)
Trial 10.883
4.391
6,492
1.798
3.719
4.622
100.0
40.3
59.7
16 5
34.2
42.5
172
82
233
245
243
247
68.3
63.0
71.9
74.5
73.8
70.0
72
72
72
75
74
70
2.5
1.2
Children 3.4
Infants 3.5
Preschool Are Children
School Are Children
3.5
3.7
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Sump Quality Control sample
35
*
ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS FOR USE WITH APPENDICES
J1
3f mmM
ACRONYMS AND DEFINITIONS FOR USE WITH APPENDICES
ACRONYMS
AFDC • Aid to Families with Dependent Children
EAT - Employment and Training Program
FSP - Food Stamp Program
GA - General Assistance
IRCA - Immigration Reform and Control Act
JOBS - Job Opportunities and Basic Skills
SSI - Supplemental Security Income
TFP - Thrifty Food Plan
Ul - Unemployment Insurance
DEFINITIONS
Alien. Participant who is a noncitizen, including
permanent residents, immigrants accorded permanent
resident status under the Immigration Reform and
Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), immigrants accorded
temporary resident status under IRCA, refugees,
persons granted political asylum, aliens granted a stay
of deportation, aliens residing in the United States
under color of law, nonimmigrants admitted for a
specified period, Mexican citizens with a "border"
card, and undocumented aliens.
Children. Persons under age 18.
Countable Resources. Cash on hand, assets which
can be easily converted to cash, such as money in
checking or savings accounts, savings certificates,
stocks or bonds, and lump sum payments. They also
include some nonliquid assets, although the family
home, one or more family vehicles if necessary to
transport disabled persons or to produce income, and
business tools or property are not counted. See also
Resource Limit.
Detections. Allowable deductions from a house-hold's
gross monthly income to arrive at FSP net
monthly income. The deductions shown in the tables
are those to which households were entitled. Some of
the deductions may not have been used, however,
before a household reached zero net income status.
Therefore, total deductions do not equal the difference
between gross and net income amounts. See also Total
Deduction, Standard Deduction, Earned Income
Deduction, Dependent-Care Deduction, Excess Shelter
Deduction, and Medical Deduction.
Dependent-Care Deduction. Deduction received by
food stamp households for expenses involved in caring
for dependents while other members work, seek
employment, or go to school. In fiscal year 1995 the
deduction was subject to a maximum of $200 per
month for each dependent under age 2 and $175 per
month for each dependent age 2 or more. See also
Deductions.
Disabled Persons. Individuals under age 65 who
receive SSI and individuals age 18 to 61 who receive
Social Security, veterans benefits, or other government
benefits as a result of disability.
Earned Income Deduction. Deduction received by
households with earnings, equal to 20 percent of the
combined earnings of household members. See also
Deductions.
Earned Income. Includes wages, salaries, self-employment,
and farm income.
Elderly. Adults over age 59.
Employed Full Time. Employed at least 30 hours per
week or receiving weekly earnings equal to or greater
than the Federal minimum wage multiplied by 30
hours. This estimate is based on an employment status
variable.
Employed Part Time. Employed less than 30 hours
per week.
Employment and Training (EAT). Refers to
employment and training services received under FSP
E&T programs. Services provided include work
experience, educational programs, and job search
training.
Entrant Households. Includes households newly
certified during fiscal year 1995.
Excess Shelter Deduction. Deduction received by
households with shelter costs, equal to those shelter
costs that exceed 50 percent of the household's
39
countable income after all other potential deductions
are subtracted from gross income. There is a limit on
the shelter deduction for households that do not contain
elderly or disabled members. See Appendix G. See
also Deductions.
Exempt from Work Registration. See Work
Registration Status Definitions and Notes below.
Expedited Service Households. Households which
initially received expedited service for the certification
period in effect during fiscal year 1995.
Gross Income. Total monthly income of household in
dollars, before applying deductions.
Gross Income Limit Food stamp program gross
monthly income eligibility standards, determined by
household size; equal to 130 percent of the poverty
guidelines. See Appendix F.
Households With Preschool Age Children.
Households with at least one member less than age 5.
Households With Elderly. Households with at least
one member age 60 or more.
Households With Elderly or Disabled. Households
in which at least one member is age 60 or more, or at
least one member is under age 65 and receives SSI, or
at least one member is age 18 to 61 and receives Social
Security, veterans benefits, or other government
benefits as a result of disability.
Households With School Age Children. Households
with at least one member age 5 to 17.
Households With Disabled. Households with at least
one member who is under age 65 and receives SSI or at
least one member who is age 18 to 61 and receives
Social Security, veterans benefits, or other government
benefits as a result of disability.
Households With Children. Households with at least
one member age 17 or less.
