The Mexican American elderly and supplemental security income: Reasons and characteristics associated with nonuse

    Authors

    T. L. Dietz

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    J. Appl. Gerontol.

    Keywords

    Gerontology

    Abstract

    Using a national data set, this project examines the underutilization of formal services by older ethnic minorities. Specifically, the project reveals that older Mexican Americans, although likely to report income below the official poverty line, report low utilization rates of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Analysis further reveals that among older Mexican Americans who are eligible to receive SSI, those participants who had used another formal program in the previous year had at least some formal education, lived with others, and/or reported that too many medical bills was a problem were statistically less likely to use SSI Furthermore, the most commonly reported reasons for not using SSI were lack of knowledge and previous feelings of discrimination or mistreatment by SSI representatives and other formal providers.

    Journal Title

    Journal of Applied Gerontology

    Volume

    20

    Issue/Number

    3

    Publication Date

    1-1-2001

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    292

    Last Page

    306

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000170582000003

    ISSN

    0733-4648

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