By the Numbers: Economic Hardship

AAPI Data Guide on Timely Policy Issues

This resource guide is designed to provide key insights and perspectives on the issue of economic hardship in Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities. 

This guide is part of a larger collection of issue-based resources that highlight key policy insights, data and survey findings that help inform how our diverse AANHPI communities think about, and are affected by, particular issues.

Please check aapidata.com/resource-guides frequently for new resource guides like this one.

Published: March 7, 2025 | Last updated: July 30, 2026

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Executive Summary

Key Facts You Need to Know: Economic Hardship in AANHPI Communities

  1. One in 9 Asian Americans and 1 in 6 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. live in poverty (11% and 17% respectively). Over 2 million Asian Americans and 89,000 NHPIs live in households below the Federal Poverty Line, qualifying for many government programs.
  2. The proportions who are within the expanded Medicaid eligibility threshold under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) are even higher, at 14% for Asian Americans and 22% for Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.
  3. Similarly, the proportion who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is even higher. Nearly 1 in 5 Asian Americans (18%) and about 1 in 5 NHPIs (22%) receive SSI payments.
  4. Almost 1 in 10 Asian Americans (9%) and 1 in 4 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (24%) receive food stamps under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
  5. Over 1 in 4 Asian Americans (27%), and 4 in 10 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (40%) receive school lunch subsidies.

Population Data

Poverty

The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is a measure that takes into account total family income, family size, number of children, and the age of the householder (under/over age 65). Those at 100 to 199% of FPL are considered near poverty, and qualify for many government programs.

  • Over 1.7 million Asian Americans and over 72,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders live below the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). (Table 1)
  • These account for about 1 in 7 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (13.8%), and about 1 in 11 Asian Americans (9.4%).(Figure 1)
  • Among Asian Americans, the highest proportion of those in poverty tend to be among smaller Asian populations like Burmese, Mongolian, and Bangladeshi.
  • Among NHPIs, Samoans, Marshallese, and Native Hawaiians had the highest proportions of living below the FPL.

Figure 1 above provides national-level data for AA and NHPI groups with the top 10 highest poverty rates. The full list of detailed origin groups can be found here. For poverty rates by state, please consult the AANHPI Community Data Explorer.

Medicaid

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) expanded Medicaid eligibility in most states to include all adults with incomes up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Limit (FPL). This data is crucial for understanding Medicaid eligibility among low-income populations. For more details, read our policy background on Medicaid below.

  • Over 3 million Asian Americans and over 144,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders are below the 138% poverty threshold for Medicaid. (Table 2)
  • These account for about 1 in 6 Asian Americans (17%), and over 1 in 4 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (27%). (Table 2)
  • Among Asian Americans, the highest proportion of those below the Medicaid poverty threshold include Bhutanese, Burmese, Bangladeshi, and Hmong.
  • Among NHPIs, Samoans, Native Hawaiians, and Tongans had the highest proportions of those below the Medicaid poverty threshold.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal income supplement program designed to help persons who are aged, blind, or have other disabilities, who have little or no income. For more details, read our policy background on SSI below.

  • Over 3 million Asian Americans and over 119,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders receive SSI. (Table 3)
  • These account for over 1 in 6 Asian Americans (18%), and about 1 in 5 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (22%).(Table 3)
  • Among Asian Americans, the highest proportion of those receiving SSI include Hmong, Burmese, Bhutanese, and Mongolian.
  • Among NHPIs, Marshallese, Tongans, and Samoans, had the highest proportions receiving SSI.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

SNAP is the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program. For more details, read our policy background on SNAP below.

  • Over 1 million Asian Americans and over 128,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders receive SNAP benefits. (Table 4)
  • These account for almost 1 in 10 Asian Americans (9%), and 1 in 4 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (24%). (Table 4)
  • Among Asian Americans, the highest proportion of those receiving SNAP tend to be among smaller Asian populations like Bhutanese and Burmese.
  • Among NHPIs, Samoans, Tongans, and Native Hawaiians, had the highest proportions of receiving SNAP.

Women Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program

WIC is a public health nutrition program providing nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals for income-eligible women who are pregnant or postpartum, infants, and children up to age 5. For more details, read our policy background on WIC below.

  • Over 116,000 Asian Americans and almost 16,500 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders receive WIC benefits. (Table 5)
  • Of those eligible for WIC, these account for 2% of Asian Americans and 4% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. (Table 5)

National School Lunch Program

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day. For more details, read our policy background on NSLP below.

