Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California Families
Introduction: The U.S. safety net, which provides critical aid to households with low income, is composed of a patchwork of separate programs, and many people with low income benefit from accessing <1 program. However, little is known about multiprogram take-up, that is, participation conditioned...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-06-01
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| Series: | AJPM Focus |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277306542400035X |
| _version_ | 1797209989731844096 |
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| author | Marisa M. Tsai, MS, MPH Joseph A. Yeb, BS Kaitlyn E. Jackson, MPH Wendi Gosliner, DrPH Lia C.H. Fernald, PhD, MBA Rita Hamad, MD, PhD |
| author_facet | Marisa M. Tsai, MS, MPH Joseph A. Yeb, BS Kaitlyn E. Jackson, MPH Wendi Gosliner, DrPH Lia C.H. Fernald, PhD, MBA Rita Hamad, MD, PhD |
| author_sort | Marisa M. Tsai, MS, MPH |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: The U.S. safety net, which provides critical aid to households with low income, is composed of a patchwork of separate programs, and many people with low income benefit from accessing <1 program. However, little is known about multiprogram take-up, that is, participation conditioned on eligibility. This study examined individual and multiprogram take-up patterns and sociodemographic factors associated with multiprogram take-up of U.S. safety net programs. Methods: The Assessing California Communities’ Experiences with Safety Net Supports study interviewed Californians and reviewed their 2019 tax forms between August 2020 and May 2021. Take-up of safety net programs was calculated among eligible participants (n=365), including the Earned Income Tax Credit; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; and Medicaid. Multivariable regressions identified sociodemographic factors associated with take-up of multiple programs. Results: Take-up was highest for Medicaid (90.6%) and lowest for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (57.5%). Among people who received benefits from at least 1 other program, take-up ranged from 81.7% to 84.8% for the Earned Income Tax Credit; 54.4%–62.0% for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; 74.3%–80.1% for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; and 89.7%–98.1% for Medicaid. Having a lower income and being younger were associated with concurrent take-up of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children recipients, having higher income, being older, and being primarily English speaking were associated with Earned Income Tax Credit take-up. Conclusions: Individual and multiprogram take-up vary between programs and by sociodemographic factors. Findings suggest opportunities to increase take-up of potentially synergistic programs by improving cross-program coordination, data sharing, and targeted recruitment of underenrolled subgroups (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children). |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:03:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c465332a4c59441990fcc69561e29dd4 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2773-0654 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T10:03:28Z |
| publishDate | 2024-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AJPM Focus |
| spelling | doaj.art-c465332a4c59441990fcc69561e29dd42024-04-13T04:21:53ZengElsevierAJPM Focus2773-06542024-06-0133100216Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California FamiliesMarisa M. Tsai, MS, MPH0Joseph A. Yeb, BS1Kaitlyn E. Jackson, MPH2Wendi Gosliner, DrPH3Lia C.H. Fernald, PhD, MBA4Rita Hamad, MD, PhD5Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Oakland, California; Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California; Address correspondence to: Marisa M. Tsai, MS, MPH, Nutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, 1111 Franklin Street, Oakland CA 94607.Public Health and Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Tufts University, Boston, MassachusettsDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MassachusettsNutrition Policy Institute, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of California, Oakland, CaliforniaCommunity Health Sciences Division, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CaliforniaDepartment of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MassachusettsIntroduction: The U.S. safety net, which provides critical aid to households with low income, is composed of a patchwork of separate programs, and many people with low income benefit from accessing <1 program. However, little is known about multiprogram take-up, that is, participation conditioned on eligibility. This study examined individual and multiprogram take-up patterns and sociodemographic factors associated with multiprogram take-up of U.S. safety net programs. Methods: The Assessing California Communities’ Experiences with Safety Net Supports study interviewed Californians and reviewed their 2019 tax forms between August 2020 and May 2021. Take-up of safety net programs was calculated among eligible participants (n=365), including the Earned Income Tax Credit; Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; and Medicaid. Multivariable regressions identified sociodemographic factors associated with take-up of multiple programs. Results: Take-up was highest for Medicaid (90.6%) and lowest for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (57.5%). Among people who received benefits from at least 1 other program, take-up ranged from 81.7% to 84.8% for the Earned Income Tax Credit; 54.4%–62.0% for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program; 74.3%–80.1% for Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children; and 89.7%–98.1% for Medicaid. Having a lower income and being younger were associated with concurrent take-up of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children. Among Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children recipients, having higher income, being older, and being primarily English speaking were associated with Earned Income Tax Credit take-up. Conclusions: Individual and multiprogram take-up vary between programs and by sociodemographic factors. Findings suggest opportunities to increase take-up of potentially synergistic programs by improving cross-program coordination, data sharing, and targeted recruitment of underenrolled subgroups (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children).http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277306542400035XSocial safety netEarned Income Tax CreditSupplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramSpecial Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and ChildrenMedicaidhealth equity |
| spellingShingle | Marisa M. Tsai, MS, MPH Joseph A. Yeb, BS Kaitlyn E. Jackson, MPH Wendi Gosliner, DrPH Lia C.H. Fernald, PhD, MBA Rita Hamad, MD, PhD Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California Families AJPM Focus Social safety net Earned Income Tax Credit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Medicaid health equity |
| title | Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California Families |
| title_full | Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California Families |
| title_fullStr | Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California Families |
| title_full_unstemmed | Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California Families |
| title_short | Understanding Multiprogram Take-Up of Safety Net Programs Among California Families |
| title_sort | understanding multiprogram take up of safety net programs among california families |
| topic | Social safety net Earned Income Tax Credit Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Medicaid health equity |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S277306542400035X |
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