Codes

Information on the codes for this variable is not currently available.

Description

SPMFICA reports the total family Social Security retirement payroll deductions and is used in the construction of the Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM). This variable is measured at the SPM family unit level.

In 2014, the Census Bureau updated SPMFEDTAXAC values for CPS ASEC 2010.

SPMFICA is expressed in dollars as of the survey year; users can adjust for inflation with Consumer Price Index adjustment factors.

Comparability

Aside from the effects of inflation, SPMFICA 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 before and after 2019 incomparable. For more information on this overhaul, see our guide to the 2019 ASEC updates.

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Unharmonized Variables