Section 15.6.2

15.6.2 - Reasons Why Clients Never Applied for Food Stamps

Similar patterns hold for the analysis of reasons for never applying among clients who said they had never applied (Table 15.6.2):

Table 15.6.2

REASONS WHY CLIENTS NEVER APPLIED FOR FOOD STAMPS

Reasons why respondents or their households never applied for food stamps¹	Elderly Clients at Program Sites	Households with Elderly Members	Households with Children Households with Very Young Children	Households with Children Households with Very Young Children
Factors Associated with Eligibility
Don't think eligible because of income or assets
All	34.8%	36.3%	37.8%	35.2%
Income 130% of federal poverty level or lower	22.4%	22.6%	25.0%	23.1%
Income higher than 130% of federal poverty level	8.5%	8.6%	7.3%	5.5%
Unknown	4.0%	5.1%	5.5%	6.6%
Don't think eligible because of citizenship status	0.7%	0.9%	8.4%	12.7%
Eligible for only a low benefit amount	2.9%	2.7%	2.8%	2.2%
SUBTOTAL²	37.9%	39.3%	47.2%	48.2%

Factors Associated with Program Operation
Don't know where to go or who to contact to apply	4.0%	3.8%	4.7%	6.8%
Hard to get to the food stamp office	21.5%	20.1%	12.8%	15.6%
Application process is too long and complicated	5.5%	5.1%	4.7%	5.0%
Questions are too personal	1.6%	1.5%	3.0%	3.7%
Food stamp office staff are disrespectful	2.9%	2.6%	1.9%	1.6%
Food stamp office is unpleasant or in unsafe area	5.3%	5.1%	7.5%	6.8%
SUBTOTAL	35.8%	33.8%	30.0%	33.7%
Factors Associated with Need
No need for benefit	0.9%	0.9%	2.8%	3.3%
Others need benefits more	0.4%	0.4%	3.5%	2.6%
Need is only temporary	0.4%	0.4%	1.7%	0.8%
SUBTOTAL	1.6%	1.5%	5.8%	6.3%

Factors Associated with Social Stigma
Feel embarrassed applying for benefits	2.7%	2.8%	1.9%	1.8%
Family or friends do not approve of my receiving benefits	0.4%	0.5%	0.7%	1.1%
Dislike relying on the government for assistance	2.3%	2.4%	4.5%	3.0%
Feel embarrassed using benefits	2.1%	1.9%	3.2%	2.4%
SUBTOTAL	5.7%	5.9%	8.2%	7.7%
Other Factors
Planning to apply, but not yet	2.8%	3.6%	4.5%	3.9%
Other	12.2%	11.5%	9.1%	9.3%
SAMPLE SIZE (N) - Respondents or their households who never applied for food stamps	3,654	4024	3256	1340

Notes
Item nonresponses to all variables involved were excluded in calculating percentages and sample sizes.
1. Multiple responses were accepted.

2. The subtotal indicates the percentage of people who provided one or more component items as their responses; thus it may differ from the sum of component items. See Appendix B for food stamp eligibility criteria.

47.2% of households with children mentioned an eligibility-related reason for not applying, as compared to 39.3% of households with elderly members.
33.8% of households with elderly members as compared to 30.0% of households with children indicated a reason associated with program operations.