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Income and Poverty /
Supplemental Poverty Measure
Within Income and Poverty
America Counts: Stories
Guidance for Data Users
An Interagency Technical Working Group on Developing a Supplemental Poverty Measure was formed in 2009 and charged with developing a set of initial starting points to permit the U.S. Census Bureau, in cooperation with the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Poverty in the United States: 2021
This report presents data on poverty in the United States based on information collected in the 2022 and earlier CPS ASEC.
How the U.S. Census Bureau Measures Poverty
We measure poverty two ways every year. The official poverty measure is based on cash resources. The supplemental poverty measure includes noncash benefits.
2021 Improvements to SPM
View overview of potential changes to SPM resources under consideration for 2021.
The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2020
This report describes research on the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM).
These tables present data on poverty in the United States based on information collected in the 2022 and earlier CPS ASEC.
View and download tables on the Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2020.
ACS Supplemental Poverty Measures (SPM) Research Files: 2009 to 2019
These research files enable researchers to create SPM estimates using public use ACS data.
2019 Revised Supplemental Poverty Measure Research File
These research files enable researchers to replicate the SPM estimates describe in SEHSD Working Paper #2021-17.
2018 Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) Research File
These files enable researchers to replicate the SPM poverty estimates described in report P60-268 (The Supplemental Poverty Measure: 2018).
Methods and Assumptions of the CPS ASEC Tax Model
This paper details the methods and assumptions of the CPS ASEC Tax Model.
The Impact of the 2021 Expanded Child Tax Credit on Child Poverty
This paper examines the impact of the expanded Child Tax Credit on child poverty.
School Lunch and P-EBT Valuation in the 2021 SPM
This paper describes the updated method for calculating and assigning school lunch values in the 2021 SPM.
Other Subtopics Within 'Income and Poverty'
Census money income is defined as income received on a regular basis before payments for taxes, social security, etc. and does not reflect noncash benefits.
Income inequality is the extent to which income is distributed unevenly among a population.
If a family's total income is less than the official poverty threshold for a family of that size and composition, then they are considered to be in poverty.
Program Income and Public Assistance
Public assistance refers to assistance programs that provide either cash or in-kind benefits to individuals and families from any governmental entity.
Small Area Income & Poverty Estimates (SAIPE)
The Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) program provides more current estimates for the administration and allocation of federal programs and funds.
Wealth and Asset Ownership
Household net worth or wealth is an important defining factor of economic well-being - it can become an additional source of income in hard times or retirement.
Factors that contribute to well-being include income, possession of consumer durables, housing and neighborhood conditions, and the meeting of basic needs.
Page Last Revised - October 31, 2022