  • Close to 6 million Asian Americans and over 540,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders people live in households that receive school lunch subsidies. (Table 6)
  • These account for over 1 in 4 Asian Americans (27%), and 4 in 10 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (40%). (Table 6)
  • Among Asian Americans, over 1 in 4 Filipinos, Chinese and Vietnamese people live in households that receive school lunch subsidies.

Public Housing

Public housing provides decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities. For more details, read our policy background on public housing below.

  • Over 440,000 Asian Americans and almost 83,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders live in public housing. (Table 7)
  • Of those eligible for public housing, these account for 6% of Asian Americans and 12% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. (Table 7)
  • Among Asian Americans, 1 in 10 Chinese and Koreans live in public housing.

Federal Rental Assistance

Federal rental assistance enables low-income households to afford modest homes. For more details, read our policy background on federal rental assistance below.

  • Over 141,000 Asian Americans and almost 20,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders receive public rental assistance. (Table 8)
  • Of those eligible for public rental assistance, these account for 2% of Asian Americans and 3% of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders. (Table 8)

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

TANF is a federal program that helps low-income families pay for necessities like food, housing, and child care. It’s also known as welfare. For more details, read our policy background on TANF below.

  • In addition to receiving any other welfare benefits, over 31,000 Asian Americans and almost 7,000 Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders receive TANF benefits. (Analysis of 2024 Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement)
  • Of those AANHPIs receiving welfare benefits, over 1 in 2 Asian Americans (52%), and 4 in 10 Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islanders (40%) are TANF recipients.

Public Opinion Data

Views on Personal Finances

  • A majority of AAPIs (58%) said that cost of living and inflation are the most important problems facing the country today. (2026 AAPI Policy Priorities Survey)
  • 37% of AAPIs cited personal finances as a major source of stress. 38% said it was a minor source of stress. (May 2026 | AP-NORC poll)
  • Cost of living is a large source of stress. 8 in 10 AAPI adults cite the cost of groceries, cost of health care, and cost of housing as sources of stress, including half who say each as a major source. Very few say these financial concerns are not sources of stress at all. (March 2026 | AP-NORC poll)
  • AAPI adults in households making less than $50,000 are more likely than those in households earning $100,000 or more to say the amount of money they get paid (62% vs. 39%), the costs of groceries (62% vs. 40%), health care (58% vs. 47%), and credit card debt (36% vs. 21%) are major sources of stress. (March 2026 | AP-NORC poll)
  • AAPI households earning under $50,000 are more likely to expect their personal finances to worsen (46%) than those in households earning $100,000 or more (29%). Wealthier households are more likely to say their personal finances will stay about the same (51% vs. 32%). (January 2026 AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • Affordability and cost of living are top of mind for AAPI adults. Economy and personal finances are key priorities for the next year among both Republicans and Democrats, with 72% mentioning at least one economic issue and 42% mentioning personal finances. Half (49%) cite inflation or the cost of living as a major priority. (January 2026 AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • 75% of AAPI adults say the government should be responsible for ensuring affordable housing, and more say the government can better handle lowering the cost and increasing the supply of affordable housing than the private sector. (October 2025 AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • About two-thirds of AAPI adults are concerned about the cost of groceries and the possibility of a recession in the next few months. (July 2025 AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • Just 30% of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) adults feel very confident about their ability to manage household expenses. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • Two-thirds of AANHPI adults experienced an increase in household expenses in the past year, with 44% reporting a decrease in savings. (AAPI Data | AP-NORC poll)

  • 43% of Asian Americans very often or somewhat often worry about not being able to retire when they want due to financial reasons. (2024 Asian American Voter Survey)

  • Nearly one in four Asian American voters (24%) are currently providing care to an older or ill adult or someone with a disability. (2024 Asian American Voter Survey)

Views on Federal Economic Policies

  • A large number of AAPI adults believe Trump has contributed to increasing the cost of living. A majority say that Trump has hurt rather than helped the cost of living (73%), cost of health care (69%), and job creation (62%). (March 2026 | AP-NORC poll)
  • Among registered voters, 86% indicated that jobs and the economy was extremely or very important to them personally in deciding how to vote. This was the highest ranking issue for Asian American registered voters. (2024 Asian American Voter Survey) 

  • Among registered voters, 79% indicated that social security and Medicare was either extremely important or very important to them personally in deciding how to vote. (2024 Asian American Voter Survey)

  • Other issues where AANHPIs believe are high priority for congress to address include: cost of housing (67%), cost of food (65%), and cost of aging and long-term care (53%). (December 2023 AAPI Data/AP-NORC Survey)

Policy Background

Key Programs

Medicaid

What is it?

