Program Participation
Income, Assets & Program Participation
Program Participation
Mature Women Program Participation Variables
Data on public assistance income sources were collected during all survey years except 1968; sources generally included public assistance/welfare, Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)/Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF), food stamps, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and public housing. Users should be aware that not only is there considerable variation across years in the types of public assistance income sources for which data were collected but also that universes (all family members, any family member, respondent and spouse, respondent only, spouse only), reporting periods (past calendar year, previous 12 months, most recent month), and question wording can differ substantially from year to year. Table MW1 outlines these variations.
Beginning in 1982, data were collected on the number of months in the past year the respondent or husband/partner received each type of assistance. In 1982 and 1987-2003, respondents also reported the monthly average welfare (AFDC) income and monthly average SSI income they received. Monthly average variables are available for welfare/public assistance in 1979, 1981, 1984, and 1986.
Table MW1. Public Assistance Questions by Survey Year, Type of Assistance, Reference Period & Universe
| Survey Year | Type of Assistance | Reference Period | Universe | ||||
| AFDC / TANF | Welfare / Public Asst.00 |
Food Stamps | SSI / Public Assistance |
Public Housing | |||
| 1967 | R00468.00 | R00469.00 | R00472.00 | -- | -- | Past Calendar Year | Family Members |
| 1969 | R01099.00 | R01100.00 | R01102.00 | -- | -- | Past Calendar Year | Family Members |
| 1971 | R01776.00 | R01777.00 | R01779.00 | -- | -- | Past Calendar Year | Family Members |
| 1972 | R02601.00 | R02602.00 | R02604.00 | -- | -- | Past Calendar Year | Family Members |
| 1974 | -- | R03037.00 | -- | -- | -- | Previous 12 Months | Family Members |
| 1976 | -- | R03247.00 | R03254.00 | -- | -- | Previous 12 Months | Family Members |
| 1977 | -- | R04121.00 | R04123.00 | R04114.00 | -- | Past Calendar Year | Family Members |
| 1979 | -- | R04793.00 | R04789.00 | -- | -- | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband |
| 1981 | -- | R05132.00 | R05129.00 | -- | -- | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband |
| 1982 | R06326.00 | -- | R06323.00 | R06329.00 | R06212.00 | Past Calendar Year | R/Husband |
| 1984 | -- | R07076.00 | R07073.00 | -- | -- | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband |
| 1986 | -- | R07637.00 | R07634.00 | -- | -- | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband |
| 1987 | R08657.00 | -- | R08654.00 | R08660.00 | R08543.00 | Past Calendar Year | R/Husband/Partner |
| 1989 | R09766.00 | -- | R09763.00 | R09769.00 | R09631.00 | Past Calendar Year | R/Husband/Partner |
| 1992 | R10692.00 | -- | R10689.00 | R10695.00 | -- | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband/Partner |
| 1995 | R33968.00-R33970.00 | -- | R33965.00-R33967.00 | R33971.00-R33973.00 | R33822.00 | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband/Partner |
| 1997 | R41618.00-R41620.00 | -- | R41615.00-R41617.00 | R41621.00-R41623.00 | R41472.00 | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband/Partner |
| 1999 | R51207.00-R51209.00 | -- | R51204.00-R51206.00 | R51210.00-R51212.00 | R51054.00 | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband/Partner |
| 2001 | R62130.00-R62132.00 | -- | R62127.00-R62129.00 | R62133.00-R62135.00 | R61986.00 | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband/Partner |
| 2003 | R73210.00-R73212.00 | -- | R73207.00-R73209.00 | R73213.00-R73215.00 | R73060.00 | Previous 12 Months | R/Husband/Partner |
Survey Instruments: The "Assets and Income" or "Income" sections of the questionnaires contain the questions on public assistance income sources.
User Notes
NLS interviews also collect data on Unemployment Insurance, Workers' Compensation, Disability, and Social Security; none of these sources of income are considered here as part of "public assistance." The Social Security & Disability section of this guide describes some of these additional income sources.