Disability
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Disability Data from the Current Population Survey (CPS) ASEC

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• The Current Population Survey (CPS)

The CPS uses several questions to determine if individuals are limited in their ability to work or are unable to work. The questions in the CPS were not designed or tested with the intent of measuring disability. If a person is identified by any of the seven items below, he or she is considered to have a work disability.

• D1. Identified by the supplement question - Does anyone in this household have a health problem or disability which prevents them from working or which limits the kind or amount of work they can do?
• D2. Identified by the supplement question - Is there anyone in this household who ever retired or left a job for health reasons?
• D3. Identified by the basic questionnaire as currently not in the labor force because of a disability (note: this condition has been in effect since 1994; prior to that, the condition required that "Unable to work" be marked as the individual's major activity during the reference week).
• D4. Identified by the supplement as a person who did not work at all in the previous year because of illness or disability.
• D5. Under 65 years old and covered by Medicare in previous year.
• D6. Under 65 years old and received Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in previous year.
• D7. Received VA disability income in previous year.

In addition, the Census algorithm holds that a person who says “Yes” to items D3-D6 has a severe work disability.

For more information, view The Uses and Limitations of CPS data on Work Disability

Uses and limitations of CPS data on work disability.

User Note

Criteria used to identify people with a work disability

Information on standard errors

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Page Last Modified: September 29, 2008