Initial Certification Households. Includes both
households certified for the first time within the current
certification period and previously certified households
which have not received benefits for at least 30 days.
Maximum Benefit. Based on 103 percent of the cost
of the Thrifty Food Plan in the preceding June for a
reference family of four, rounded to the lowest dollar
increment. Maximum benefit varies by region. In
fiscal year 1995 maximum benefits for Alaska were
frozen at 1994 levels. See Appendix H.
Medical Deduction. Deduction available to
households that contain elderly or disabled members,
equal to all medical expenses incurred by the elderly or
disabled person that exceed $35. See page 4. See also
Deductions.
Minimum Benefit
households.
$10 for one- or two-person
Net Income. Total monthly income of household in
dollars, after applying deductions.
Net Income Limit FSP net monthly income eligibility
standard, determined by household size. See Appendix
F.
Nonelderly Adults. Adults age 18 to 59.
Not Employed. Not working and not looking for
work, and therefore not part of the labor force.
Other Alien. An alien accorded refugee status, an
alien granted political asylum, a nonimmigrant admitted
for a specified period, an alien granted a stay of
deportation, a Mexican citizen with a "border" card, an
undocumented alien, or an alien permanently residing
in the United States under color of law. See also
Permanent Resident Alien.
Permanent Resident Alien. An immigrant accorded
permanent resident status, a lawful permanent resident
under IRCA, or a lawful temporary resident under
IRCA. See also Other Alien.
Poverty Guideline. The poverty guidelines used in
fiscal year 1995 were issued by the Department of
Health and Human Services and published in the 1994
Federal Register. Dividing these guidelines by 12
yields the monthly net income limits for the FSP. The
Bureau of the Census establishes other poverty
thresholds which are used primarily for statistical
purposes. See Appendix E.
Preschool Age Children. Children less than 5 years
old.
Public Assistance. Includes Aid to Families with
Dependent Children (AFDC) and General Assistance
(GA).
Resource Limit For most households the resource
limit was $2,000 in fiscal year 1995. Households with
40
at least one member age 60 or older, however, were
allowed up to $3,000 of resources. See also Countable
Resources.
Rural. A household is considered to be located in a
rural area if the county in which its local food stamp
agency is located is not in a Metropolitan Statistical
Area as defined by the Census Bureau.
School Age Children. Children age 5 to 17.
Shelter Deduction. See Excess Shelter Deduction.
Standard Deduction. Deduction received by all
households which varies by area to reflect price
differences among areas. See Appendix G. See also
Deductions.
Student Participant age 18 or older enrolled at least
half time in a recognized school, training program, or
institution of higher education.
Thrifty Food Plan. Market basket of goods based on
an economical and nutritious diet, adjusted for
household size and composition. Used to determine
maximum food stamp benefit amounts.
Total Deduction. Includes earned income, dependent-care,
excess shelter, medical, and standard deductions
to which the FSP household is entitled. In some cases
this exceeds the amount deducted from gross income
because net income cannot be less than zero. See also
Deductions.
Unearned Income. Includes Aid to Families with
Dependent Children (AFDC), General Assistance
(GA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social
Security, Unemployment Income, Veterans' Benefits,
Workers' Compensation, Other Government Benefits,
Household Contributions, Household Deemed Income,
Educational Loans, Child Support Enforcement
Payments, and other unearned income.
Unemployed. Not working but looking for work, and
therefore part of the labor force.
Urban. A household is considered to be located in an
urban area if the county in which its local food stamp
agency is located is in a Metropolitan Statistical Area
as defined by the Census Bureau.
Work Registration Status Definitions and Notes
Required to register for work. Able-bodied food
stamp household heads required to register for work
under the FSP or JOBS.
Exempt from work registration. Food stamp
household heads not required to register for work for
one or more of the reasons listed below.
Under the required age. Less than age 18.
(However, the Food Stamp Act of 1977, as
amended, requires 16- and 17-year-olds who are
household heads and who are not in school or
otherwise exempt to register for work.)
Over the required age. Age 60 or more.
Pregnant This exemption applies only to the
AFDC program. States may exempt household
heads from participation in FSP E&T programs
for this reason, but not from FSP work
registration.
Caretaker. For the FSP, this exemption includes
both caretakers of children under 6 and caretakers
of children under 18 when another able-bodied
parent is registered for work or exempted because
of employment; for the AFDC program, this
exemption applies to caretakers of children under
age 3 (or age 1 as a state option).
Employed full time. Employed at least 30 hours
per week or receiving weekly earnings equal to or
greater than the Federal minimum wage
multiplied by 30 hours.
Student Enrolled at least half time in a
recognized school, training program, or institution
of higher education.
