The economic well-being of households headed by a grandmother as caregiver

Using data from the National Survey of America's Families, this study examines the economic well-being of grandparent-headed households. It also examines the extent to which targeted income assistance (i.e., cash welfare, food stamps, Supplemental Security Income, and foster care payments) alleviates poverty among different types of grandmother-headed households. The findings indicate that poverty is greatest among households that are headed by a single ( uncoupled) grandmother who lives with grandchildren and that do not include either of the grandchildren's parents. Although transfers bring 15 percent of pretransfer-poor households out of poverty, many households remain poor after receiving the income assistance. Households headed by a single grandmother are particularly likely to experience extreme poverty.