Description

SPMPOV indicates whether a family is classified as poor according to the Research Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). Researchers should use the weight developed for the SPM when using SPMPOV. This weight is available in SPMWT.

The SPM is calculated by the Census Bureau as an alternative indicator of poverty status. It incorporates the value of tax and transfer benefits not included in the official poverty measure. In addition, the SPM thresholds are calculated based on consumer expenditure data and take into account geographic differences in the cost of living. Finally, the SPM is calculated using a different definition of family membership than the official poverty measure. Differences include treating cohabiting couples as members of the same family, including foster children in the family of the head of household, and placing no age or marital status restrictions on identifiable family relationships among adults who are unrelated to the householder.

For more information on the calculation of the SPM, see the Census Bureau's "The Research Supplemental Poverty Measure" report. Note that the SPM data files were made confidential by the Census Bureau before public release. Consequently, poverty estimates produced using the public use files may differ slightly from those reported in Census Bureau studies.

A family is classified as poor by this measure if their total economic resources fall below the poverty threshold. SPM family units are identified in SPMFAMUNIT.

In 2014, the Census Bureau updated the SPM public use research files to reflect three changes. First, the 2010 and 2011 files include updated tax estimates. Second, all files use a revised estimate for WIC (see SPMWIC for more information). Third, the updated files use Census 2010-based population controls as opposed to Census 2000-based population controls, as it was originally released (see WTSUPP for more information). These changes are documented on the Census Bureau site (Supplemental Poverty Measure Public Use Files).

Comparability

SPMPOV is comparable across years from 2010 to 2018.

In 2019, the Census Bureau implemented a new processing system to accommodate survey changes. These changes affect income and relationship variables, making poverty measurements incomparable before and after 2019. For more information on this overhaul, see our guide to the 2019 ASEC updates.

In 2021, the Census Bureau made improvements to the Supplement Poverty Measure, including changing how WIC was valued (see SPMWIC) and how the Supplemental Poverty Thresholds (SPMTHRESH). As a result, SPM poverty rates calculated using SPMPOV are not entirely comparable before and after 2021. For more details on the 2021 SPM updates, see Burns and Fox, 2021.

Universe

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Unharmonized Variables