Section 4 Poverty
(4 tables in this section)This section presents statistics on poverty. The statistics describe the number and percentage of people with and without disabilities who experience poverty, as well as the gap between the poverty rates of people with and without disabilities. The principal source of these data is the U.S. Census Bureau, specifically the ACS.
Table 4.1 - Civilians with Disabilities Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2010
In 2010, of the 18,964,271 individuals with disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community, 5,182,020 individuals lived in poverty—a poverty rate of 27.3 percent. In contrast, of the 169,689,836 individuals without disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community, 21,731,853 individuals lived in poverty—a poverty rate of 12.8 percent. The poverty rate for people with disabilities was highest in the District of Columbia (43.0 percent) and lowest in Alaska (15.8 percent).
Derived from the American Community Survey. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability.
Table 4.2 - Civilians without Disabilities Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States: 2010
Derived from the American Community Survey. Based on a sample and subject to sampling variability.
Table 4.3 - Poverty Gap—Civilians Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States by Disability Status: 2010
In 2010, the poverty rate of individuals with disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community was 27.3 percent, while the poverty rate of individuals without disabilities ages 16 to 64 years living in the community was 12.8 percent—a poverty gap of 14.5 percentage points. The poverty gap was smallest in Alaska (7.1 percentage points) and greatest in the District of Columbia (28.1 percentage points).
Table 4.4 - Change in Poverty Gap—Civilians Ages 18 to 64 Years Living in the Community for the United States and States, by Disability Status: 2009 to 2010
In 2009, the poverty gap between individuals with and without disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community was 14.8 percent. In 2010, the poverty gap between individuals with and without disabilities ages 18 to 64 years living in the community was 14.5 percent, a 0.3 percentage point decrease. The largest percentage point increase in the poverty gap from 2009 to 2010 was in the South Dakota, a 5.7 percentage point increase, while the largest decrease in the poverty gap was in West Virginia, a 2.5 percentage point decrease.
American Community Survey (ACS)—The ACS is a large, continuous demographic survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that will provide accurate and up-to-date profiles of America’s communities every year. Annual and multi-year estimates of population and housing data are generated for small areas, including tracts and population subgroups. This information is collected by mailing questionnaires to a sample of addresses.
Disability Status (ACS)—The U.S. Census Bureau used six questions to identify persons with disabilities. A response of “yes” to any one of the questions indicates that the person in question has a disability. However, the cognitive, ambulatory, self-care, and independent living related questions are not used to identify disability in individuals less than 5 years old, and the independent living related question is not used to identify disability in individuals less than 18 years old.
Income (ACS)—The sum of all wages, salary, commissions, bonuses, and tips; self-employment income from own nonfarm and farm businesses, including proprietorships and partnerships; interest, dividends, net rental income, royalty income, and income from estates and trusts; Social Security and Railroad Retirement income; Supplemental Security Income (SSI); any public assistance and welfare payments from the state and local welfare office; retirement, survivor, and disability pensions; and any other sources received regularly such as Veterans’ (VA) payments, unemployment compensation, child support, and alimony.
Poverty (ACS)—The Office of Management and Budget in Statistical Policy Directive 14 sets the standards for which poverty is calculated. The U.S. Census Bureau uses a set of dollar value thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who is in poverty. 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.
Poverty Rate (ACS)—Percent of the population who are determined to be in poverty.