Program not offered. This exemption applies
only to the AFDC program. States may exempt
household heads from participation in FSP E&T
programs for this reason, but not from FSP work
registration.
41
¥L mmHNK
APPENDIX A
CROSSWALK AND DETAILED TABLES OF FOOD STAMP
HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
IN FISCAL YEAR 1995
fc
yy
CROSSWALK
The layout of the appendix A tables in this report differs significantly from that of the appendix
A tables in reports prior to the Summer 1993 report. The tables have been changed to allow
the presentation of data in a more efficient and convenient format. This crosswalk enables the
reader to link the tables in this report to tables in reports issued prior to the Summer 1993
edition. For each of the old tables, this crosswalk lists the number of the new table containing
corresponding data.
*/
#
CROSSWALK FOR APPENDIX A TABLES
Previous Table Number and Title New Table Number
Summary of 1995 Choiacttrutics
A-l Aggregate 1993 participation totals A-l
A-2 Average values of selected characteristics by household composition A-2
A-3 Average values of selected characteristics by income source A-2
A-4 Distribution of participating households with selected characteristics A-l
A-5 Distribution of participating households by gross and net monthly income
Counts A-3
Averages A-2
A-6 Distribution of participating households by gross monthly income and household size
Counts A-4
Averages A-5
A-7 Distribution of participating households by net monthly income and household size
Counts A-4
Averages A-5
A-8 Distribution of participating households by income source
Counts A-8
Averages A-7
A-9 Distribution of participating households, average income, average benefit, and average household size
by selected income sources
Counts A-6, A-7
Averages A-7
A-10 Distribution of participating households by gross monthly income as a percentage of the poverty line
for all households, households with elderly or disabled, and households with children
Counts A-3
Averages A-5
A-l 1 Distribution of participating households by net monthly income as a percentage of the poverty line
for all households, households with elderly or disabled, and households with children
Counts A-3
Averages A-5
OmmmmWa
A-12 Distribution of participating households claiming deductions and value of deductions claimed
Counts A-9
Averages A-2, A-10
A-13 Distribution of participating households by amount of total deduction
Counts A-l 1
Averages A-2
A-14 Average total deduction for all participating households by gross monthly income and household size A-12
A-15 Distribution of participating households claiming earned income deduction and value of deduction claimed
Counts A-9
Averages A-10
47
CROSSWALK (continued)
Preview Table Number and Title New Table Number
A-16 Distribution of participating households by amount of earned income deduction
Counts A-ll
Averages A-10
A-17 Distribution of participating households claiming dependent-care deduction and value of deduction claimed
Counts A-9
Averages A-10
A-18 Distribution of participating households by amount of dependent-care deduction
Counts A-ll
Averages A-10
A-19 Distribution of participating households claiming excess shelter deduction and value of deduction claimed
Counts A-9
Averages A-10
A-20 Distribution of participating households by amount of excess shelter deduction
Counts A-ll
Averages A-10
A-21 Distribution of participating households by the value of shelter deduction A-ll
A- 22 Distribution of participating households claiming medical deduction and value of deduction claimed
Counts A-9
Averages A-10
A-23 Distribution of participating households by amount of medical deduction for all households, households
with elderly, and households with disabled
Counts A-ll
Averages A-10
Bmtfits and Rtsourcts
A-24 Distribution of participating households by amount of monthly food stamp benefit
Counts A-13
Averages A-2
A 25 Average monthly food stamp benefit by gross monthly income and household size A-1S
A-26 Distribution of households by food stamp benefit as a percentage of maximum benefit and household
poverty status A-14
A-27 Distribution of participating households by total countable resources for all households and households
with elderly or disabled
Counts A-3
Averages A-2, A-5
CtrHfication
A-28 Distribution of participating households by type of most recent action and expedited service A-16
A-29 Distribution of participating households by length of certification period
Counts A-13
Averages A-2
48
CROSSWALK (continued) ^TAUN™^
Previous Table Number and Title New Table Number
FSP Participants and Household Composition
A-30 Distribution of participating households by household size
Counts A-20' A
A^
Averages
A-31 Household composition of participating households A_25
A-32 Distribution of participating households by household size, number of elderly, children, preschool age
children, and school age children A"
A-33 Distribution of participants by age and sex '
A-34 Distribution of participants by Thrifty Food Plan sex-age groups and by household size A-zs
A-35 Age-related characteristics of participants A**
A-36 Distribution of participating households by race or ethnic origin of household head A-Z4
A-37 Distribution of participating households by selected characteristics of household members A-24
Employment and Work Rtgistratton
