Providing National Statistics on Health and Social Welfare Programs in an Era of Change: Summary of a Workshop (1998)
Chapter: Income and Program Participation (for each person)
Labor Force Participation in Past 4 Months1
Whether had at least one paid job or did any work for money in past 4 months
Whether worked for employer, self-employed, both, something else (e.g., odd job)
Whether did any unpaid work in family business or farm
Reason did not work
Which weeks worked; which weeks with a job but not paid and why
Any time on layoff in past 4 months; whether had date to return to work
Any time looking for work in past 4 months; which weeks
If could have started a job (or returned to one), reason why didn't
How many employers in past 4 months
Start and end dates (if applicable) for each employer for which worked during past 4 months
Reason stopped working for an employer
Number businesses (including farm or professional practice) had alone or jointly in past 4 months; whether active in business or own as investment only
Start and end dates (if applicable) for each business; reason gave up a business
Usual hours per week per employer
Regular pay rate at end of month 4 (or when left job); how often paid
Usual hours involved in each business; whether received regular salary or other income
Reason worked less than 35 hours per week
Current labor force status (as of date of interview)
[Note: There are no questions on volunteer work or participation in work training programs.]
Previous Work Experience (Wave 1 Topical Module)
Before started current job (if applicable), what year last worked at a paid job or business and when started that job
How old when first worked 6 straight months at some job or business
Main reason never worked 6 straight months
Whether worked at least 6 straight months in each year since first job
How many years did not work 6 straight months
Whether has generally worked 35 hours or more per week
Whether any periods of 6 or more months when did not work because taking care of a child, elderly person, or disabled person; when most recent such period and how long; how many such periods; when first such period
Income and Program Participation (for each person)2
Earnings (for each of 4 months)
Gross earnings from each employer (how paid)
Tips, bonuses, overtime pay, or commissions
Any other pay
How much received from business
Net profit or loss from business
Income from freelancing, consulting, moonlighting
Program cash payments (for each of 4 months; reason for receipt for some income types—retired, disabled, widowed or surviving child, spouse or dependent child, other reason; composition of the recipient unit for some income types; age when began receiving disability income; reason why and when applied for and reason why stopped receiving AFDC, SSI, and some other income types; recipiency history for AFDC and SSI in Wave 1)
Social Security
Supplemental Security Income; whether ever applied; whether ever received; when first received and for how long
SSI on behalf of children
Separate SSI payment from state or local welfare office
Unemployment compensation
Workers' compensation
Veterans' compensation by type
Payments from own sickness, accident, or disability insurance policy
Employer disability payments
Employer or union pension
Federal civilian pension
State government pension
Local government pension
U.S. military pension
National Guard or Reserve Forces retirement
Railroad Retirement
Black lung payments
Other disability payments
Other pension payments
Regular retirement income from paid-up insurance policy or annuity
Payments from estate or trust
AFDC; whether ever applied; whether ever received; when first received and for how long; number of times received
General Assistance
Other welfare
Child support as bonus or pass-through from AFDC
Asset holdings and asset income (whether owned separately or jointly; value; 4-month income amounts where applicable)
U.S. Government savings bonds (E or EE)
IRA or Keogh account; whether received lump sum or regular payments in last 4 months
401(k) or thrift plan
Interest earning checking account
Savings account
Money market deposit account
