Reasons Why Clients Never Applied for Food Stamps (7.2)
Clients who had not applied for food stamps were asked why they or their households never applied for food stamps. Table 7.2.1 shows the results.
Table 7.2.1
REASONS WHY CLIENTS NEVER APPLIED FOR FOOD STAMPS
Reasons Why Clients or Their Households Never Applied for Food Stamps a |
Pantry Client Households |
Kitchen Client Households |
Shelter Client Households |
All Client Households |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Factors associated with eligibility b |
|
|
|
|
Don’t think eligible because of income or assets |
|
|
|
|
All clients |
36.6% |
29.9% |
18.5% |
34.5% |
Clients with income 130% of the federal poverty level or lower |
23.0% |
15.0% |
9.4% |
20.9% |
Clients with income higher than 130% of the federal poverty level |
10.1% |
11.1% |
8.8% |
10.2% |
Unknown |
3.5% |
3.8% |
0.3% |
3.3% |
Don’t think eligible because of citizenship status |
5.4% |
3.3% |
3.7% |
5.0% |
Eligible for only a low benefit amount |
4.9% |
3.5% |
1.6% |
4.5% |
SUBTOTAL c |
45.1% |
35.2% |
23.4% |
42.3% |
|
|
|
|
|
Factors associated with program access and operation |
|
|
|
|
Don’t know where to go or who to contact to apply |
5.9% |
5.4% |
10.3% |
6.1% |
Hard to get to the food stamp office |
4.8% |
2.9% |
2.9% |
4.4% |
Application process is too long and complicated |
5.3% |
3.5% |
4.0% |
4.9% |
Questions are too personal |
1.6% |
1.1% |
2.1% |
1.5% |
Food stamp office staff are disrespectful |
2.0% |
1.0% |
0.4% |
1.7% |
Food stamp office is unpleasant or in unsafe area |
0.9% |
0.3% |
0.0% |
0.8% |
SUBTOTAL |
17.3% |
12.7% |
16.4% |
16.5% |
|
|
|
|
|
Factors associated with need |
|
|
|
|
No need for benefit |
13.5% |
18.2% |
17.5% |
14.5% |
Others need benefits more |
5.9% |
4.2% |
3.2% |
5.4% |
Need is only temporary |
2.7% |
2.6% |
3.8% |
2.8% |
SUBTOTAL |
20.2% |
23.5% |
23.1% |
20.9% |
Social stigma |
|
|
|
|
Feel embarrassed applying for benefits |
3.3% |
1.0% |
1.6% |
2.8% |
Family or friends do not approve of my receiving benefits |
0.6% |
0.2% |
0.0% |
0.5% |
Dislike relying on the government for assistance |
2.7% |
2.8% |
4.2% |
2.8% |
Feel embarrassed using benefits |
2.6% |
1.2% |
9.7% |
2.8% |
SUBTOTAL |
7.6% |
4.6% |
12.0% |
7.4% |
|
|
|
|
|
Other |
|
|
|
|
Planning to apply, but not yet applied |
4.1% |
2.5% |
5.0% |
3.9% |
Other d |
14.9% |
27.1% |
25.3% |
17.4% |
SAMPLE SIZE (N) – Clients or their households who never applied for food stamps |
11,405 |
3,286 |
1,038 |
15,729 |
Source:
This table was constructed based on usable responses to
Question 38 of the client survey
.
Notes:
All usable responses were weighted as described in Chapter
3 and in the Technical Appendix
volume to represent all emergency food clients of the A2H National Network. The sample sizes (N) also include missing data.
Missing, don’t know, and refusal responses combined are 6.9% for pantry clients, 7.2% for kitchen clients, 9.8% for shelter clients, and 7.1% for all clients.
a Multiple responses were accepted.
b See Appendix C for food stamp eligibility criteria.
c The subtotal in this table 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.
d This includes working, having no mailing address, and being in a temporary living situation.
Reasons for not having applied for food stamps include:
- Overall, 42.3% of the clients who had not applied for food stamps did not do so because they believe they are not eligible or eligible for only a low benefit amount; 16.5% because it is too much hassle; 20.9% either because there is no need or because they think others would need the benefits more; and 7.4% because they associate a social stigma with food stamps.
- 34.5% of the clients indicated income above the eligible level as a reason for having not applied for food stamps.
- That 34.5% was broken down into two categories: those who had an income that is at or below 130% of the federal poverty level (20.9%), and those who had an income that is higher than 130% of the federal poverty level (10.2%). 1, 2
2 Broadly speaking, a household usually meets the income eligibility requirements for the Food Stamp Program if its gross income is less than 130% of the poverty level. However, it was not possible during the survey to collect all the detailed data necessary to assess eligibility. See Appendix B for the eligibility criteria.
