–0.1

Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (Liheap)

–0.1

Food aid for mothers and children under 5 (WIC)

–0.2

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (T.A.N.F.)

–0.8

Unemployment insurance

–0.9

Housing subsidies

–1.1

Supplemental Security Income (S.S.I.)

–1.6

Food stamps (SNAP)

–3.0

Refundable tax credits

Effect of government programs on poverty

Official rate

Alternative rate*

Predicted rate without government programs

’64

’74

’84

’94

’04

’12

30%

25

20

15

10

5

0

Impact of each program on the rate

Poverty rate

Social Security

–8.5% pts.

14.5

0-4 years old

11.7%

1.9

Asian

40-44

85+

176.2

9.7%

18.9

White

39.5

25.6%

13.6

Hispanic

29.2

27.2%

10.9

Black

Poverty rate

Poverty status in 2012, by age and race

Millions not in poverty

Millions in poverty

14

12

10

8

6

4

2

2 million