A-38 Distribution of participating households by employment status of household head A-zy
A-39 Distribution of participating households by work registration sums of household head A-29
A-40 Distribution of participants by work registration status A"29
Earned Income
A-41 Distribution of participating households, benefits and participants for households with and without
earned income \ "
A-42 Average value of selected characteristics for participating households with and without earned income A-z
A-43 Distribution of participating households with and without earned income for selected characteristics A-22
Elderly Persons
A-44 Distribution of participating households, benefits and participants for households with and without elderly • • • A-l
A-45 Average value of selected characteristics for participating households with and without elderly A-2
A-46 Distribution of participating households with and without elderly for selected characteristics A-20
Disabled Persons
A-47 Distribution of participating households, benefits and participants for households with and without
disabled ■ A'l
A-48 Average value of selected characteristics for participating households with and without disabled A-2
A-49 Distribution of participating households with and without disabled for selected characteristics A-20
CkUdrtn
A-50 Distribution of participating households and benefits for households with children, school age
children, preschool age children, and no children A''
A-51 Average value of selected characteristics for participating households with children, school age
children, preschool age children, and no children A"2
A-52 Distribution of participating households with children, school age children, preschool age children,
and no children for selected characteristics A'20
AFDC
A-53 Distribution of participating households, benefits and participants for households with and without
AFDC income A'i
A-54 Average value of selected characteristics for participating households with and without AFDC income A-2
A-55 Distribution of participating households with and without AFDC income for selected characteristics A-22
Smrvty Comparisons: 1980 Through 1995
A-56 Comparison 0/ average value of selected characteristics for August 1980 - summer 1995 A-32
A-57 Comparison of percentage of participating households with selected characteristics for
August 1980 - summer 1995 A'31
49
a
DETAILED TABLES OF FOOD STAMP HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
n
f^ m
TaMe A-l. Distribution of Participating Households, Persons, and BcneflU by Household
Composition, Income Source, and Food Stamp Benefit Amount
Household Characteristic
Food Stamp Households
Number
(000)
Percent
Participants in Households
With Household
Characteristic
Number
(000)
Percent
Monthly Food Stamp
Benefits
Dollars
(000)
Percent
Total
Household Composition
Children
School Age
Preschool Age
No Children
Elderly Persons
No Elderly Persons
Disabled Persons
No Disabled Persons
Income Source
Gross Income
No Cross Income
Net Income
No Net Income
Earned Income
No Earned Income
Unearned Income
No Unearned Income
AFDC Income
No AFDC Income
GA Income
No GA Income
AFDC or GA Income
No AFDC or GA Income
SSI
No SSI
Social Security Income
No Social Security Income
Gross Income as a Percentage of
Poverty Guideline
0%
1-50
51-100
100+
Food Stamp Benefit
Minimum Benefit
Maximum Benefit
10,883
6,492
4,622
3,719
4.391
1,741
9.141
2.052
8.831
9,830
1,053
8.165
2.718
2.329
8.553
9,451
1.432
4.171
6.712
786
10.097
4.926
5.957
2.461
8.422
2,019
8.864
1.053
3,577
5.356
897
473
2.734
1000
59.7
42.5
34.2
40.3
16.0
84.0
18.9
81.1
90.3
9.7
75.0
25.0
21.4
78.6
86.8
13.2
383
61.7
7.2
92.8
45.3
54.7
22.6
77.4
18.6
81.4
9.7
32.9
49.2
8.2
4.3
25.1
26,955
21.849
17.102
12.863
5.106
2.376
24.579
4.428
22.527
25.316
1.639
22.152
4.803
7.728
19.228
24,162
2.793
13.589
13.366
1.130
25.825
14.586
12.369
4.725
22,230
3,476
23,479
1,639
10.266
12.798
2,253
538
4.834
100.0
81.1
63.4
47 7
18.9
8.8
91.2
16.4
83.6
93.9
6.1
82.2
17.8
28.7
71.3
89.6
10.4
50.4
49.6
4.2
95.8
54 I
45.9
17.5
82.5
12.9
87.1
6.1
38.1
47.5
8.4
2.0
17.9
1,870,039
1,509.895
1.142.442
904.860
360.144
117.726
1,752.313
215.755
1.654.284
1.694.304
175.735
1.362.563
507.476
434.064
1.435.975
1.620.179
249.860
996,149
873.890
96.745
1.773.294
1.085.092
784,947
231.375
1.638.664
163.461
1,706.578
175.735
907,445
728.059
58,800
4.734
510.662
100.0
80.7
61.1
48.4
19.3
6.3
93.7
11.5
88.5
906
9.4
72.9
27.1
23.2
76.8
86.6
13.4
53.3
46.7
5.2
94.8
58.0
42.0
12.4
87.6
8.7
91.3
9.4
48.5
389
3.1
0.3
27.3
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
53
Table A-2. Average Gross and Net Income, Total Deduction, CounUble Resources, Food Stamp Benefit, Household Size, and Certification
Period of Participating Households by Household Composition, Income Source, and Food Stamp Benefit Amount
Household Characteristic
Total Households
Number
(000)
Percent
Average Monthly Values
Grots Income
(Dollars)
Net Income
(Dollars)
Total
Deduction
(Dollars)
Countable
Resources
(Dollars)
Food Sump
Benefit
(Dollars)
Household
Size
(Persons)
Certification
Period
(Months)
Total
Household Composition
Children
School Age
Preschool Age
No Children
Elderly Persons
No Elderly Persons
Disabled Persons
No Disabled Persons
IDCOSSC Source
Gross Income
No Gross Income
Net Income
No Net Income
Earned Income
No Earned Income .
