Table of Contents

Component Description

The income section (variable name prefix INQ) provides family level information on income sources, monthly income, and family cash assets. Information on family's annual income was also collected in this section and has been released as part of the Demographics file (DEMO_H).

Eligible Sample

All participants are eligible.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

These questions were asked as part of the NHANES Family Questionnaire, in the home, using the Computer-Assisted Personal interview (CAPI) system. Hand cards showing response categories were also used for some questions. One respondent in each family answered these questions.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

The CAPI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors. CAPI also uses online help screens to assist interviewers in defining key terms used in the questionnaire. All of the data was reviewed by the NHANES field office staff for accuracy and completeness.

Data Processing and Editing

Frequency counts were checked, “skip” patterns were verified, and the reasonableness of question responses was reviewed. Edits were made to some variables to ensure the completeness, consistency, and analytic usefulness of the data.  Edits were also made, when necessary, to address data disclosure concerns.  When a variable was modified globally, as part of the editing process, the third letter in the variable name was changed from a Q (i.e., INQ) to a D (i.e., IND).  For example, some data were collected using two variables (a number variable and a unit of measure variable), but combined into a single variable for data release purposes.

IND235 (Family monthly income)

The respondent was asked to report total family income, received last month in dollars, for themselves and the other members of their family. Family monthly income is released as a range of values, in dollars, to minimize disclosure risks. The response categories are: $0 - $399, $400 - $799, $800 - $1249, $1250 - $1649, $1650 - $2099, $2100 - $2899, $2900 - $3749, $3750 - $4599, $4600 - $5399, $5400 - $6249, $6250 - $8399, $8400 and over. These response categories were chosen to mirror the categories used for reporting annual income.

INDFMMPI (Family monthly poverty level index)

This variable is an index for the ratio of monthly income to poverty. The 2013 and 2014 Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) poverty guidelines were used as the poverty measure to calculate this index. These guidelines are issued each year, in the Federal Register, for determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs such as Head Start, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) (formerly Food Stamp Program), Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the National School Lunch Program. The variable INDFMMPI was calculated by dividing family income by the poverty guidelines, specific to family size, as well as the appropriate year and state. Values at or above 5.00 were coded as 5.00 or more because of disclosure concerns. The values were not computed if the family income data was missing.

INDFMMPC (Family monthly poverty level index category)

For respondents who reported their family monthly income in dollar amounts, we calculated their family monthly poverty level index (INDFMMPI) as described above. The index was then grouped into three categories (i.e., INDFMMPI ≤1.30, 1.30 < INDFMMPI ≤ 1.85, INDFMMPI >1.85) and reported in this variable. These categories were chosen because they represented commonly used percentages of the poverty guidelines (i.e., 130 percent and 185 percent of the guidelines), by federal programs, in determining eligibility.

When the respondent refused to answer the family monthly income question or did not know the total combined family income, a monthly income screener question was asked (question INQ238) to query whether the monthly family income was below 185% of the HHS poverty guidelines. If the response was positive, a follow-up question (INQ241) was asked to see whether the family’s monthly income was more or less than 130% of the HHS poverty guidelines. For these respondents, answers to INQ238 and INQ241 were used to derive variable INDFMMPC.

INQ244, IND247 (Total savings/cash assets)

Total savings/cash assets questions for the family were only asked if the family’s annual income was equal or less than 200 percent of the 2012 HHS poverty guidelines. The respondent was first asked whether the family has savings or cash assets more than $5,000 (INQ244).  If the family did not have savings or cash assets more than $5,000, the respondent would then be asked a follow-up question (IND247) to select a dollar range from a list printed on a hand card for the family’s total savings and cash assets amount.

Analytic Notes

The income questions were asked as part of household interview, the interview sample weights may be used in the analysis for data in this section. However, if the data is joined with other data from the Mobile Examination Center (MEC), the MEC exam weights should be used.

Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues. Both of these are available on the NHANES website.

