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Participation and Eligible Non-Participants by Jurisdiction
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Comparison Table: Participation by State
| Jurisdiction | SNAP | SSI | MSP | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | County | Participation | Eligible Non-Participants | Participation | Eligible Non-Participants | Participation | Eligible Non-Participants |
Frequently Asked Questions:
How are participation rates calculated for this tool?
Participation rates are determined using program administrative data and the Urban Institute's Analysis of Transfers, Taxes, and Income Security (ATTIS) microsimulation model. These rates are calculated by dividing the number of program participants aged 65 and over in a geographic area by the estimated number of eligible individuals in that area.
At what level are participation rates calculated?
For counties with larger populations, participation rates are calculated at the county level. For smaller counties, rates are calculated for groups of counties to ensure reliable estimates.
Why are some counties grouped together instead of reported individually?
The public-use ACS data does not identify all counties due to sample size limitations. To ensure reliable data, we use the Missouri Census Data Center's Geographic Correspondence Engine (GEOCORR) to identify individual counties or group them where necessary.
What information does the tool include regarding program participation and eligibility?
In addition to program participation rates for all available counties and county groups, the tool provides the following information for states and for counties that are individually identified in the ACS:
- Eligible older adults: The number of people ages 65 and older that are eligible for a program.
- Participants: The number of people ages 65 and older that are eligible for a program and receive benefits.
- Eligible non-participants: The number of adults ages 65 and older who are eligible for a program but are not currently receiving benefits.
What data is used to estimate program eligibility?
Program eligibility estimates come from the ATTIS microsimulation model, which applies detailed program eligibility rules—including federal guidelines and state-specific variations—to individuals in the American Community Survey (ACS) data.
What version of ACS data is used for eligibility estimates?
The analysis uses a combined 2022 and 2023 ACS data file, with the 2022 data adjusted to better represent the conditions of 2023. The combined file provides social and economic details on over 2.6 million U.S. households. This allows for accurate state and substate eligibility estimates.
Where does the program enrollment data come from?
Each program's enrollment data comes from different sources:
- SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program): The Food and Nutrition Service's (FNS) publicly available county-level participant counts for July 2023 and FNS's state-level SNAP Quality Control participant counts for 2023 are used to estimate participants aged 65+ in each state and county.
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income): County-level enrollment data for adults 65+ is obtained from the Social Security Administration's December 2023 SSI Recipients by State and County report.
- MSP (Medicare Savings Programs): Enrollment data for adults 65+ is from December 2023, provided by the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS).
Where can I find more details about the data sources and methods used?
For a more detailed explanation of the data sources and methodology, please refer to the Technical Report.
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Our Partner
This work was supported by grant 90MINC0002-03-00 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
