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Major Agency Sites
Multi Agency Portals
Statistics
- Annual Statistical Supplement
Annual compendium of statistics on the social security programs including numbers of beneficiaries and amounts received. Also contains data on Medicare, Medicaid and other related federal benefits programs. From the Social Security Administration.
- Overview of Entitlement Programs (Green Book)
The standard reference work for data on federal social policy programs. Program descriptions and historical data on a variety of social and economic programs including social security, child support, welfare, health insurance, poverty, and others. From the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Assistance Programs: Directories/Locators
Children
- America's Children
Annual report from the Federal Interagency Forum on Child and Family Statistics. Includes indicators of children's well-being in several areas including family characteristics, economic security, education, health, and social environment.
- Child Support Report
Monthly newsletter articles on government efforts to enforce child support laws.
- Children's Bureau Statistics and Research
Reports and data on adoption, child abuse, foster care and child welfare. Includes Trends in Foster Care and Adoption, and state level reports on Child Maltreatment and Child Welfare Outcomes. From the Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health and Human Services
- State of the World's Children
Annual reports on key issues affecting the condition of the world's children. From UNICEF (the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund).
Human Services Policy
- Human Services Policy
Covers major data and resources on federal welfare, poverty, and service delivery programs including HHS poverty guidelines, the Green Book of human services programs, studies on welfare and work, indicators of welfare dependence and other resources. From the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Income and Poverty
- Historical Income Tables
A collection of data from the Census Bureau's Current Population Survey which includes income limits and share of aggregate income for each fifth of the population,and historical regional and racial income data by household, family, and person.
- Historical Poverty Tables
A collection of data from the Census Bureau which includes historical data on poverty thresholds from 1959, and the number and rate below poverty level.
- Poverty
A collection of information including the latest report on Poverty in the U.S., historical tables on poverty, information on measuring poverty and the poverty guidelines. From the Bureau of the Census.
- Poverty Net
Information and data on poverty around the world from the World Bank..
- Poverty Guidelines, Research, and Measurement
Annual figures for poverty threshold for individuals and families as announced by Health and Human Services Department. Plus papers, articles and reports on poverty measurement.
- Poverty Publications
Lengthy list of reports and data on poverty back to the 1950s. From the Census Bureau.
- Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates
An interactive database from the Census Bureau which provides more current small-area income/poverty data than the decennial Census. Estimates provided for states, counties, and school districts. The main objective of this program is to provide updated estimates of income and poverty statistics for the administration of federal programs and the allocation of federal funds to local jurisdictions
Social Security
- Benefit Publications
Quick online access to all publications about retirement, disability, survivor benefits plus miscellaneous information about the Social Security program.
- BEST: Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool
An interactive form that allows users to determine their eligibility for any of several federal benefit programs including Medicare, Social Security Disability, Social Security Retirement, Social Security Survivors, Special Veterans, and Supplemental Security Income. From the Social Security Administration.
- Cost of Living Adjustments
Information about the latest COLA adjustment, the history of such adjustments, and how the adjustments affect the Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance (OASDI) and Supplemental Security Income programs of the Social Security Administration and the Consumer Price Index.
- Disability Evaluation aka The Blue Book
Explains what conditions qualify a person for disability under social security. Includes definitions, frequently asked questions, the disability determination process, and evidence requirements. From the Social Security Administration.
- Disability Programs
Main page for information and application forms for Social Security disability programs. Includes the Disability Report Form Guide.
- Fast Facts and Figures About Social Security
Basic information about the social security programs, how they are structured and who receives assistance.
- Forms: Search Tool
Search by keyword term or browse through six categories of forms and instructions. From the Social Security Administration.
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Social Security
Covers the twenty or so most frequently asked questions
- Geographic Statistics Fact Sheets
Brief state and territory information and data for social security, medicare, and supplemental security income programs.
- Glossary of Social Security Terms
Lists terms/acronyms used in Social Security programs with brief explanations and examples
- Guide to Social Security Archives
A guide to thousands of documents, photographs, videotapes, and audio recordings which cover the history of the Social Security Administration and the legislative and administrative histories of the program. Serves as a guide to onsite research at the Social Security History Archives in Baltimore.
- Hearings and Appeals Process
Explains the process of appealing unfavorable Social Security benefits decisions before an Administrative Law Judge and the Appeals Council.
- History
A variety of historical information on the Social Security Administration and the program including a detailed chronology, key early documents, and important reports and studies.
- Information for Women
Explanations of Social Security programs focused on the needs of women.
- Monthly Statistical Snapshot
Brief tables of current operating statistics for the major programs of the Social Security Administration.
- OASDI Beneficiaries by State and County
Data on the number and type of Social Security beneficiaries and the amount of benefit payments in each state and county. From the Social Security Administration.
- Online Handbook: Your Basic Guide to Social Security Programs
Compendium of information on the benefits, rules, procedures, and recipients of social security retirement, disability, supplemental income and other programs. Good introduction to program in plain language. 2001 is 14th edition.
- Retirement Planner
Offers calculators for estimating benefits, factors affecting eligibility for benefits, and other features about retirement.
- Social Security Bulletin
Articles on social security programs, pension programs, income of the elderly, poverty of various groups etc. From the Social Security Administration.
- Social Security Number and Card
A wealth of information about Social Security cards including how to get them, how to protect against identity theft, types of cards, number and card history, most popular baby names, stories about the Social Security card and more. From the Social Security Administration.
- Social Security Numbers
Historical information on the lowest Social Security number (001-01-0001) and the first Social Security account plus some information on the origins of the program.
- Social Security Programs throughout the World
Highlights principal features of social security programs in more than 170 countries. Now issued in 4 reports on rotating basis every six months for Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and the Americas. Older material appeared in single volume devoted to all countries.
Welfare
- Indicators of Welfare Dependence
Annual Report to Congress on progress in reducing dependence on welfare including risk factors associated with welfare and how to measure welfare dependence based on 11 indicators. 2007 is latest.
- SSI Annual Statistical Report
Purpose, history, highlights and detailed data for program which provides a minimum level of income for needy aged, blind, or disabled individuals. From the Social Security Administration.
- SSI Federal Payment Amounts
Table lists annual increase in benefits by percent and payment amounts for eligible individual and couple. Data from 1975 to date. From the Social Security Administration.
- SSI Recipients by State and County
Payment data at the state and county level for the cash assistance program for the low-income aged, blind, or disabled. From the Social Security Administration.
- TANF Annual Reports to Congress
Text and data on details of state TANF programs, trends in expenditures and recipients, work participation rates, child poverty, and more. From the Administration for Children and Families.
- TANF Data Analyses and Reports
Studies of the public welfare reform program, formerly known as Aid to Families with Dependent Children and now entitled Temporary Assistance to Needy Families. Includes monthly caseload recipient data from 1959, characteristics of recipients, and historical AFDC data. From the Administration for Children and Families
