CPS Food Security Supplement Variables

Food Security Supplement Variables

HES1
Expend - shopped at supermarket/grocery store last week

The first few questions are about buying food for your household. Last week, did you shop for food at a supermarket or grocery store?

-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
1 Yes
2 No

HES11
Screen - sufficiency of food eaten in household, quantity on

These next questions are about the food eaten in 1Q your household. Which of the following statements best describes the amount of food eaten in your household--enough food to eat, sometimes not enough to eat, or often not enough to eat?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Enough food to eat
2 Sometimes not enough to eat
3 Often not enough to eat

HES11A
Screen - sufficiency of food eaten in household, quantity an

These next questions are about the food eaten in your household. Which of these statements best describes the food eaten in your household-- enough of the kinds of food we want to eat, enough but not always the kinds of food we want to eat, sometimes not enough to eat, or often not enough to eat?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Enough of the kinds of food we want to eat
2 Enough but not always the kinds of food we want to eat
3 Sometimes not enough to eat
4 Often not enough to eat

HES12
Screen - sufficiency of food eaten in household, quality

Do you have enough of the KINDs of food you want to eat, or do you have enough but NOT ALWAYs the KINDs of food you want to eat?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Enough of the kinds you want
2 Enough but not always the kind you want

HES13A
Screen - lack of money reason for not enough

Here are some reasons why people don't always have enough to eat. For each one, please tell me if that is a reason why YOU don't always have enough to eat. Not enough money for food

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES13B
Screen - too hard to get to store reason for not enough

Here are some reasons why people don't always have enough to eat. For each one, please tell me if that is a reason why YOU don't always have enough to eat. Too hard to get to the store

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES13C
Screen - no working stove reason for not enough

Here are some reasons why people don't always have enough to eat. For each one, please tell me if that is a reason why YOU don't always have enough to eat. No working stove

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES13D
Screen - no working refrigerator reason for not enough

Here are some reasons why people don't always have enough to eat. For each one, please tell me if that is a reason why YOU don't always have enough to eat. No working refrigerator

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES13E
Screen - health problems reason not enough

Here are some reasons why people don't always have enough to eat. For each one, please tell me if that is a reason why YOU don't always have enough to eat. Not able to cook or eat because of health problems

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES15
Screen - ran short of money in past 12 months, made food go

People do different things when they are running out of money for food in order to make their food or their food money go further. In the last 12 months, since May 1994, did you ever run short of money and try to make your food or your food money go further?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
1 Yes
2 No

HES16
Screen - ran out of food past 12 months, no money for more

In the last 12 months, did you ever run out of the foods that you needed to make a meal and didn't have money to get more?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES17
Screen - ran out of food last 30 days, no money for more

In the last 30 days, did you ever run out of the foods that you needed to make a meal and didn't have money to get more?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES18
Coping - got food or borrowed from others, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever get food or borrow money for food from friends or relatives?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES19
Coping - children to other's home for food, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever send or take (CHILD's NAME/the children) to the homes of friends or relatives for a meal because you were running out of food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES1A2
Expend - total amount spent on food at supermarket/grocery s

What would the total amount be?

-9 No Response
-5 X-range entry
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
0:999

HES1AO
Expend - out variable for total spent on food at groc store

Out variable that represents the amount of money spent by the household on food purchases at super-markets and grocery stores. Created from HUS1A, HUS1ACK1, HUS1ACOR, HUS1A2, HUS1ACK2, HUS1A2CO.

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
0:999

HES1BO
Expend - out variable for total spent on non-food at groc st

Out variable for amount of money spent on nonfood items. Created from HUS1B, HUS1BCK1, or HUS1BCOR.

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
0:9999

HES1C
Expend - how often shop at supermarket/grocery store

How often (do you/does someone from your household) USUALLY shop for food at a supermarket or grocery store--once a week or more, 2 to 3 times a month, (or once a month or less?/once a month or less), (/or do you never shop at a supermarket or grocery store?)

