Health Indicator Report of Utah Population Characteristics: Poverty, All Persons

Data from the 2019 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year estimates, table B17001

Notes

The ACS data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. 2021 American Community Survey (ACS) 1-year Table B17001 estimates.

Data Interpretation Issues

Poverty status is determined by comparing annual income to a set of dollar values called thresholds that vary by family size, number of children, and age of householder. If a family's before tax money income is less than the dollar value of their threshold, then that family and every individual in it are considered to be in poverty. For people not living in families, poverty status is determined by comparing the individual's income to his or her threshold. The poverty threshold for a family of four including two children was $29,678 in 2022. Poverty thresholds are updated annually to allow for changes in the cost of living using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). They do not vary geographically.

Definition

The percentage of persons living in households whose income is at or below the federal poverty threshold.

Numerator

Estimated number of persons living in households whose income is at or below the federal poverty threshold as defined by the U.S. Census Bureau.

Denominator

Estimated number of persons in the population.

Other Objectives

CSTE Chronic Disease Indicator - Poverty

How Are We Doing?

According to the American Community Survey (ACS), approximately 8.2% of Utah residents, or 273,052 Utahns, were living in poverty in 2022. This includes 77,607 children aged 17 and under.

What Is Being Done?

Healthcare "safety net" programs, such as Medicaid, CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Plan) provide some relief to those who are eligible. Utah's community health centers also fill a critical niche in providing high-quality health care services to Utahns of any income level. Programs such as Head Start and those that provide assistance linking people with jobs aim to reduce poverty by increasing social functioning and self-sufficiency. Other programs, such as minimum wage requirements, food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), and government subsidized health insurance and child care, provide assistance to families needing additional support.

Available Services

Utah Department of Workforce Services[[br]] P.O. Box 45249[[br]] Salt Lake City, UT 84145-0249[[br]] Phone: (801) 526-WORK (9675)[[br]] Fax: (801) 526-9211[[br]] Email: dwscontactus@utah.gov[[br]] [http://jobs.utah.gov/]