The federal government provides assistance aimed at helping people with low-incomes who may earn too little to meet their basic needs, cannot support themselves through work, or who are disadvantaged in other ways. This book describes federal programs (including tax expenditures) targeted to people with low incomes; identifies the number and selected household characteristics of people in poverty; identifies the number, poverty status, and household characteristics of selected programs recipients; and examines research on how selected programs may affect incentives to work.