ACS Data Users Group

Hi,

I'm working with the PUMS, person and housing files (ACS-5year). I'm trying to find documentation about the income-to-poverty ratio (POVPIP).

1. What is the poverty threshold used in the calculation for that variable?
2. The poverty threshold used for the calculation it is determined from the ACS or another survey like the CPS?
3. It is calculated nationwide or by geography as county, tract, PUMA?

Dear Marcos,

The poverty threshold is computed from family income (sum income across family members) then apply the lookup table on webpage (based on family size and number of related children

https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html

In the PUMS data (see PUMS codebook)

Total Family income is FINCP

You need to get family size (NPF)

and number of related children (NRC)

Then apply the spreadsheet for the correct year (vintage)

Dave

Great! Documentation came hard to find but on the handbook is well explained too. Thanks!