A Comparison of Title XX Services to the Urban and Rural Elderly

Abstract

This paper presents comparative findings on the distribution patterns of Title XX social service dollars to the poor elderly on Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in urban and rural states. It was found that rural states allocate a slightly higher share of their Title XX service dollars to the SSI elderly than urban states; however, rural states have significantly fewer dollars to allocate. The per capita expenditures on the SSI elderly in urban states are significantly higher than allocations in rural states, particularly in the key Title XX provision of homemaker and chore services. The paper analyzes these and other findings in relation to current Reagan Administration changes in social service funding.