The Decennial Census Survey, conducted by the United States Census Bureau, is mandated by the United States Constitution. It is conducted every 10 years and has been in use since 1790. The last survey was conducted in 2010 and the next is scheduled for 2020. Decennial figures are based on actual counts of persons dwelling in residential structures in the United States. They include citizens, non-citizen legal residents, non-citizen long-term visitors, and undocumented immigrants.
Poverty data has been collected in the Decennial Census Survey since 1960. Poverty levels are calculated using monetary income thresholds, or the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The income thresholds vary by family size and family makeup. If a family’s total income is less than the family’s threshold, then that family and every individual in it is considered below the poverty level. The official poverty thresholds do not vary geographically, but they are updated for inflation. The official poverty definition uses money income before taxes and does not include capital gains or noncash benefits (such as public housing, Medicaid, and food stamps).
For more information about the Decennial Census Survey, poverty rates, or money income thresholds, please visit: http://www.census.gov/