Estimates of Unreported Asset Income in the Survey of Consumer Finances and the Relative Importance of Social Security Benefits to the Elderly

by T. Lynn Fisher
Social Security Bulletin, Vol. 67, No. 2, 2007
Table equivalent for Chart 1. Percentage distribution of reported and estimated asset income among all elderly units, 1991 (in percent)
Asset income (nominal dollars) Reported Estimated with Imputed savings
and money market Interest		 Estimated with all
Imputed Interest
0 or negative 38.89 28.77 24.61
1–99 4.91 10.18 9.71
100–249 3.94 5.58 5.79
250–499 3.67 4.88 6.10
500–749 3.09 3.52 3.99
750–999 1.73 1.79 1.88
1,000–1,499 4.75 5.13 5.60
1,500–1,999 3.90 4.11 4.48
2,000–4,999 11.69 12.35 13.28
5,000–9,999 7.13 7.38 8.04
10,000 or more 16.32 16.32 16.51
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the 1992 Survey of Consumer Finances.
Table equivalent for Chart 2. Percentage distribution of reported and estimated asset income among all elderly units, 2000
Asset income (nominal dollars) Reported Estimated with Imputed savings
and money market Interest		 Estimated with all
Imputed Interest
0 or negative 48.94 30.55 22.74
1–99 1.53 11.85 11.07
100–249 3.80 7.88 6.90
250–499 3.03 4.68 6.78
500–749 3.80 4.58 5.02
750–999 1.22 1.91 2.29
1,000–1,499 2.41 2.66 4.83
1,500–1,999 1.81 2.01 3.47
2,000–4,999 9.21 9.60 11.00
5,000–9,999 7.38 7.42 8.04
10,000 or more 16.86 16.86 17.86
SOURCE: Author's calculations using the 2001 Survey of Consumer Finances.