POVERTY, INCOME, AND HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE

Illinois
October 1, 2013 (version 1)

In 2012, the official poverty rate for the nation was 15.0%. There 46.5 million people in poverty nationwide. For the second consecutive year, neither the poverty rate nor the number of people in poverty was statistically different from the previous years estimates. Illinoisans are faring no better. New state data on Illinois from the U.S. Census Bureau show that no progress has been made in the fight against poverty since last year. In 2012, over 1.85 million Illinoisans were in poverty a rate of 14.7%. An additional 2.2 million Illinoisans are near poor and economically insecure with incomes between 100 and 199% of the federal poverty measure. These figures mark a disappointing lack of progress. The recovery from the Great Recession, which officially ended in 2010, is happening too slowly and continues to elude those at the bottom rung of the economic ladder in Illinois.

Illinois
2007
Poverty Extreme Poverty Low Income Child Poverty No Health Insurance Median Household Income # 1,496,248 667,578 2,029,262 511,142 1,597,086 $59,936 % 11.9 5.3 16.2 16.3 14.2 -# 1,879,965* 863,868* 2,245,488* 648,592* 1,639,724* $54,346*

2011
% 15.0* 6.9* 17.9* 21.3* 14.8* -# 1,850,562 820,554* 2,217,821 614,493* 1,602,960* $55,137*

2012
% 14.7 6.5* 17.6 20.4* 14.5* --

Chicago
2007
# % #

2011
% #

2012
%

Poverty Extreme Poverty Low Income Child Poverty No Health Insurance Median Household Income
*

550,580 244,498 554,636 201,748 526,082 $50,392

20.5 9.1 20.6 30.6 21.6 --

629,464* 298,403* 585,671 216,683 539,641 $44,539*

23.7* 11.2* 22.0* 35.8* 22.3 --

636,319 282,821 573,258 207,002 508,471* $45,214

23.9 10.6 21.5 34.3 21.1* --

Denotes change from prior year in table is statistically significant. Health insurance coverage estimates reflect 2008 the first year they were collected rather than 2007.

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6-County Region
2007
# % #

2011
% #

2012
%

Poverty Extreme Poverty Low Income Child Poverty No Health Insurance Median Household Income

936,259 416,119 1,277,860 339,216 1,151,068 --

11.3 5.0 15.4 15.8 15.4 --

1,204,445* 535,670* 1,419,744* 431,678* 1,188,406* --

14.6* 6.5* 17.3* 21.2* 16.2* --

1,194,554 520,148 1,420,591 411,653* 1,156,021* --

14.5 6.3 17.2 20.4 15.8* --

Estimates of median household income are not available for this geography.

Suburban 6-County Region (no Chicago)

2007
# % #

2011
% #

2012
%

Poverty Extreme Poverty Low Income Child Poverty No Health Insurance Median Household Income

385,679 171,621 723,224 137,468 624,986 --

6.9 3.1 12.9 9.2 12.4 --

574,981* 237,267* 834,073* 214,995* 648,765 --

10.3* 4.3* 15.0* 15.0* 13.2* --

558,235 237,327 847,333 204,651 647,550* --

10.0 4.3 15.2 14.5 13.1* --

Estimates of median household income are not available for this geography. 6-County region includes the following counties: Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will.

Measuring Poverty
Official poverty data are based on the federal poverty thresholds, which are used to determine poverty status. The measure is not geographically specific and does not reflect what it takes for families to make ends meet.

2012 FEDERAL POVERTY THRESHOLDS

Family Size Extreme Poverty (0-49% FPL) Poverty (0-99% FPL) Low Income (100-199% FPL)

What does it really take to make ends meet?

Far more people struggle to make ends meet than the official poverty data suggest. The Illinois Basic Economic Security TablesTM (BESTTM) show that it takes a family of 3 (adult, preschooler, school-age child) $72,420 to be economically secure in Illinois.

$5,585 $7,565 $9,545 $11,525

$11,170 $15,130 $19,090 $23,050

$22,340 $30,260 $38,180 $46,100

All data are derived from the U.S. Census Bureaus American Community Survey 1-year estimates program. The American Community Survey released estimates on 2012 income, poverty, and health insurance coverage, which are the most current data available for geographies with populations over 65,000. For more information on the American Community Survey, visit www.census.gov/acs/www/. Statistical significance refers to the probability that the observed changes are true rather than the result of an error in sampling or estimation. Data included here are statistically significant at the 90th percentile. For more information on the Illinois Basic Economic Security TablesTM, visit http://www.heartlandalliance.org/research/projects-publications/publications.html. The Social IMPACT Research Center (IMPACT) conducts applied research in the form of evaluations, data services, and studies for nonprofits, advocacy groups, foundations, governments, coalitions, and the media to help them inform and improve their work. IMPACT also regularly reports on key trends related to poverty so that decision makers better understand how to address it through programs and public policy.Visit www.socialimpactresearchcenter.org to learn more.