Research finds combination of social programs keeps people out of poverty

DURHAM — The number of people living in poverty would be significantly higher without the combination of five government programs — Social Security, disability benefits, federal and state cash assistance, the Earned Income Tax Credit and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, according to new research by the Carsey School of Public Policy at the University of New Hampshire.

The five programs combined keep 11.5 percent of rural and 7.6 percent of urban residents out of poverty, the research found. Social Security is especially important; without it, poverty would increase by 4.4 percent in urban areas and by 7.6 percent in rural areas. Poverty in rural areas would rise to more than 20 percent just without Social Security.