The Fact
Yes. The official poverty measure does not count noncash benefits such as public housing, Medicaid, or food assistance as money income.
What This Means
A program can materially change a household’s resources without changing the income number used in the official poverty calculation.
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau, About Poverty in the U.S. Population. Accessed October 2, 2026. https://www.census.gov/topics/income-poverty/poverty/guidance/poverty-measures.html