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Once a week or more
2 2 to 3 times a month
3 Once a month or less
4 Never shop at a supermarket or grocery store

HES1DO
Expend - out variable for total spent on food at groc store

Out variable that represents how much the household spends each MONTH for food at supermarkets and grocery stores. Created from HUS1D, HUS1DCK1, or HUS1DCOR.

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
0:9999

HES2
Expend - shopped at other food store last week

Last week, did (you/anyone in your household) buy food from any other kind of store such as a meat market, produce stand, bakery, warehouse or convenience store?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES20
Coping - served few kinds of low-cost food, past 12 months

In the last 12 months did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever serve only a FEW KINDs of low-cost foods--like rice, beans, macaroni products, bread or potatoes--for SEVERAL DAYs IN A ROW because you couldn't afford anything else?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES21
Coping - put off paying bill to get food, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever put off paying a bill so that you would have money to buy food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES22
Coping - got food from food pantry, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever get emergency food from a church, a food pantry, or food bank?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES23
Coping - ate meals at soup kitchen, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever eat any meals at a soup kitchen?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES24
Scale12 - adult cut size or skipped meals, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, since May 1994, did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES25
Scale12 - frequency adult cut or skipped, past 12 months

How often did this happen--almost every month, some months but not every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Almost every month
2 Some months but not every month
3 Only 1 or 2 months

HES26
Scale30 - adult cut size or skipped meals, past 30 days

Now think about the last 30 days. Did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever cut the size of your meals or skip meals in the last 30 days because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES27
Scale30 - frequency adult cut or skipped, past 30 days

In the last 30 days, how many days did this happen?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:30

HES28
Scale12 - adult not eat whole day, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, since May 1994, did (you/you or other adults in your household) ever not eat for a whole day because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES29
Scale12 - frequency adult not eat whole day, past 12 months

How often did this happen--almost every month, some months but not every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Almost every month
2 Some months but not every month
3 Only 1 or 2 months

HES2AO
Expend - out variable for total spent at other store

Out variable that represents amount spent by the household at stores other that supermarkets and grocery stores-like meat markets, produce stands, bakeries, etc. Created from HUS2A, HUS2ACK1, HUS2ACOR, HUS2A2, or HUS2ACK2.

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
0:999

HES3
Expend - bought food at restaurant or other away from home

Last week, did (you/anyone in your household) buy food at a restaurant, fast food place, cafeteria, or vending machine?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES30
Scale30 - adult not eat whole day, past 30 days

Now think about the last 30 days. Did(you/you or other adults in your household) ever not eat for a whole day in the last 30 days because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES31
Scale30 - frequency adult not eat whole day, past 30 days

In the last 30 days, how many times did this happen?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:30

HES32
Scale12 - ate less than felt they should, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, did you ever eat less than you felt you should because there wasn't enough money to buy food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES33
Scale30 - ate less than felt they should, past 30 days

Did this happen in the last 30 days?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES34
Scale30 - frequency ate less than felt they should, past 30

In the last 30 days, how many days did you eat less than you felt you should because there wasn't enough money to buy food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:30

HES35
Scale12 - respondent hungry but didn't eat, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, since May 1994, were you ever hungry but didn't eat because you couldn't afford enough food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES36
Scale30 - respondent hungry but didn't eat, past 30 days

Did this happen in the last 30 days?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES37
Scale30 - frequency respondent hungry but didn't eat, past 3

In the last 30 days, how many days were you hungry but didn't eat because you couldn't afford enough food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:30

HES38
Scale12 - respondent lost weight, past 12 months

Sometimes people lose weight because they don't have enough to eat. In the last 12 months, did you lose weight because there wasn't enough food?

-9 No response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES39
Scale30 - respondent lost weight, past 30 days

Did this happen in the last 30 days?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES3AO
Expend - out variable for total spent for food away from hom

Out variable that represents the amount spent by the household for food at restaurants, fast food places, cafeterias and vending machines last week. Created from HUS3A, HUS3ACK1, or HUS3ACOR.

