Administrative Burdens and Economic Insecurity Among Black, Latino, and White Families

Administrative Burden Effect

Source: Authors’ calculations from the US. Current Population Survey (Flood et al. 2022).

Note: Rates of benefit nonparticipation among low-income families who experience joblessness and are likely eligible to receive the given benefit.

Percentage Point Increase in Replacement Rates

Source: Authors’ calculations from the US. Current Population Survey (Flood et al. 2022).

Note: No administrative burden effect. Sample limited to households in pre-tax/transfer SPM poverty after experiencing job loss. TRIM3 adjustments applied for SNAP and TANF benefits.

Mean Change in Replacement Rate If Families Received All Income Transfers They Are Eligible to Receive, 1993–2017

Source: Authors’ calculations from the US. Current Population Survey (Flood et al. 2022). Allow space for key in pagination

Note: Darker colors indicate a stronger administrative burden effect (defined as percent replacement rate if families received all transfers for which they were eligible minus the observed replacement rate). Homogenous demographics refers to results after reweighting state populations to match the national means of adults with only a high school degree, adults with a college degree or more, household structure (single parent with children, single adult without children, two-parents with children, multiple adults without children), number of children in the home, number of adults in the home, female, and employment rates. Equal Benefit Levels refers to an adjustment that alters AFDC-TANF benefit levels in each state-year to match the national median TANF benefit levels among recipients in the given year, effectively eliminating state-variation in TANF generosity (and thus limiting variation primarily to differential access).

Bivariate Association of Demographic Characteristic, 1993–2017

Source: Authors’ tabulation (Flood et al. 2022).

Note: Mean administrative burden effect, counterfactual increases in replacement rates. The figure plots point estimates and 95 percent confidence intervals from separate bivariate estimates that regress the mean percentage point increase in a state’s replacement rate should family units receive the transfers for which they are eligible between 1993 to 2017 (administrative burden effect) on the labeled state-level covariate. Homogenous demographics refers to results after reweighting state populations to match the national means of adults with only a high school degree, adults with a college degree or more, household structure (single parent with children, single adult without children, two parents with children, multiple adults without children), number of children in the home, number of adults in the home, female, and employment rates. Equal TANF Benefit Levels refers to an adjustment that alters AFDC-TANF benefit levels in each state-year to match the national median TANF benefit levels among recipients in the given year, effectively eliminating state-variation in TANF generosity (and thus limiting variation primarily to differential access).

SPM Family Units Receiving Benefit Only in Year of Job Loss

Source: Authors’ calculations from the U.S. Current Population Survey (Flood et al. 2022).

Consistent Compositions Across States

Source: Authors’ calculations from the US. Current Population Survey (Flood et al. 2022).

Note: Percentage point increase in replacement rates if family units received all income transfers for which they are likely eligible (no administrative burden effect). We reweight state populations to match the national means of adults with only a high school degree, adults with a college degree or more, household structure (single parent with children, single adult without children, two parents with children, multiple adults without children), number of children in the home, number of adults in the home, female, and employment rates.

TANF Benefits Equalized

Source: Authors’ calculations from the US. Current Population Survey (Flood et al. 2022).

Note: Percentage point increase in replacement rates if family units received all income transfers for which they are likely eligible (no administrative burden effect). We adjust AFDC/TANF benefit levels in each state-year to match the national median TANF benefit levels among recipients in the given year, effectively eliminating state-variation in TANF generosity (and thus limiting variation primarily to differential access).

Results for All Family Units Based on Prior-Year Income

Source: Authors’ calculations from the US. Current Population Survey (Flood et al. 2022).

Note: Percentage point increase in replacement rates if family units received all income transfers for which they are likely eligible (no “administrative burden” effect). Sample limited to family units with pre-tax/transfer incomes below half the national median income in the year prior to job loss.