Unearned Income
No Unearned Income
AFDC Income
No AFDC Income
GA Income
No GA Income
AFDC or GA Income
No AFDC or GA Income
SSI
No SSI
Social Security Income
No SotUl Security Income ...
Food Stamp Benefit
Minimum Menefit .
Maximum Benefit
10.883
6.492
4.622
3.719
4.391
1.741
9.141
2.052
8.831
9.830
1.053
8.165
2.718
2.329
8.553
9,451
1.432
4.171
6.712
786
10.097
4.926
5.957
2.461
8.422
2.019
8.864
473
2.734
100.0
59.7
42.5
34.2
40.3
16.0
84.0
18.9
81.1
90.3
9.7
75.0
25.0
21.4
78.6
86.8
13.2
38.3
61.7
7.2
92.8
45.3
54.7
22.6
77.4
18.6
81.4
4.3
25.1
514
600
654
586
387
545
508
655
482
569
0
632
159
842
425
563
191
526
507
350
527
496
529
612
486
612
492
669
160
265
326
372
315
174
288
260
392
235
293
0
353
0
463
211
291
92
275
258
115
276
248
279
355
238
350
245
487
0
283
296
301
293
265
276
285
271
286
292
201
280
294
391
254
288
254
262
296
278
284
265
298
265
289
269
287
182
294
83
64
71
57
III
200
61
86
82
88
36
97
42
109
76
88
52
40
110
30
87
38
120
98
79
190
59
236
42
172
233
247
243
82
68
192
105
187
172
167
167
187
186
168
171
174
239
130
123
176
220
132
94
195
81
193
10
187
2.5
3.4
3.7
3.5
1.2
1.4
2.7
2.2
2.6
2.6
16
2.7
1.8
3.3
2.2
2.6
2.0
3.3
2.0
1.4
2.6
3.0
2.1
1.9
2.6
1.7
2.6
II
1.8
9.8
9.0
9.1
8.9
10.9
12.5
9.2
11.2
9.4
10.1
7.0
10.3
8.2
8.3
10.2
10.1
7.3
9.6
9.8
10.5
9.7
9.8
9.7
11.9
9.1
12.0
9.2
12.3
8.2
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
54
Table A-3. Distribution of Participating Households With Children, Elderly Persons, and Elderly or Disabled Persons by
Amount of Gross and Net Income, Countable Resources, and Gross and Net Income as a Percentage of Poverty Guideline
Total Households Households With:
Household Characteristic
Number
(000)
Percent
Children Elderly Elderly or Disabled
Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent
Total 10.883
1.053
710
2.140
3.444
1.691
863
981
2.718
2.722
2.761
1.390
674
351
268
8.295
1.964
340
137
50
36
29
4
1.053
954
2.623
2.935
2.421
783
62
38
13
2.718
3.121
2.761
1.772
490
17
1
3
1
100.0
9.7
6.5
19.7
31.6
15.5
7.9
9.0
25.0
25.0
25.4
12.8
6.2
3.2
2.5
76.2
18.0
3.1
1.3
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.0
9.7
8.8
24.1
27.0
22.2
7.2
0.6
0.4
0.1
25.0
28.7
25.4
16.3
4.5
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
6.492
289
394
1,477
1,471
1.184
735
941
1.120
1.749
1.446
990
583
337
266
5,024
1.182
169
57
20
15
6
1
289
698
2.135
1.942
923
456
38
9
2
1.120
2.361
1.765
933
308
3
1
0
0
100.0
4.5
6.1
22.7
227
18.2
11.3
14.5
17.3
26.9
22.3
15.3
9.0
5.2
4.1
77.4
18.2
2.6
0.9
0.3
0.2
0.1
0.0
4.5
10.7
32.9
29.9
14.2
7.0
0.6
0.1
0.0
17.3
36.4
27.2
14.4
4.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
1.741
39
18
123
1.067
348
98
47
207
360
774
289
80
19
II
1.092
410
115
57
22
15
23
1
39
20
86
389
971
199
14
18
5
207
276
560
559
133
6
0
0
0
100.0
2.3
1.1
7.1
61.3
20.0
5.6
2.7
11.9
20.7
44.5
16.6
4.6
1.1
0.6
62.7
23.5
6.6
3.3
1.3
0.9
1.3
0.1
2.3
I.I
4.9
22.3
55.8
11.4
0.8
1.0
0.3
11.9
15.8
32.1
32.1
7.7
0.3
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.501
39
26
189
1.988
700
297
262
322
729
1.371
599
254
121
105
2.390
775
169
79
30
22
23
3
39
29
205
1.096
1.692
374
24
30
10
322
580