Medicaid is a health insurance program targeted to lower-income recipients that is financed jointly by the federal government and the states. States have a great deal of flexibility in designing and administering their programs, and thus, Medicaid eligibility and benefits can and often do vary widely from state to state.

Who administers Medicaid?

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for Medicaid program administration at the federal level, but individual state Medicaid agencies establish many policies and manage their own programs on a day-to-day basis.

Who is eligible for the program?

In order to receive federal funding, states must cover certain “mandatory” populations:

  • Children through age 18 in families with income below 138 percent of the federal poverty line;
  • People who are pregnant and have income below 138 percent of the poverty line;
  • Certain parents or caretakers with very low income; and
  • Most seniors and people with disabilities who receive cash assistance through the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.

States may also receive federal funds to cover “optional” populations:

  • People in the “mandatory” groups listed above whose income exceeds the limits for coverage; 
  • Seniors and people with disabilities not receiving SSI and with income below the poverty line; 
  • “Medically needy” people (those whose income exceeds the state’s regular Medicaid eligibility limit but who have high medical expenses, such as for nursing home care, that reduce their disposable income below the eligibility limit) and other people with higher income who need long-term services and supports; 
  • Non-disabled adults with income below 138 percent of the poverty line, including those without children (due to the Affordable Care ACT).
  • In the ten states that have not implemented ACA Medicaid expansion, adults over 21 are generally ineligible for Medicaid unless they are pregnant, caring for children, elderly, or have a disability

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

What is it?

SSI, or Supplemental Security Income, is a federal income supplement program designed to help persons who are aged, blind, or have other disabilities, who have little or no income. It provides cash to meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.

Who administers SSI?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) administers SSI.

Who is eligible for the program?

In order get SSI, one must be at least 65 years old, blind, or have a disability, and have “limited” income and resources;

In addition, one must:

  • Be either a U.S. citizen or national, or a noncitizen in one of the certain alien classifications granted by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS);
  • Reside in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, or the Northern Mariana Islands; and
  • Not be absent from the U.S. for a full calendar month or 30 or more consecutive days.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

What is it?

SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) is the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program. SNAP provides food benefits for working families with low-paying jobs, low-income older adults (60 years and older) and people with disabilities living on fixed incomes, and other individuals and households with low incomes.

Who administers SNAP?

SNAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in cooperation with state social service agencies.

Who is eligible for the program?

Only U.S. citizens and certain lawfully present non-citizens may receive SNAP benefits. SNAP is not and has never been available to undocumented non-citizens. The following three requirements must be met for eligibility:

  • Gross monthly income generally must be at or below 130 percent of the poverty line. The poverty level is higher for bigger families and lower for smaller families.
  • Net income, or household income after deductions are applied, must be at or below the poverty line.
  • Assets must fall below certain limits: households without a member aged 60 or older or who has a disability must have assets of $3,000 or less, and households with such a member must have assets of $4,500 or less.

Who is not eligible for the program?

  • Individuals who are on strike, all people without a documented immigration status, some students attending college more than half time, certain immigrants with lawful immigration statuses, and certain people with drug-related felony convictions in some states.

What is the Three-Month Time Limit?

  • Individuals aged 18 or over and under 50 have been limited to three months of SNAP benefits every three years unless they are working or in a work or training program at least 20 hours a week. Some individuals are exempt from this work-reporting requirement (sometimes referred to as a time limit), such as those who live with children in the household, those determined to be physically or mentally unfit for work, pregnant people, and others.

Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Nutrition Program

What is it?

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) is a public health nutrition program providing nutrition education, nutritious foods, breastfeeding support, and healthcare referrals for income-eligible women who are pregnant or postpartum, infants, and children up to age 5.

Who administers WIC?

WIC is under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). State Agencies run programs in their jurisdictions.

Who is eligible for the program?