References

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS

INQ020 - Income from wages/salaries

Variable Name:
INQ020
SAS Label:
Income from wages/salaries
English Text:
The next questions are about {your/your combined family} income. When answering these questions, please remember that by {"income/combined family income"}, I mean {your income/your income plus the income of {NAMES OF OTHER NHANES FAMILY MEMBERS} for {LAST CALENDAR YEAR}. Did {you/you and OTHER NHANES FAMILY MEMBERS 16+} receive income in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR} from wages and salaries? [Did {you/you or OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS 16+} get paid for work in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR}.]
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 8142 8142
2 No 1856 9998
7 Refused 48 10046
9 Don't know 6 10052
. Missing 123 10175

INQ012 - Income from self employment

Variable Name:
INQ012
SAS Label:
Income from self employment
English Text:
Did {you/you or any family members 16 and older} receive income in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR} from self-employment including business and farm income? [Self-employment means you worked for yourself.]
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 1530 1530
2 No 8497 10027
7 Refused 24 10051
9 Don't know 1 10052
. Missing 123 10175

INQ030 - Income from Social Security or RR

Variable Name:
INQ030
SAS Label:
Income from Social Security or RR
English Text:
When answering the next questions about different kinds of income members of your family might have received in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR}, please consider that we also want to know about family members less than 16 years old. Did {you/you or any family members living here, that is: you or NAME(S) OF OTHER NHANES FAMILY MEMBERS} receive income in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR} from Social Security or Railroad Retirement?
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2218 2218
2 No 7804 10022
7 Refused 21 10043
9 Don't know 9 10052
. Missing 123 10175

INQ060 - Income from other disability pension

Variable Name:
INQ060
SAS Label:
Income from other disability pension
English Text:
Did {you/you or any family members living here} receive any disability pension [other than Social Security or Railroad Retirement] in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR}?
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 754 754
2 No 9269 10023
7 Refused 24 10047
9 Don't know 5 10052
. Missing 123 10175

INQ080 - Income from retirement/survivor pension

Variable Name:
INQ080
SAS Label:
Income from retirement/survivor pension
English Text:
Did {you/you or any family members living here} receive retirement or survivor pension [other than Social Security or Railroad Retirement or disability pension] in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR}?
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 1019 1019
2 No 9011 10030
7 Refused 20 10050
9 Don't know 2 10052
. Missing 123 10175

INQ090 - Income from Supplemental Security Income

Variable Name:
INQ090
SAS Label:
Income from Supplemental Security Income
English Text:
Did {you/you or any family members living here} receive Supplemental Security Income [SSI] in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR}?
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 710 710
2 No 9314 10024
7 Refused 20 10044
9 Don't know 8 10052
. Missing 123 10175

INQ132 - Income from state/county cash assistance

Variable Name:
INQ132
SAS Label:
Income from state/county cash assistance
English Text:
Did {you/you or any family members living here} receive any cash assistance from a state or county welfare program such as welfare, public assistance, AFDC, or some other program in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR}?
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 623 623
2 No 9398 10021
7 Refused 26 10047
9 Don't know 5 10052
. Missing 123 10175

INQ140 - Income from interest/dividends or rental

Variable Name:
INQ140
SAS Label:
Income from interest/dividends or rental
English Text:
Did {you/you or any family members living here} receive interest from savings or other bank accounts or income from dividends received from stocks or mutual funds or net rental income from property, royalties, estates, or trusts in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR}?
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2022 2022
2 No 7990 10012
7 Refused 29 10041
9 Don't know 11 10052
. Missing 123 10175

INQ150 - Income from other sources

Variable Name:
INQ150
SAS Label:
Income from other sources
English Text:
Did {you/you or any family members living here} receive income in {LAST CALENDAR YEAR} from child support, alimony, contributions from family or others, VA payments, worker's compensation, or unemployment compensation?
English Instructions:
INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: CONTRIBUTIONS INCLUDE GIFTS. INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: IF RESPONDENT IS A COLLEGE STUDENT LIVING AWAY FROM THEIR FAMILY PLEASE ADD "INCLUDING MONEY RECIEVED FROM FAMILY FOR COLLEGE TUITION, BOOKS AND LIVING EXPENSES"
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 1487 1487
2 No 8546 10033
7 Refused 16 10049
9 Don't know 3 10052
. Missing 123 10175

