Children's Economic Condition 1: Receipt of Public Assistance: 1990 - 2000
● All regions and most states had decreases in the percentage of children living in households that
received aid. Five states and the District of Columbia saw increases, with a 5.1 percentage-point
increase in Hawaii.
● Some of the largest decreases occurred in southern states such as Louisiana and Mississippi and
midwestern states like Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin.
● Children receiving public assistance live in households where one or more members is receiving
Supplemental Security Income, other public assistance, or welfare payments. The percent of
children in the United States in such households decreased by 2.2 percentage points over the
decade to 9.9 percent in 2000.
U.S. Change -2.2
Percentage-Point Change
1990 - 2000
Increase (1.4 to 5.1)
(6)
Decrease of 2.1 or less (26)
Decrease of 2.2 or more (18)
No Signif icant Change
(1)
Change in Percent of Children Living in Households
Receiving Government Public Assistance: 1990 - 2000