1.183
1.096
303
15
0
2
0
100.0
Gross Income
$0 1.1
1-199 0.8
200-399 5.4
400-599 56.8
600-799 20.0
800-999 8.5
1,000+ 7.5
Net Income
so 9.2
1-199 20.8
200-399 39.2
400-599 17.1
600-799 ... 7.2
800-999 3.4
1,000+ 3.0
Countable Resources
$0 68.3
1-500 .., 22.1
501-1.000 4.8
1,001-1,500 2.3
1.501-1.750 0.9
1.751-2,000 0.6
2.001-3,000 0.7
3.001+ 0.1
Gross Income as a
Percentage of Poverty
Guideline
No Gross Income I.I
1-25* 0.8
26-50
51-75
5.9
31.3
76-100 48.3
101-125 10.7
126-130 0.7
131-150 ... 0.9
151+ 03
Net Income as a
Percentage of Poverty
Guideline
No Net Income 9.2
1-25* 16.6
26-50 33.8
51-75 31 3
76-100 ... 86
101-125 0.4
126-130 no
131-150 0.1
151+ 00
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
55
Table A-4. Distribution of Participating Households by Household Size and Amount of Grow and Net Income, Countable Resources, and
Grow and Net Income as a Percentage of Poverty Guideline
Household
Characteristic
Total Households
Number
(000)
Percent
Household Size
Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent Number
(000)
Percent
6+
Number
(000)
Percent
Total
Gro
$0
1-199 ...
200-399
400-599
600-799
800-999
1,000+.
Net
$0
1-199 ...
200-399
400-599
600-799
800-999
1.000+
Countable Resources
$0
1-500
501-1.000
1.001-1.500
1.501-1.750
1.751-2,000
2.001-3.000
3.001 ♦
Gross Income at a
Percentage of Poverty
Guideline
No Gross income
1-25%
26-50
51-75
76-100
101-125
126-130
131-150
151+
Net Income a* a
Percentage of Poverty
Guideline
No Net Income
1-25%
26-50
51-75
76-100
101-125
126-130
131-150
151+
10.88>
1.053
710
2.140
3.444
1.691
863
981
2,718
2,722
2,761
1,390
674
351
268
8.295
1.964
340
137
50
36
29
4
1.053
954
2.623
2.935
2.421
783
62
38
13
2.718
3.121
2.761
1.772
490
17
1
3
1
100.0
9.7
6.5
19.7
31.6
15.5
7.9
9.0
25.0
25.0
25.4
12.8
6.2
3.2
2.5
76.2
18.0
3.1
1.3
0.5
0.3
0.3
0.0
9.7
8.8
24.1
27.0
22.2
7.2
0.6
0.4
0.1
25.0
28.7
25.4
16.3
4.5
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.0
3.902
751
318
678
1.806
315
29
4
1.553
923
1.173
236
13
3
1
2.983
641
144
67
25
17
15
3
751
243
477
835
1.304
242
17
21
9
1.553
690
859
670
116
10
3
I
100.0
19.3
8.2
17.4
46.3
8.1
0.8
0.1
39.8
23.6
30.1
6.1
0.3
0.1
0.0
76.5
16.4
3.7
1.7
0.6
0.4
0.4
0.1
19.3
6.2
12.2
21.4
33.4
6.2
0.4
0.6
0.2
39.8
17.7
22.0
17.2
3.0
0.3
0.1
0.0
2.469
144
221
688
735
416
214
50
599
847
552
34A
115
10
2
1.898
451
65
24
7
4
9
0
144
249
692
744
409
196
19
12
4
599
878
551
334
100
5I00
100.0
5.8
8.9
27.9
29.8
16.9
8.7
2.0
24.3
34.3
22.4
13.9
4.7
0.4
0.1
76.9
18.3
2.6
1.0
0.3
0.2
0.4
0.0
5.8
10.1
28.0
30.1
16.6
7.9
0.8
0.5
0.1
24.3
35.6
22.3
13.5
4.1
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
1.956
79
120
449
440
433
244
190
334
537
492
328
191
74
1
1.514
357
48
16
85
2
1
79
211
625
580
297
147
13
4
334
736
514
281
91
100.0
4.1
6.1
23.0
22.5
22.2
12.5
9.7
17.1
27.5
25.2
16.8
9.8
3.8
0.0
77.4
18.3
2.4
0.8
0.4
0.3
0.1
0.0
4.1
10.8
31.9
29.7
15.2
7.5
0.7
0.2
17.1
37.6
26.3
14.4
4.7
1.379
47
34
235
273
343
177
271
151
284
348
268
169
108
51
1.043
268
35
16
6
7
2
47
140
459
412
211
102
6
1
151
494
424
232
78
0
100.0
3.4
2.5
17.0
19.8
24.9
12.8
19.6
10.9
20.6
25.2
19.5
12.3
7.8
3.7
75.6
19.4
2.5
1.2
0.4