These are the eligibility requirements for WIC:

  • Pregnant, recently pregnant, and breastfeeding women, infants and children under 5 years old.
  • Caregivers including dads, grandparents and foster parents may apply for children under five in their care.
  • Applicants’ gross income (i.e., before taxes are withheld) must fall at or below 185 percent of the federal poverty line. 
  • State income must fall between 100 percent and 185 percent of federal poverty guidelines, though most states use the maximum guideline. 
  • An applicant who already receives Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits (SNAP, formerly food stamps), Medicaid, or monthly Temporary Assistance for Needy Families cash assistance payments is automatically considered income-eligible for WIC, even if the program’s income limit is above 185 percent of poverty.
  • Individuals must be a resident of the state to which they are applying for assistance.
  • Individuals must have a nutritional risk assessment by a qualified health professional (physician, nurse, or nutritionist).

National School Lunch Program (NSLP)

What is it?

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools and residential child care institutions. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to children each school day.

Who administers NSLP?

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) administers the Program at the federal level. At the state level, the NSLP is administered by State agencies, which operate the Program through agreements with school food authorities.

Who is eligible for the program?

Children may be determined “categorically eligible” for free meals through participation in certain Federal Assistance Programs, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or based on their status as a homeless, migrant, runaway, or foster child.

Public Housing

What is it?

Public housing provides decent and safe rental housing for eligible low-income families, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.

Who administers the Public Housing program?

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) administers federal aid to local housing agencies (HAs) that manage the housing for low-income residents at rents they can afford.

Who is eligible for the program?

Public housing is limited to low-income families and individuals. A local housing agency (HA) determines your eligibility based on:

  1. Annual gross income (less than 80 percent of the local median income);
  2. Whether you qualify as elderly, a person with a disability, or as a family; and
  3. U.S. citizenship or eligible immigration status.

Federal Rental Assistance

What is it?

Federal rental assistance enables households to afford modest homes. These major programs assist the majority of households receiving federal rental assistance:

  • Housing Choice Vouchers: The housing choice voucher program is the federal government’s major program for assisting very low-income families, the elderly, and the disabled to afford housing in the private market. Housing choice vouchers are administered locally by public housing agencies (PHAs). The PHAs receive federal funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to administer the voucher program.

  • Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance (PBRA): PBRA helps people afford housing and avoid homelessness or other kinds of housing instability. “Project -based” rental assistance allows families with low incomes to rent from privately-owned homes. A family or individual must have a “low income”—meaning that their income may not exceed 80 percent of the local median—to live in Section 8 housing.

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)

What is it?

Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) is a federal program that helps low-income families pay for necessities like food, housing, and child care. It’s also known as welfare. In addition to cash assistance for living expenses, many states offer job training and help with tuition payments for work-related education.

Who administers TANF?

Each state or tribal government runs its TANF program differently and has a different name.

States can use federal TANF to meet any of the four purposes set out in the 1996 law:

  1. Assisting families in need so children can be cared for in their own homes or the homes of relatives;
  2. Reducing the dependency of parents in need by promoting job preparation, work, and marriage;
  3. Preventing pregnancies among unmarried persons; and
  4. Encouraging the formation and maintenance of two-parent families.

States define what constitutes a “needy” family for the first and second purposes and do not have to limit assistance to needy families for the third and fourth purposes.

Who is eligible for the program?

Eligibility criteria include:

  • Be a resident of the state
  • Be pregnant or have a child under 18 or 19 years old
  • Be a U.S. citizen, legal non-citizen, or permanent resident
  • Meet income requirements
  • Participate in work activities (e.g. vocational, on-the-job, or job skills training. Failure to participate in work requirements can result in a reduction or termination of benefits.)
  • Cooperate with child support
  • Comply with substance abuse provisions

Additional References

Other Resources

Community Partners

National

Errata

The number of Asian Americans and NHPI persons in households receiving SSI and School Lunch subsidies contained transcription errors, and were corrected on 03/09/2025. The percentage figures are unchanged.

Sources:

Suggested citation: Karthick Ramakrishnan, Akil Vohra, Nadia Almasalkhi, and Connie Tan. “By the Numbers: Economic Hardship. AAPI Data Guide on Timely Policy Issues.” Berkeley, CA: AAPI Data. (2025).

  • AAPI Data’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. (2023). American Community Survey (ACS), 2022 Five-Year Public Use Microdata Sample (PUMS) via IPUMS USA. https://usa.ipums.org/usa/ 

  • AAPI Data’s analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data. (2024). Current Population Survey (CPS), 2024 Annual Social and Economic Supplement via IPUMS USA. https://cps.ipums.org/cps/sda.shtml