More Likely to Be Poor Whatever the Measure: Persons with Disabilities in the U.S.

Abstract

Objective: This paper examines whether disability is a correlate of poverty when poverty is measured using (1) the official poverty measure; (2) the supplemental poverty measure (SPM); and (3) two newly created multidimensional poverty measures. Methods: Data from the Current Population Survey is used to explore the relationship between poverty and disability for each measure. Differences across disability status were tested for statistical significance. Results: Disability is associated with poverty, irrespective of the poverty measure under use. The gap in poverty rates between persons with and without disabilities is smaller when using the SPM as compared to the official poverty measure. The gap in poverty rates between persons with and without disabilities is highest when using multidimensional poverty measures. Conclusion: Working age persons with disabilities are more likely to be poor whatever the measure under use. They are a disadvantaged group in the U.S.

Keywords: Poverty; disability; multidimensional poverty