Female Poverty and the Social Safety Net

Between 2019 and 2023, changes to the U.S. social safety net—especially during the COVID-19 pandemic—had a notable impact on reducing poverty for women, particularly in single-mother households. Expanded refundable tax credits, stimulus payments, and enhanced food and housing benefits brought measurable declines in poverty rates, with the most dramatic improvements seen in 2021. Once pandemic-era programs expired, deep poverty among single mothers with children rose again, underscoring the importance of sustained, targeted support. These findings reveal how policy design can directly shape economic security for women and families.