Figure B

Without government programs, millions more would be in poverty: Number of people in poverty, as measured by the Supplemental Poverty Measure, and additional number that would be in poverty without specified government program, by age group, 2019

Under 18 years old 18 to 64 years old 65 years old and older
Number of people in poverty 9,119,000 22,072,000 6,972,000 0
0 0
Social Security 1,436,000 7,479,000 17,539,000 0
Refundable tax credits 4,015,000 3,366,000 116,000 0
SSI 536,000 1,829,000 511,000 0
Housing subsidies 763,000 1,252,000 632,000 0
SNAP 994,000 1,224,000 278,000 0
School lunch 661,000 480,000 22,000 0
Unemployment insurance 133,000 299,000 41,000 0
TANF/general assistance 160,000 124,000 9,000 0
WIC 127,000 102,000 0 0
LIHEAP 30,000 93,000 45,000 0
Workers’ compensation 18,000 93,000 23,000 0
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Notes: SSI refers to Supplemental Security Income, SNAP refers to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, TANF refers to Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, WIC refers to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, and LIHEAP refers to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.

Source: EPI analysis of Liana Fox, The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2019, U.S. Census Bureau report #P60-268, September 2020.

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