ABSTRACT
Individuals (and particularly children) can be or become poor for a number of reasons: because they live in families that have experienced death, disability (of both short and long duration), unemployment, low wages, or due to problems securing and retaining employment. Different programs are needed to address these different situations. In the United States, social insurance programs address the first three, work support programs such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), child care assistance, and food stamps address low wages, and the public assistance system provides income and services to enable individuals to overcome their employment barriers.
