Abstract
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people experience higher levels of economic insecurity and poverty compared to non-LGBT people. Social safety net programs may reduce this disparity, but the uptake of these programs among LGBT adults has rarely been assessed. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the 2018–2020 Well-Being and Basic Needs Survey to compare differences in material hardship and social safety net program utilization between LGBT and non-LGBT adults in the United States. LGBT participants were more likely to report lack of an emergency fund, food insecurity, utilities hardship, medical hardship, and multiple material hardships. LGBT adults had higher odds compared to non-LGBT adults of using SNAP, income- or disability-based insurance, SSI or SSDI, and housing assistance. There were no differences in use of WIC, reduced-price/free school lunch benefits, or charitable food. Future studies are needed to evaluate the efficacy of the social safety net programs for reducing material hardship.
Public significance statement
We found that LGBT people were more likely to experience food insecurity and have difficulty paying for housing and medical costs, and were more likely to use some, but not all, social safety net programs like food stamps to reduce their hardship. While these programs may be successful in helping LGBT people pay for basic needs, more effort is needed to address the cause of LGBT people’s material hardship.