Millions Disconnected from Social Safety Net

A new study by the Urban Institute shows that more than a quarter of people living in poverty in the U.S. receive no help from food stamps and other nutrition programs, subsidized housing, cash benefits or child care assistance. That means that 13 million people with household incomes less than $25,000 for a family of four are disconnected from programs intended to help the poor. Nearly a third of these people have incomes less than $13,000. Among the 59 million Americans receiving some type of assistance, 43 percent are white, 26 percent are Hispanic, 23 percent are black and 8 percent are Asians. Researchers have suggested that there are multiple reasons why some groups receive benefits and others don't. Studies show that lower-income white families have more resources (own their own home, inherit some money, have small savings) to fall back on than black families.