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
0:999

HES4
Expend - check variable for total amount spent on food

Let's see, you've told me (you/you and other members of your household) spent a total of about $_____.00 on all your food last week. Is that the right amount?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES40
Scale12 - cut size of child's meals, past 12 months

The next questions are about (CHILD's NAME/children living in the household who are under 18 years old). In the last 12 months, since May 1994, did you ever cut the size of (CHILD's NAME/any of the children)'s meals because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES41
Scale30 - cut size of child's meals, past 30 days

Did this ever happen in the last 30 days?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES42
Scale30 - frequency cut size of child's meals, past 30 days

In the last 30 days, how many days did you cut the size of (Child's name/the children)'s meals because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:30

HES43
Scale12 - child skipped meal, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, since May 1994, did (Child's name/any of the children) ever skip a meal because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES44
Scale12 - frequency child skipped meal, past 12 months

How often did this happen--almost every month, some months but not every month, or in only 1 or 2 months?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Almost every month
2 Some months but not every month
3 Only 1 or 2 months

HES45
Scale30 - child skipped meal, past 30 days

Now think about the last 30 days. Did (Child's name/the children) ever skip a meal in the last 30 days because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES46
Scale30 - frequency child skipped meal, past 30 days

In the last 30 days, how many days did this happen?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:30

HES47
Scale12 - child hungry, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, (was CHILD's NAME/were the children) ever hungry but you just couldn't afford more food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES48
Scale30 - child hungry, past 30 days

Did this ever happen in the last 30 days?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES49
Scale30 - frequency child hungry, past 30 days

In the last 30 days, how many days (was CHILD's NAME/were the children) hungry but you just couldn't afford more food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:30

HES50
Scale12 - child didn't eat whole day, past 12 months

In the last 12 months, since May 1994, did (Child's name/any of the children) ever not eat for a whole day because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES51
Scale30 - child didn't eat whole day, past 30 days

Did this ever happen in the last 30 days?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES52
Scale30 - frequency child didn't eat whole day, past 30 days

In the last 30 days, how many days did (Child's name/the children) not eat for a whole day because there wasn't enough money for food?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:30

HES53
Scale12 - worried food would run out, past 12 months

Now I'm going to read you several statements thatpeople have made about their food situation. For these statements, please tell me whether the statement was often, sometimes, or never true for (you/you or the other members of your household) in the last 12 months. The first statement is "(I/We) worried whether (my/our) food would run out before (I/we) got money to buy more." Was that often, sometimes or never true for you in the last 12 months?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Often true
2 Sometimes true
3 Never true

HES54
Scale12 - food bought didn't last, past 12 months

"The food that (I/we) bought just didn't last, and (I/we) didn't have money to get more." Was that often, sometimes or never true for you in the last 12 months?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Often true
2 Sometimes true
3 Never true

HES55
Scale12 - couldn't afford balanced meals, past 12 months

"(I/we) couldn't afford to eat balanced meals." Was that often, sometimes or never true for you in the last 12 months?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Often true
2 Sometimes true
3 Never true

HES56
Scale12 - couldn't feed child balanced meals, past 12 months

"(I/we) couldn't feed (CHILD's name/the children) a balanced meal, because (I/we) couldn't afford that." Was that often, sometimes or never true for you in the last 12 months?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Often true
2 Sometimes true
3 Never true

HES57
Scale12 - child not eating enough, past 12 months

"(CHILD's name was/The children were) not eating enough because (I/we) just couldn't afford enough food." Was that often, sometimes or never true for you in the last 12 months?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Often true
2 Sometimes true
3 Never true

HES58
Scale12 - child fed few kinds of low-cost foods, past 12 mon

"(I/we) relied on only a few kinds of low-cost food to feed (CHILD's name/the children) because (I was/we were) running out of money to buy food." Was that often, sometimes or never true for you in the last 12 months?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Often true
2 Sometimes true
3 Never true

HES5O
Expend - out variable for corrected total amount spent on fo

Out variable that represents the corrected amount of money spent for food last week. Created from HUS5, HUS5ACK1, or HUS5ACOR.

