The effect of social security benefits on food insecurity at the early entitlement age

This study examines the effect of Social Security benefits on food security at the early entitlement age (EEA). The data come from the supplements of the Current Population Survey, years 2001 to 2017. The results show that Social Security benefits decreased food insecurity near the EEA, particularly during and after the Great Recession. Specifically, the rate of very low food secure decreased discontinuously at the EEA by approximately 0.94 percentage points, a 6.6% drop from a rate of 15.1% at age 61. The results are especially large and robust for widowed householders.