Sources:

The raw data used in these visualizations, except for the years 1970 and 2011, were provided to Remapping Debate by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Data on maximum monthly benefits for a family of three in the year 1970 were collected from a Congressional “Green Book” published in 1998 by the Government Printing Office and available online here. Data for the year 2011 were collected from the Welfare Rules Database maintained by the Urban Institute.

Data on the federal poverty guidelines for the contiguous 48 states, Alaska, and Hawaii were obtained from the Social Security Administration (available here); federal poverty guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii before 1980 were obtained through direct communication with HHS.

All values were adjusted to 2013 dollars using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Notes:

The maximum monthly benefit for a family of three assumes that the family has no other income.

In Connecticut, Illinois, Pennsylvania, New York, Vermont, and Virginia, maximum monthly benefits are not uniform statewide, but vary regionally. In each case, we have used the most typical benefit — that is, the benefit value associated with the region that had the greatest share of recipients in each year. For example, the benefit value in New York represents the value in New York City.

In other states, the maximum monthly benefit for a family of three varies depending on a non-geographic factor. In each case, we have again selected the most typical benefit value. In Wisconsin after 1996, the value shown is the maximum monthly benefit for participants in the Community Service Jobs Program. In Massachusetts and California, the value shown is the maximum monthly benefit for a family of three that is not exempt from work requirements and time limits, due to reasons such as disability or caring for a child under the age of two.

“Monthly poverty guidelines” are the annual federal poverty guidelines divided by 12.