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An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line (2023)

Chapter: Appendix 6A: SPM/PPM Threshold Components - Availability in the CE Interview Survey/Taken from Other Sources

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Suggested Citation:"Appendix 6A: SPM/PPM Threshold Components - Availability in the CE Interview Survey/Taken from Other Sources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26825.
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Appendix 6A

SPM/PPM Threshold Components—Availability in the CE Interview Survey/Taken from Other Sources

Component Source
REQUIRED FOR CURRENT SPM
CONSUMER UNIT (CU) COMPOSITION Required to obtain estimation sample
Presence of adults and children CE estimation sample includes all CUs with children
BASIC BUNDLE (FCSUti) FCSUti estimated at 83% of the 47th–53rd percentiles of expenditures for basic bundle for reference CU, then S + U estimated separately by housing tenure (rent, own without a mortgage, own with a mortgage); replaces the SU component in FCSUti
Food purchased with money income CE includes food at home and away from home
Food obtained with in-kind benefits CE used for SNAP; BLS imputes WIC and the National School Lunch Program
Clothing CE
Shelter (including obtained with subsidies) CE used for housing tenure, rent, mortgage payment, property taxes, property insurance, maintenance; BLS imputes rental assistance
Utilities (including obtained with subsidies) CE, BLS imputes Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program [LIHEAP]
Telephone CE
Internet CE
MULTIPLIER 1.2 times basic bundle to account for other necessary expenditures (e.g., nonwork-related transportation, personal care, household supplies)
ADJUSTMENTS Equivalence scale applied based on number of adults and children; housing component (by tenure) adjusted geographically by the ratio of 5-year ACS tabulations of median rent and utilities for 2-bedroom units with complete kitchen and plumbing facilities in a state or metropolitan area to the U.S. median.
FINAL THRESHOLDS Basic bundle + multiplier, adjusted for family composition and geographic shelter cost differences (see “Adjustments”)
Suggested Citation:"Appendix 6A: SPM/PPM Threshold Components - Availability in the CE Interview Survey/Taken from Other Sources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26825.
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Component Source
REQUIRED FOR PANEL’S RECOMMENDED PPM
CONSUMER UNIT COMPOSITION See above
REVISED BASIC BUNDLE (FCti) FCti estimated at 83% of 47th–53rd percentiles of expenditures for revised basic bundle for reference consumer unit
Food CE used (see above re: imputation of in-kind food benefits)
Clothing CE
Telephone CE
Internet CE
MULTIPLIER The current 1.2 multiplier will need to be updated to reflect the revised basic bundle accounting for other necessary expenditures
ADJUSTMENT Equivalence scale applied based on number of adults and children
NEW/REVISED THRESHOLD COMPONENTS Taken from other sources (see below) and added to revised basic bundle threshold
HEALTH INSURANCE Sum of health insurance needs for health insurance units in CU (e.g., parents and children one unit, grandparent a second unit): for people under 65 and over 64 but not on Medicare, need is benchmark ACA plan—second-lowest-cost Silver plan in the health insurance Marketplace in an individual’s geographic area; for Medicare recipients, need is full cost of least expensive Medicare Advantage plan with prescription drugs (premium subsidies added to resources; premium and other MOOP costs subtracted up to MOOP cap in benchmark plan)
HOUSING (including utilities) HUD FMRs (includes utilities) for applicable number of adults and children (based on number of bedrooms) for applicable metropolitan area/nonmetropolitan county (housing subsidies added to resources for renters; implicit rent net of expenses added to resources for owners)
FINAL THRESHOLDS For applicable CU composition/location, revised basic bundle + multiplier + health insurance + housing/utilities
FUTURE ADDITION—CHILDCARE The PPM extends childcare out-of-pocket costs that are subtracted from resources to parents who are in school or disabled; in a future revision, the panel recommends that childcare needs be added to the thresholds in a similar manner to health insurance and childcare subsidies be added to resources

SOURCE: For current SPM methodology, see www.bls.gov/pir/spmhome.htm.

Suggested Citation:"Appendix 6A: SPM/PPM Threshold Components - Availability in the CE Interview Survey/Taken from Other Sources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26825.
×
Page 100
Suggested Citation:"Appendix 6A: SPM/PPM Threshold Components - Availability in the CE Interview Survey/Taken from Other Sources." National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2023. An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. doi: 10.17226/26825.
×
Page 101
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An accurate measure of poverty is necessary to fully understand how the economy is performing across all segments of the population and to assess the effects of government policies on communities and families. In addition, poverty statistics are essential in determining the size and composition of the population whose basic needs are going unmet and to help society target resources to address those needs.

An Updated Measure of Poverty: (Re)Drawing the Line recommends updating the methodology used by the Census Bureau to calculate the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) to reflect household basic needs. This report recommends that the more comprehensive SPM replace the current Official Poverty Measure as the primary statistical measure of poverty the Census Bureau uses. The report assesses the strengths and weaknesses of the SPM and provides recommendations for updating its methodology and expanding its use in recognition of the needs of most American families such as medical care, childcare, and housing costs.

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