IND235 - Monthly family income

Variable Name:
IND235
SAS Label:
Monthly family income
English Text:
Monthly family income (reported as a range value in dollars).
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 $0 - $399 317 317
2 $400 - $799 488 805
3 $800 - $1249 1012 1817
4 $1250 - $1649 789 2606
5 $1650 - $2099 863 3469
6 $2100 - $2899 981 4450
7 $2900 - $3749 1010 5460
8 $3750 - $4599 769 6229
9 $4600 - $5399 539 6768
10 $5400 - $6249 401 7169
11 $6250 - $8399 717 7886
12 $8400 and over 1223 9109
77 Refused 235 9344
99 Don't know 462 9806
. Missing 369 10175

INDFMMPI - Family monthly poverty level index

Variable Name:
INDFMMPI
SAS Label:
Family monthly poverty level index
English Text:
Family monthly poverty level index, a ratio of monthly family income to the HHS poverty guidelines specific to family size.
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Hard Edits:
0 to 4.99
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
0 to 4.97 Range of Values 8002 8002
5 Value greater than or equal to 5.00 1107 9109
. Missing 1066 10175

INDFMMPC - Family monthly poverty level category

Variable Name:
INDFMMPC
SAS Label:
Family monthly poverty level category
English Text:
Family monthly poverty level index categories.
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Monthly poverty level index <= 1.30 4107 4107
2 1.30 < Monthly poverty level index <= 1.85 1329 5436
3 Monthly poverty level index > 1.85 4189 9625
7 Refused 63 9688
9 Don't Know 118 9806
. Missing 369 10175

INQBOX1 - CHECK ITEM

Variable Name:
INQBOX1
English Instructions:
BOX 1. CHECK ITEM: IF FAMILY ANNUAL INCOME EQUAL OR LESS THAN {200% POVERTY LEVEL}, CONTINUE; OTHERWISE, GO TO THE END OF SECTION. CALCULATE 200% OF THE ANNUAL POVERTY LEVEL BASED ON FAMILY SIZE: $22,430 FOR FAMILY SIZE OF 1, THEREAFTER, ADDING $7,920 FOR EACH ADDITIONAL PERSON.
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS

INQ244 - Family has savings more than $5000

Variable Name:
INQ244
SAS Label:
Family has savings more than $5000
English Text:
Do {you/NAMES OF OTHER FAMILY/you and NAMES OF FAMILY MEMBERS} have more than $5,000 in savings at this time? Please include money in your checking accounts.
English Instructions:
INTERVIEWER INSTRUCTION: INCLUDE CASH, SAVINGS OR CHECKING ACCOUNTS, STOCKS, BONDS, MUTUAL FUNDS, RETIREMENT FUNDS (SUCH AS PENSIONS, IRAS, 401KS, ETC), AND CERTIFICATES OF DEPOSIT. CAPI INSTRUCTION: DISPLAY "you" for single-person family; DISPLAY "the members of your family" for multi-persons family.
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 486 486 End of Section
2 No 4809 5295
7 Refused 137 5432 End of Section
9 Don't know 82 5514 End of Section
. Missing 4661 10175

IND247 - Total savings/cash assets for the family

Variable Name:
IND247
SAS Label:
Total savings/cash assets for the family
English Text:
Total savings or cash assets at this time for {you/NAMES OF OTHER FAMILY/your family}.
Target:
Both males and females 0 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Less than $500 4157 4157
2 $501- $1000 269 4426
3 $1001-$2000 141 4567
4 $2001-$3000 96 4663
5 $3001-$4000 43 4706
6 $4001-$5000 27 4733
77 Refused 52 4785
99 Don't know 24 4809
. Missing 5366 10175