0.5
0.1
3.4
10.1
33.3
29.9
15.3
7.4
0.5
0.1
10.9
35.8
30.7
16.8
5.7
0.0
667
20
13
59
131
112
116
216
54
91
135
128
102
75
83
491
137
26
8
3
I0
20
64
212
199
114
54
50
54
204
220
132
57
I
1000
2.9
2.0
8.8
19.7
16.8
17 4
32.4
8.1
13.6
20.2
19.1
15.3
11.2
12.4
73.6
20.5
3.9
1.2
0.4
0.2
0.0
2.9
9.6
31.8
29.7
17.1
8.1
0.7
0.0
8.1
30.6
32.9
19.8
8.5
0.1
510
11
4
31
60
72
83
249
28
40
60
86
84
81
131
366
110
24
6
2
10
0
II 2.2
47 9.1
157 30.8
166 32.5
87 17.0
41 8.0
2 0.3
0 0.0
100.0
2.2
0.7
6.1
11.8
14.2
16.3
48.8
54
7.9
11.8
16.8
16.4
16.0
25.7
71.8
21.5
4.6
1.3
0.4
0.2
0.0
0.0
28 5.4
118 23.2
193 37.9
122 23.9
47 9.3
1 0.3
No sample households in this category.
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
56
Table A-5. Average Gross and Net Income, Average Gross and Net Income as a Percentage of Poverty Guideline, and
Average Countable Resources of Participating Households by Household Composition and Siie
Total Households Average Monthly Values
Number
(000)
Percent Cross Income
(Dollars)
Net Income
(Dollars)
Gross Income
asa
Percentage of
Poverty
Guideline
(Percent)
Net Income as
a Percentage
of Poverty
Guideline
(Percent)
Countable Resources
(Dollars)
Household Characteristic
Over All
Households
Over
Households
With
Countable
Resources
Total 10.883
6.492
4,622
3.719
4.391
3.501
7.382
1.741
9,141
2.052
8.831
3.902
2.469
1.956
1.379
667
309
118
83
100.0
59.7
42.5
34.2
40.3
32.2
67.8
16.0
84.0
18.9
81.1
35.9
22.7
18.0
12.7
6.1
2.8
1.1
0.8
514
600
654
586
387
604
472
545
508
655
482
349
455
563
681
824
974
1.091
MIS
265
326
372
315
174
344
227
288
260
392
235
145
205
283
390
521
668
790
844
56.0
53.7
55.5
51.3
59.3
78.9
45.1
79.7
51.4
78.4
50.8
56.8
55.5
54.7
55.2
57.1
59.0
58.8
51.0
27.2
278
30.3
26.2
26.2
42.2
20.1
41.0
24.5
43.4
23.4
23.6
25.0
27.5
31.6
36.1
40.5
42.5
38.5
83
64
71
57
III
141
56
200
61
86
82
102
70
66
72
83
92
76
128
352
Household Composition
Children 287
School Age 298
Preschool Age 278
No Children 437
Elderly or Disabled
446
No Elderly or Disabled
281
539
No Elderly Persons 289
Disabled Persons 325
No Disabled Persons 359
Household Sixe
1 435
2 306
3 297
4 299
56
314
308
7
8+
329
449
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
57
Table A-6. Distributirxi of Participating Households With Children, Elderly Persons, and Elderly or Disabled Persons by Type of Income
Type of Income
Tool Households
Total* Percem
Households W.ih
Children
Number
(000)
Percent
Elderly
Number
(000)
Percent
Elderly or Disabled
Number
(000)
Percent
Te4«l
Earned Income
Wages and Salaries
Self-Employment
Other Earned Income
Unearned Income
Aid to Families with Dependent Children
General Assistance
AFDC or CA Income
Supplemental Security Income
Social Security
Unemployment Income
Veterans' Benefits
Workers' Compensation
Other Government Benefits
Household Contributions
Household Deemed Income
Educational Loans
Child Support Enforcement Payments
Other Unearned Income
No Income
10.883
2.329
2.128
141
84
9.451
4.171
786
4.926
2.461
2.019
199
140
41
110
397
2
18
552
1.457
1.053
100.0
21.4
19.6
1.3
0.8
86.8
38.3
7.2
45.3
22.6
186
1.8
1.3
0.4
1.0
3.6
0.0
0.2
5.1
13.4
9.7
6.492
1.951
1.801
98
73
