Reasons Why Clients Never Applied for Food Stamps (15.6.2)
Somewhat different patterns hold for the analysis of reasons for never applying among clients who said they had never applied (Table 15.6.2):
Table 15.6.2
REASONS WHY CLIENTS NEVER
APPLIED FOR FOOD STAMPS
Reasons Why Respondents or Their Households Never Applied for Food Stamps a |
Elderly Clients at Program Sites |
Households with Seniors |
Households with Children Younger than 18 |
Households with Children Ages 0-5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Factors associated with eligibility |
|
|
|
|
Don’t think eligible because of income or assets |
|
|
|
|
All |
37.9% |
38.4% |
34.0% |
29.9% |
Income 130% of federal poverty level or lower |
24.3% |
24.8% |
21.8% |
21.3% |
Income higher than 130% of federal poverty level |
10.3% |
9.9% |
9.0% |
6.4% |
Unknown |
3.3% |
3.7% |
3.1% |
2.2% |
Don’t think eligible because of citizenship status |
1.2% |
1.7% |
10.4% |
12.7% |
Eligible for only a low benefit amount |
3.9% |
4.4% |
3.7% |
3.3% |
SUBTOTAL b |
41.7% |
43.1% |
45.7% |
43.6% |
|
|
|
|
|
Factors associated with program access and operation |
|
|
|
|
Don’t know where to go or whom to contact to apply |
4.7% |
4.9% |
6.2% |
10.0% |
Hard to get to the food stamp office |
4.7% |
4.8% |
3.6% |
4.7% |
Application process is too long and complicated |
3.8% |
4.7% |
5.9% |
4.2% |
Questions are too personal |
1.2% |
1.2% |
2.1% |
1.8% |
Food stamp office staff are disrespectful |
0.6% |
1.8% |
2.7% |
3.4% |
Food stamp office is unpleasant or in unsafe area |
0.2% |
0.5% |
1.0% |
0.5% |
SUBTOTAL |
13.6% |
15.4% |
17.8% |
22.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
Factors associated with need |
|
|
|
|
No need for benefit |
19.9% |
18.6% |
9.0% |
9.8% |
Others need benefits more |
7.7% |
7.3% |
5.5% |
4.0% |
Need is only temporary |
0.8% |
1.4% |
3.6% |
3.3% |
SUBTOTAL |
26.9% |
25.4% |
16.6% |
16.0% |
|
|
|
|
|
Factors associated with social stigma |
|
|
|
|
Feel embarrassed applying for benefits |
3.1% |
3.2% |
3.4% |
4.8% |
Family or friends do not approve of my receiving benefits |
0.2% |
0.2% |
1.4% |
2.3% |
Dislike relying on the government for assistance |
2.5% |
2.7% |
2.7% |
3.6% |
Feel embarrassed using benefits |
2.8% |
2.7% |
2.8% |
3.4% |
SUBTOTAL |
7.7% |
7.6% |
8.0% |
10.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
Other factors |
|
|
|
|
Planning to apply, but not yet |
1.3% |
1.6% |
5.0% |
4.3% |
Other |
13.2% |
13.6% |
16.5% |
16.5% |
SAMPLE SIZE (N) – Respondents or their households who never applied for food stamps |
4,992 |
5,681 |
4,051 |
1,786 |
Note: In calculating percentages and sample sizes, we excluded item nonresponses to all variables involved.
- 22.0% of households with young children cited factors associated with program operation for not applying, compared with 15.1% of households with seniors.
- 25.4% of households with seniors, compared with 16.1% of households with young children indicated a reason associated with their financial needs.
a Multiple responses were accepted.
b The subtotal indicates the percentage of people who provided one or more component items as their responses; thus it may differ from the sum of component items. See Appendix C for food stamp eligibility criteria.