Poverty and Inequality

Statement

Parrott: Today’s Census Data Show That Vigorous Policies Kept 53 Million People Above Poverty Line in 2020

September 14, 2021 | Sharon Parrott

Today the Census Bureau released data that highlight the successes of the government’s extraordinary if imperfect steps to bolster households’ incomes in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic fallout.

Recovery Proposals Adopt Proven Approaches to Reducing Poverty, Increasing Social Mobility

August 5, 2021

Blog

After Child Tax Credit Payments Begin, Many More Families Have Enough to Eat

August 30, 2021

Report

Economic Security Programs Reduce Overall Poverty, Racial and Ethnic Inequities

July 1, 2021

Research Note

Economic Security Programs Significantly Reduce Poverty in Every State

August 10, 2021 | Matt Saenz

Report

Income Support Associated With Improved Health Outcomes for Children, Many Studies Show

May 27, 2021 | Samantha Waxman, Arloc Sherman and Kris Cox

New on this Topic

Report

Social Security Lifts More People Above the Poverty Line Than Any Other Program

April 19, 2022

Data

Program Participation Data Dashboard

January 29, 2021

Policy Brief

Deep Poverty Among Children Rose in TANF’s First Decade, Then Fell as Other Programs Strengthened

February 27, 2020

Report

Deep Poverty Among Children Rose in TANF’s First Decade, Then Fell as Other Programs Strengthened

February 27, 2020

Statement

Greenstein: More Americans Uninsured, Though Progress on Poverty Continues

September 10, 2019

Blog

Economic Security, Health Programs Reduce Poverty and Hardship, With Long-Term Benefits

February 9, 2018

Policy Basics

Safety net programs, which include SNAP, unemployment benefits, and the Earned Income Tax Credit, have a significant impact in reducing poverty and promoting opportunity for millions of low-income Americans.

We educate policymakers, media, and others about safety net successes. We also analyze tax and spending proposals for their impact on the safety net and on the tens of millions of low-income individuals and families that rely on it to make ends meet.

Census Says Four Programs — Which House Eyes for Cuts — Keep Millions From Poverty

As the House prepares to vote on a budget plan to cut safety net programs — including tax credits for low- and moderate-income working families and food assistance, and almost inevitable cuts in...

Economic Security Programs Help Low-Income Children Succeed Over Long Term

Low family income can have lasting adverse effects on children, and government programs that bolster family income can help poor children catch up and succeed over the long term, growing...

Economic Security Programs Help Low-Income Children Succeed Over Long Term, Many Studies Find

Economic security programs can blunt these negative effects of poverty and bring poor children closer to equal opportunity, numerous...

New York Times Highlights How Income Boosts Can Help Low-Income Children Succeed

Programs that boost income and help families afford basic needs also enhance poor children’s future health, education, and projected earnings, as the New York Times recently wrote. Despite...

Poverty Reduction Programs Help Adults Lacking College Degrees the Most

Poverty reduction programs play a much more critical role in the economic security of working-age adults who lack a bachelor’s degree, including working-class whites, than they play for adults with...

Safety Net Cut Poverty Nearly in Half Last Year

Safety net programs cut the poverty rate nearly in half in 2015, lifting 38 million people — including 8 million children — above the poverty line, our analysis of Census data released yesterday...

Ryan and Block-Granting the Safety Net

House Speaker Paul Ryan called again today for combining many safety net programs into a mega-block grant to states. As we explained when he made essentially the same proposal last year, this would...

Examining the Safety Net

CBPP President Robert Greenstein’s testimony to the Human Resources Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means...

Evidence Compiled by President’s Economic Experts Illustrates Long-Term Gains from Antipoverty Programs

A document from the President’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) compiles some of the mounting evidence that antipoverty programs not only help poor families get by today but also help their...

Safety Net More Effective Against Poverty Than Previously Thought

Previous analysis of Census data showed that safety net programs cut the poverty rate nearly in half. Recently released data from the Urban Institute reveal an even stronger...

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