Poverty & Income Dynamics

Contents Methods and Data Sources Portraits of Families Low-income families Low education families Single-headed families Nonwhite or Hispanic families Renter

By: Adam Carasso and Signe-Mary McKernan The Urban Institute

Contents Key Findings Conclusions Savings and assets can cushion families against sudden income losses and can bolster long-term economic gains. These savings, however, can make a low-income family ineligible for benefits from means-tested programs when they encounter economic difficulties.

Contents Data Sets Identified and Criteria for Assessment Primary Data Sources for Holdings of Low-Resource Households' Assets Survey of Income and Program Participation Panel Study of Income Dynamics Survey of Consumer Finances

Poor Finances: Assets and Low-Income Households Principal Investigators: Signe-Mary McKernan and Michael Sherraden The Urban Institute Project began September 2007

The Welfare Indicators Act of 1994 requires the Department of Health and Human Services to prepare annual reports to Congress on indicators and predictors of welfare dependence.  The 2007 Indicators of Welfare Dependence, the tenth annual report, provides welfare dependence indicators through 2004, reflecting changes that have taken place since ena

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services This report was written by Gil Crouse, Sarah Douglas, and Susan Hauan of the Office of Human Services Policy under the direction of Melissa Pardue, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Human Services Policy, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.

This report examines the employment patterns and income progression of single mothers and their families for two years after they exit poverty. The study found that 30 percent of single mothers were poor but then left poverty. Work effort was high among single mothers who left poverty: on average they worked for three-quarters of the subsequent two years following their poverty exit.

Prepared for:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)Office of Human Services Policy (HSP)Contract: 233-02-0086; Task Order 23