Welfare Reform and Older Immigrants: Food Stamp Program Participation and Food Insecurity

constrained noncitizens ’ eligibility for the Food Stamp Program (FSP). This study examined the effects of eligibility restrictions on older immigrants ’ FSP par-ticipation and food insecurity. We paid special attention to household composition and household eligibility as well as older immigrants ’ individual eligi-bility. Design and Methods: The sample consisted of 3,175 low-income older adults from the 1999 Current Population Survey. We used probit and tobit regressions. We compared three analytical models: two models using the differences-in-differences ap-proach with two different measures of immigration status (individual and household status), and one using a summary variable of the percentage of FSP-eligible people in a household. Results: Both house-hold immigration status and older adults ’ individual immigration status were significantly associated with the probability of FSP participation. Living in a house-hold with a higher percentage of eligible members significantly increased older people’s FSP participa-tion and benefit levels while significantly reducing their risk of food insecurity. Implications: Nonciti-zen eligibility restriction affects older immigrants ’ FSP participation and food insecurity by its relation to household composition. Experts should therefore consider household composition when developing social policies for older immigrants