5.918
4,091
89
4.151
693
446
157
21
31
67
329
I
IS
546
1,074
289
100.0
30.1
27.7
1.5
I.I
91.2
63.0
1.4
639
10.7
6.9
2.4
0.3
0.5
1.0
5.1
0.0
0.2
8.4
16.5
4.5
1.741
68
55
10
4
1.697
69
93
161
1.010
1.208
5
86
2
28
23
I07
175
39
100.0
3.9
3.2
06
0.2
97.5
4.0
5.4
9.3
58.0
694
0.3
4.9
0.1
16
1.3
0.1
0.0
0.4
10.0
2.3
3.501
214
190
19
8
3.457
541
171
701
2.460
1.847
15
118
II
50
61
1
2
63
238
39
100.0
6 1
5.4
0.6
0.2
987
15.5
4.9
200
70.3
52.8
0.4
3.4
0.3
1.4
1.7
0.0
0.1
18
6.8
1.1
1 The sum of individual income sources does not add to the total because households can receive income from more than one source.
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample
58
Table A-7. Average Income, Total Deduction, Food Stamp Benefit, and Household Size of Participating Households by Type of Income
Total Households Average Monthly Values
Type of Income
Total* Percent
Gross
Income
(Dollars)
Net
Income
(Dollars)
lncomeb
Source
(Dollars)
Total
Deduction
(Dollars)
Food Stamp
Benefit
(Dollars)
Household
Size
(Persons)
Total 10.883
2.329
2.128
141
84
9.4M
4.171
786
4.926
2.461
2.019
199
140
41
1IC
397
2
18
552
1.457
1.053
100.0
214
19.6
1.3
0.8
868
383
7.2
45.3
22 6
18 6
18
1.3
04
1.0
3.6
00
0.2
S.I
13.4
9.7
514
842
870
598
576
563
526
350
4%
612
612
721
581
788
548
561
687
628
613
758
0
265
463
482
297
289
291
275
115
248
355
350
459
328
527
300
294
402
351
343
401
0
683
713
319
359
424
379
237
446
358
458
504
231
502
229
207
155
180
130
64
283
391
398
339
315
288
262
278
265
265
269
274
261
275
263
2%
286
295
280
372
201
172
186
186
217
148
171
239
123
220
94
81
181
76
165
180
209
92
201
235
174
167
25
3.3
Wages and Salaries 3.4
3.1
2.3
2.6
Aid 10 Families with Dependent Children
General Assistance
3.3
14
AFDC or CA Income .... 3.0
1.9
Social Security 1.7
Unemployment Income 3.2
Veterans' Benefits 1.6
3.3
Other Government Benefits 2.7
Household Contributions 3.0
Household Deemed Income 2.1
Educational Loans 3 1
Child Support Enforcement Payments 3.4
3.0
No Income 1.6
1 The sum of individual income sources does not add to the total because households can receive income from more than one source.
Average value of specified source over households with income from source.
" Not applicable
Source: Fiscal Year 1995 Food Stamp Quality Control sample.
59
Table A-8. Distribution of fi rtkipating Households With Children, Elderly Persons, and Elderly or Disabled Persons by Earned
and Unearned Income Amounts
Household Characteristic
Total Households
Number
(000)
Perceni
Households Wuh
Children
Number
(000)
Percent
Elderiy
Number
(000)
Perceni
Elderly or Disabled
Number
(000)
Percent
Total
Earned Income
$0
1-199
200-399
400-599
600-799
800-999
1.000+
Unearned Income
$0
1-199
200-399
400-599
600-799
800-999
1.000+
AFDC Income
$0
1-199
200-399
400-599
600-799
800-999
1.000+
GA Income
$0
1-199
200-399
400-599
600-799
800-999
1.000+
AFDC or GA Income
$0
1-199
200-399
400-599
600-799
800-999
1.000+
SSI
$0
1-199
200-399
400-599
600-799
800-999
1.000+
10.883 1000
8.553 78.6
300 2.8
357 3.3
390 3.6
441 4.1
341 31
500 4.6
1.432 13.2
1.839 169
2.251 20.7
3.349 30.8
1.294 11.9
462 4.2
256 2.3
6.712 61.7
728 6.7
1.718 15.8
1.113 10 2