Living in Poverty - A13003A_002 - Poverty Status in 2010 for Children Under 18 - Social Explorer Tables: ACS 2010 (5-Year Estimates) (SE) - Survey ACS 2010 (5-Year Estimates)

Variables used in the formula:
ACS10_5yr:B17001004	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Male: Under 5 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001005	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Male: 5 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001006	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Male: 6 to 11 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001007	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Male: 12 to 14 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001008	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Male: 15 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001009	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Male: 16 and 17 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001018	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Female: Under 5 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001019	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Female: 5 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001020	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Female: 6 to 11 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001021	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Female: 12 to 14 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001022	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Female: 15 Years
ACS10_5yr:B17001023	Population for Whom Poverty Status Is Determined: Income in the Past 12 Months Below Poverty Level: Female: 16 and 17 Years

Relevant Documentation:

Excerpt from:	Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2006-2010 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
	ACS 2010 5-Year Summary File: Technical Documentation -> Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation -> Subject Definitions -> Population Variables -> Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months

Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months

Poverty statistics in ACS products adhere to the standards specified by the Office of Management and Budget in Statistical Policy Directive 14. The Census Bureau uses a set of dollar value thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. Further, poverty thresholds for people living alone or with nonrelatives (unrelated individuals) vary by age (under 65 years or 65 years and older). The poverty thresholds for two-person families also vary by the age of the householder. If a family's total income is less than the dollar value of the appropriate threshold, then that family and every individual in it are considered to be in poverty. Similarly, if an unrelated individual's total income is less than the appropriate threshold, then that individual is considered to be in poverty.

How the Census Bureau Determines Poverty Status

In determining the poverty status of families and unrelated individuals, the Census Bureau uses thresholds (income cutoffs) arranged in a two-dimensional matrix. The matrix consists of family size (from one person to nine or more people) cross-classified by presence and number of family members under 18 years old (from no children present to eight or more children present). Unrelated individuals and two-person families are further differentiated by age of reference person (RP) (under 65 years old and 65 years old and over).

To determine a person's poverty status, one compares the person's total family income in the last 12 months with the poverty threshold appropriate for that person's family size and composition (see example below). If the total income of that person's family is less than the threshold appropriate for that family, then the person is considered "below the poverty level," together with every member of his or her family. If a person is not living with anyone related by birth, marriage, or adoption, then the person's own income is compared with his or her poverty threshold. The total number of people below the poverty level is the sum of people in families and the number of unrelated individuals with incomes in the last 12 months below the poverty threshold.

Since ACS is a continuous survey, people respond throughout the year. Because the income questions specify a period covering the last 12 months, the appropriate poverty thresholds are determined by multiplying the base-year poverty thresholds (1982) by the average of the monthly inflation factors for the 12 months preceding the data collection. See the table in Appendix A titled "Poverty Thresholds in 1982, by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 Years (Dollars)," for appropriate base thresholds. See the table "The 2010 Poverty Factors" in Appendix A for the appropriate adjustment based on interview month.

For example, consider a family of three with one child under 18 years of age, interviewed in July 2010 and reporting a total family income of $14,000 for the last 12 months (July 2009 to June 2010). The base year (1982) threshold for such a family is $7,765, while the average of the 12 inflation factors is 2.24574 Multiplying $7,765 by 2.24574 determines the appropriate poverty threshold for this family type, which is $17,438 Comparing the family's income of $14,000 with the poverty threshold shows that the family and all people in the family are considered to have been in poverty. The only difference for determining poverty status for unrelated individuals is that the person's individual total income is compared with the threshold rather than the family's income.

Individuals for Whom Poverty Status is Determined

Poverty status was determined for all people except institutionalized people, people in military group quarters, people in college dormitories, and unrelated individuals under 15 years old. These groups were excluded from the numerator and denominator when calculating poverty rates.

Specified Poverty Levels

Specified poverty levels are adjusted thresholds that are obtained by multiplying the official thresholds by specific factor. Using the threshold cited from the previous example (a family of three with one related child under 18 years responding in July 2010), the dollar value at 125 percent of the poverty threshold was $ 21,798 ($ 17,438x 1.25).

Excerpt from:	Social Explorer; U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey 2006-2010 Summary File: Technical Documentation.
	ACS 2010 5-Year Summary File: Technical Documentation -> Appendix A. Supplemental Documentation -> Subject Definitions -> Population Variables -> Household Type and Relationship -> Relationship to Householder -> Child

Child

Includes a son or daughter by birth, a stepchild, or adopted child of the householder, regardless of the child's age or marital status. The category excludes sons-in-law, daughters- in-law, and foster children.

Biological son or daughter

The son or daughter of the householder by birth.

Adopted son or daughter

The son or daughter of the householder by legal adoption. If a stepson or stepdaughter has been legally adopted by the householder, the child is then classified as an adopted child.

Stepson or stepdaughter

The son or daughter of the householder through marriage but not by birth, excluding sons-in-law and daughters-in-law. If a stepson or stepdaughter of the householder has been legally adopted by the householder, the child is then classified as an adopted child.

Own Child

A never-married child under 18 years who is a son or daughter by birth, a stepchild, or an adopted child of the householder. In certain tabulations, own children are further classified as living with two parents or with one parent only. Own children of the householder living with two parents are by definition found only in married-couple families. (Note: When used in "EMPLOYMENT STATUS" tabulations, own child refers to a never married child under the age of 18 in a family or a subfamily who is a son or daughter, by birth, marriage, or adoption, of a member of the householder's family, but not necessarily of the householder.)

Related Child

Any child under 18 years old who is related to the householder by birth, marriage, or adoption. Related children of the householder include ever-married as well as never-married children. Children, by definition, exclude persons under 18 years who maintain households or are spouses or unmarried partners of householders.