SSI, FS, and Housing

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SSI, FS, and Housing
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Supplemental Security Income

• SSI was enacted in 1972 (Nixon) to replace
  several programs created by the 1935 Soc Sec Act
• aid for the blind
• aid for the elderly with no other source of
  income
• aid for the disabled
• A Federal Program

Source Rahm 2004
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Supplemental Security Income

• SSI
• monthly payments to individuals or families who
  have low incomes and few assets.
• To Qualify
• either disabled or elderly
• can be child or adult
• income and assets low (means-tested)
• pays benefits to couples and individuals

Source Rahm 2004
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Supplemental Security Income

• Administered by the Social Security
  Administration (as is Social Security)
• (Nearly 40 of SSI recipients also get Soc Sec)
• Funded by general taxes, rather than social
  security taxes.
• Some states add to the federal SSI payment
• Became more stringent with the 1996 welfare reform

Source Rahm 2004
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Housing

• Public housing (HUD)
• Monetary Assistance to pay for housing in the
  private sector
• Section 8 (of 1937 Housing Act)
• landlords redeem Section 8 vouchers for the
  difference between what a family could afford to
  pay for housing and the rent for the home.

Source Rahm 2004
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Food Stamps

• Initially grew out of Gvt efforts to reduce food
  surplus by distributing excess agricultural
  production
• Revived in the 1964 Food Stamp Act (Kennedy)
• Federal Program, 1970s (Nixon) set uniform
  national income eligibility standards
  (means-tested)

Source Rahm 2004
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Food Stamps

• Food Stamps
• Provides an income subsidy to low income
  individuals and families by reducing the cost of
  food.

Source Rahm 2004
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Food Stamps

• Today a form of In-kind assistance.
• Dept of Agriculture pays 100 of cost of food
  stamps and supplements state and local offices by
  paying 2/3 of administrative costs.
• Households that are eligible receive a number of
  food stamps which are redeemable at grocery
  stores for food items.
• Can be used for foods deemed nutritious only
• cereals, fruits, vegetables, meats, dairy etc.
• no alcohol, tobacco, pet food, soap, paper
  products etc.

Source Rahm 2004
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Dept Of Agriculture

• Nutrition Programs
• Almost half of USDAs budget supports nutrition
  programs for individuals and families in need.
• National School Lunch program,
• the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
  Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and
• the Food Stamp program.

Budget of the United States Government, Fiscal
Year 2004 http//www.whitehouse.gov/omb/budget/fy
2004/pdf/budget.pdf page63/59
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Participation Rates in the Food Stamp Program
Have Fallen Dramatically
Source U.S. Department of Agriculture
Source Brookings
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Annual Average Food Stamp Participation, 1969-2002
18,929
Note Recessions are noted by shaded
areaAverage monthly participation for October
2001-March 2002
Source U.S. Department of Agriculture
Source Brookings
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Food Stamp Participation Rates Have Fallen
Because

• Low-income working families
• leave TANF without informing welfare office
• unaware of eligibility
• have trouble with office visits
• are not willing to put up with hassle
• State welfare offices
• divert families
• erect barriers to avoid federal sanctions
• do not follow up with TANF leavers
• Federal policies, especially quality control
  system

Source Brookings
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Figure 1Food Stamp and Welfare Caseloads
1996-1998                                      
                                                  
          
Zedlewski Sheila R. and Sarah Brauner. (1999).
Declines in Food Stamp and Welfare Participation
Is There a Connection? October 01, 1999 Assessing
the New Federalism Discussion Paper No. 99-13 The
Urban Institute http//www.urban.org/url.cfm?ID30
9198