SPMWIC_19RYALT is a 4-digit numeric variable.

Description

SPMWIC_19RYALT records the estimated dollar value of benefits received by the family from the Supplementary Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). This information is used to construct the Supplemental Poverty Measure.

This variable is an alternative version of SPMWIC that was re-released for the 2020 ASEC which reflects methodological changes first introduced with the 2021 CPS ASEC sample. For more information, see our documentation on the re-release of the 2019 SPM research file in the 2020 ASEC that describes methodological improvements that impact SPM resource and threshold variables. The SPM reference year is the calendar year to which the income, taxes, transfers, expenses, and poverty thresholds apply.

For additional information on the estimation of WIC benefits, see Garner and Hoyakem and for more details about the 2021 changes to SPM (which affect this variable), see Burns and Fox, 2021.

Comparability

This variable is comparable over time.

Universe

Flags

Unharmonized Variables