Description

DISABWRK indicates whether respondents have any lasting physical or mental health condition that causes difficulty working, limits the amount or type of work they can do, or prevents them from working altogether. This does not include temporary health conditions, such as broken bones or pregnancies.

Comparability

Universe changes aside, this variable is fully comparable for the 1980 and 1990 samples. In the 1980-2000 censuses, the 2000-2007 ACS, and the 2005-2007 PRCS, the question stipulated that the disability had to have lasted at least 6 months. The 1970 census did not include this stipulation, but it did ask how long the disability had lasted, and this information is available in DISABDUR. To make 1970 comparable with the other years, users should exclude persons with a DISABDUR code of 1 (i.e., less than six months). The 2000 census, the ACS and the PRCS simply asked whether a disability caused difficulty working. Earlier years distinguished between disabilities that limited work versus those that prevented work.

User Caution: Researchers utilizing the disability variables in the ACS and PRCS should be aware of changes to the ACS questionnaire between 2002 and 2003. Due to these changes, it may be impossible to distinguish between actual differences in disability rates between 2002 and 2003 and differences attributable to changes in the questionnaire. See this Census Bureau working paper for more information: Disability Data From the American Community Survey: A Brief Examination of the Effects of Question Redesign in 2003. Users should also exercise caution in comparing rates between 2007 and 2008, as the questionnaire changed in both wording and structure.

Universe

Availability

• 2023: --
• 2022: --
• 2021: --
• 2020: --
• 2019: --
• 2018: --
• 2017: --
• 2016: --
• 2015: --
• 2014: --
• 2013: --
• 2012: --
• 2011: --
• 2010: --
• 2009: --
• 2008: --
• 2007: All samples
• 2006: All samples
• 2005: All samples
• 2004: All samples
• 2003: All samples
• 2002: All samples
• 2001: All samples
• 2000: All samples
• 1990: All samples
• 1980: All samples
• 1970: 1% state fm1; 1% metro fm1; 1% neigh fm1
• 1960: --
• 1950: --
• 1940: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --
• 1900: --
• 1880: --
• 1870: --
• 1860: --
• 1850: --

• 2023: --
• 2022: --
• 2021: --
• 2020: --
• 2019: --
• 2018: --
• 2017: --
• 2016: --
• 2015: --
• 2014: --
• 2013: --
• 2012: --
• 2011: --
• 2010: --
• 2009: --
• 2008: --
• 2007: All samples
• 2006: All samples
• 2005: All samples
• 2000: All samples
• 1990: All samples
• 1980: All samples
• 1970: --
• 1930: --
• 1920: --
• 1910: --

Flags

Editing Procedure

DIFFREM (Cognitive difficulty)
DIFFPHYS (Ambulatory difficulty)
DIFFMOB (Independent living difficulty)
DIFFSENS (Vision or hearing difficulty)
DIFFCARE (Self-care difficulty)
DISABWRK (Work disability)
DIFFEYE (Vision difficulty)
DIFFHEAR (Hearing difficulty)
ACS Years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
ACS editing procedure:
Note: DIFFEYE and DIFFHEAR were added in 2008; prior to 2008 they were asked together in DIFFSENS. DISABWRK was not asked in 2008 or later.
If a person has a "Blank, Don't Know, Refused, or Bad Value" for DIFFEYE, DIFFHEAR, DIFFREM, DIFFPHYS, DIFFMOB, DIFFSENS, DIFFCARE, or DISABWRK it will be allocated. If the person is under 16 (15 starting in 2008), the allocated value will be drawn from other respondents of a similar age and sex. If the person is 16 to 29 (15 to 29 starting in 2008), the allocated values will be drawn from other respondents with the same sex, employment status, and school enrollment status. For those 30 to 64, the allocated values will be drawn from other respondents with the same sex, employment status, and age group (30 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 64). For those 65 and older, the allocated values will be drawn from other respondents with the same sex and age group (65 to 74, 75 to 84, and 85+). The flag variables will show when a value is allocated (QDIFHEAR, QDIFEYE, QDIFREM, QDIFPHYS, QDIFMOB, QDIFSENS, QDIFCARE, QDISABWR)
If a person is under 5 years old, DIFFREM, DIFFPHYS, DIFFSENS, and DIFFCARE will be replaced with a "Not in universe" values. If a person is under 16, DIFFMOB and DISABWRK will be replaced with "Not in universe."
Internal ACS variable : DEYE DPHY DREM DDRS DOT DWRK DEAR