Material hardship and use of social safety net programs among LGBT adults and their families

Sexual and gender minority (SGM) people experience higher levels of economic insecurity and poverty compared to non-SGM people. Social safety net programs may reduce this disparity, but the uptake of these programs among SGM 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 SGM and non-SGM adults in the United States. SGM participants were more likely to report food insecurity, utilities hardship, medical hardship, and multiple material hardships. SGM adults had higher odds compared to non-SGM 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.