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
0:9999

HES6
Expend - check whether total amount reported is usual amount

Is this the USUAL amount (you spend/your household spends) on food per week?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No
3 Varies

HES7O
Expend - out variable for usual amount spent on food

Out variable that represents amount usually spent by the household for food. It can be either weekly or monthly. Created from HUS7, HUS7CK1 or HUS7COR

-9 No response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
0:9999

HES8
Expend - check whether reported amount is weekly or monthly

READ IF NECESSARY: Is that weekly or monthly?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Weekly
2 Monthly

HES9
Program - food stamps received in past 30 days

During the past 30 days, did (you/anyone in this household) get food stamps?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES9A1O
Program - out variable for amount of food stamps received

Out variable that represents the dollar amount of food stamps received per month. Created from HUS9A1 or HUS9ACOR. TOPCODED.

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
0:450

HES9A1TC
Program - topcode flag for amount of food stamps

Topcode Flag for HES9A1O, HUS9A1O, HUS9A1 and HUS9ACOR

0 Not topcoded
1 Topcoded

HES9AD
Program - date food stamps last received

On what date did (you/your household) last receive your monthly food stamps? (DAY)

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:31

HES9AM
Program - month food stamps last received

On what date did (you/your household) last receive your monthly food stamps? (MONTH)

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 March
2 April

HES9B
Program - free or reduced cost meals for elderly, past 30 da

During the past 30 days, did (you/anyone) in the household receive free or reduced-cost meals for the elderly?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES9C
Program - free or reduced-cost lunches at school, past 30 da

During the past 30 days, did (NAME/any children in the household between 5 and 18 years old) receive free or reduced-cost lunches at school?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES9D
Program - free or reduced-cost breakfasts at school, past 30

During the past 30 days, did (NAME/any children in the household between 5 and 18 years old) receive free or reduced-cost breakfasts at school?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES9E
Program - free or reduced-cost meals at daycare, past 30 day

During the past 30 days, did (NAME/any children in the household) receive free or reduced-cost food at a daycare or Head Start program?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES9F
Program - foods received from WIC Programm, past 30 days

During the past 30 days, did any (women/women or children/children) in this household get food through the WIC program?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES9F1
Program - number in household getting WIC foods

How many (women/women or children/children) in the household got WIC foods?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1:4

HES9F1TC
Program - topcode flag for number getting WIC foods

Topcode flag for HES9F1

0 Not topcoded
1 Topcoded

HES9G
Program - food from any other Programm, past 30 days

During the past 30 days, did (you/anyone in the household) get food, or vouchers to buy food, from any other kind of program?

-9 No Response
-3 Refused
-2 Don't Know
-1 Not in universe
1 Yes
2 No

HES9GSP
Program - verbatim name of other Programm

VERBATIM RESPONSE FOR ITEM HES9G

HHSUPWGT
SUP - household weight for supplement interviews

Supplement weight for the household

0.0000:99999.9999

HRPOOR
POOR - household income relative to 185% poverty

Recode for above or below 185% poverty

1 Below 185% poverty (poor)
2 Above 185% poverty (not poor)

HRSUPINT
SUP - supplement interview status

Supplement interview status

1 Interview
2 Noninterview

HSCAL12
Score1 - household 12-month food security scale score

Scale score for previous 12 months

0.0:10.0 Continuous (1 implied decimal)

HSCAL12D
Status - household 12-month food security status category

Status measure for previous 12 months

-1 Not in universe
0 Food secure
1 Food insecure without hunger
2 Food insecure w/ moderate hunger
3 Food insec. w/ severe hunger

HSCAL30
Score3 - household 30-day food security scale score

Scale score for previous 30 days

0.0:10.0 Continuous (1 implied decimal)

HSCAL30C
Status - household 30-day food security status category

Status measure for previous 30 days

-1 Not in universe
0 Food secure
2 Food insecure with moderate hunger
3 Food insecure w/ severe hunger

PWSUPWGT
SUP - person weight for supplement household members

0.0000:99999.9999

CPS Food Security 1995 Data Dictionary Page

CPS Main Page

Source: U.S. Census Bureau
Author: Kathy Stoner-Census/DSD/CPSB
Contact: (ask.census.gov) CPS Help-Census/DSD/CPSB
Last revised: February 11, 2000
URL: http://www.bls.census.gov/cps/foodsecu/sddfoodv.htm