The Safety Net dataset was created as part of the Policy Evaluation and Research Linkage Initiative (PERLI), a four-year project funded by the National Science Foundation that established powerful new datasets of linked administrative microdata from California state and local government sources.
The Safety Net dataset includes information about participants in two of California’s safety-net programs, CalFresh (known federally as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP) and CalWORKs (known federally as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, or TANF). These data are derived from records from the California Department of Social Services to facilitate research that has the potential to shed light on promising policies about the social safety net and improve the lives of current and future participants.
The data primarily includes records on enrollment, issuance amounts, earnings data for enrolled adults, and demographics. The Safety Net dataset is comprised of seven component datasets; each dataset includes at least 10 years of data, although the years available vary by dataset. All data, which is at the individual person-level, is anonymized and de-identified. All the below component datasets can be linked.
Researchers* interested in accessing the Safety Net datasets through the secure data infrastructure set up by the California Policy Lab can submit a data request.
CDSS requires that any project utilizing CalFresh data must inform the administration of the CalFresh program. Please scroll down for additional details on the approval process and how to submit an application. All applications for data use are subject to approval by participating departments, including the California Department of Social Services, as well as approval by the State of California Committee on the Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS).
*Note: the research team must have at least one University of California affiliate. If you need more information on whether you or someone on your team is a UC affiliate please reach out to perli@capolicylab.org.
Data overview
CalFresh and CalWORKs Longitudinal Databases
The Longitudinal Databases (LDBs) are person-level files that capture CalFresh and CalWORKs program eligibility and enrollment. These data include indicators for an individual’s and assistance unit's enrollment each month, county of residence, and demographic information (race/ethnicity, sex, language, age, and zip code).
This data is limited only to individuals enrolled in CalFresh and CalWORKs; it does not include application data or information on applications that are denied.
MEDS Data
This data contains monthly enrollment records of Californians enrolled in social services programs administered by the California Department of Social Services, including demographic information for individuals (race/ethnicity, sex, language, age, and zip code) and assistance units (cases). These data include records for recipients who are enrolled in numerous CDSS programs but only identify enrollment in CalFresh and CalWORKs. These other programs include Supplemental Security Income/State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP), the In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Program, Adoption Assistance Program (AAP)/Aid Adoption of Children (AAC), Approved Relative Caregiver (ARC) program, Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants-Qualified (CAPI-Qualified) Aliens, Entrant Cash Assistance (ECA), Foster Care, Former Foster, KinGAP Cash Assistance, and Refugee Cash Assistance (RCA), and the Trafficking and Crime Victims Assistance Program (TCVAP). Note: The Safety Net dataset does not include Medi-Cal enrollment or claims data.
This data is limited to individuals enrolled in programs during a given month or year– it does not include application data or information on applications that are denied.
Quarterly wage earnings data
This data includes base wage data for participants in CalWORKs and CalFresh programs from the Employment Development Department: person-quarter earnings data for all adults who enroll in these programs. Quarterly wage earnings data should only be used in conjunction with the enrollment data found in the CalWORKS and CalFresh Longitudinal Data Bases (LDBs).
For every individual in the data, these files contain their total earned income across all formal-sector jobs worked in the relevant quarter (e.g., W-2 information). This does not include non-wage, self-employment, or informal income sources. These earnings records include any quarter in which an individual was enrolled in CalFresh or CalWORKs, as well as for the six quarters before and after enrollment.
Note that approval to access this data can take longer because it requires additional approvals from CDSS and the Employment Development Department that may or may not be granted.
Issuance Data
The issuance datasets are case-level files that capture monthly allotment data (amount of aid) and the issuance start dates for individuals enrolled in CalFresh or CalWORKs.
Linked Data
In addition, the Safety Net data is currently linked to additional datasets from other departments, with more linkages planned. These datasets include:
● GetCalFresh.org data (linkage available from January 2020 through July 2021)
● Consumer Credit Panel data (linkage underway: available from January 2012 through present)
● Hospitalizations and birth/death records data (linkage underway: available from January 2012 through present)
● California Student Aid Commission financial aid data, Community College enrollment and completion data, and University of California enrollment and completion data (linkage available from January 2012 to present)
If you are interested in linking the Safety Net dataset with any of the above, it will take longer as it requires additional approvals from the participating department(s) that may or may not be granted. There is space to indicate your interest in these additional data on your Safety Net data application.
How to access the Safety Net data
We are currently accepting data request applications for the Safety Net data. There is a cost of $4,721 to access the data.
So that you can plan more effectively, we note that projects are often taking more than 6 months to get agency approval, and not all projects are approved
Applications will be reviewed on a monthly basis. Deadlines are 12pm on the last day of the month.
Projects utilizing CalFresh data must be tied to CDSS program administration. Please specify in your application how your project is tied to CDSS program administration within the following four criteria:
1. Ensuring all eligible households receive and maintain benefits.
2. Increasing timely and accurate benefit determinations.
3. Increasing available earnings, income, resources and food purchasing power of all eligible households.
4. Improving the health, nutrition, and financial well-being of all eligible households.
Applications will undergo a two-stage review process: following an internal review, California Policy Lab will then present data requests and project proposals to CDSS, who will have final approval. Applicants can expect to be notified of whether their project will be passed on to CDSS within four to eight weeks. The timeline on CDSS's decision will vary depending on the Department's availability and approvals required.
Upon approval, researchers are responsible for getting approval for their projects through the California Committee for the Protection of Human Subjects (CPHS, the State IRB), which is necessary to execute the data sharing agreement and access the data, and complying with all data security requirements required by participating departments, including sharing written products for departmental review prior to publication.
If you have any questions about the dataset or the application process, please reach out to perli@capolicylab.org. To stay connected about PERLI, please subscribe to our updates list.