The State of Philadelphians Living in Poverty, 2019

A fact sheet from April 2019

OverviewNearly 400,000 Philadelphia residents—roughly 26 percent of the city’s population—lived below the poverty line in 2017. And that percentage, which is among the highest for any American city, has not changed substantially in recent years, even as the national rate has fallen.

As highlighted in Pew’s 2018 report “Philadelphia’s Poor: Experiences From Below the Poverty Line,” this is about more than money. It affects health outcomes, employment prospects, exposure to crime, and access to quality schools.

Lexey Swall

Poverty and Deep Poverty in Philadelphia, 2007-17

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, one-year estimates, 2007-17, Table B17002 (Ratio of Income to Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months), http://factfinder.census.gov

© 2019 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Philadelphia’s poverty rate, down from a high of 28.4 percent in 2011, has remained essentially unchanged over the past five years. And the city’s deep poverty rate—measuring households with incomes no more than half of the federal poverty threshold—increased in 2017. A household of four was living in poverty in 2017 if its income was $24,600 or less and in deep poverty at $12,300 or less.

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

20172016201520142013201220112010200920082007

23.8% 24.1% 25.0%26.7%

28.4%

26.9%26.3% 26.0% 25.8% 25.7% 25.7%

11.1% 11.1% 12.0% 13.5% 13.1%12.3% 12.2% 12.3% 12.2% 12.3%

14.0%

Deep poverty rate

Poverty rate

Public Benefit Enrollment Trends in Philadelphia, 2007-17

Notes: Enrollment data for Medical Assistance are from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (http://listserv.dpw.state.pa.us/ma-food-stamps-and-cash-stats.html), and Supplemental Security Income data are from the Social Security Administration (https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/ssi_sc/2017/index.html). Numbers represent enrollment for the month of December for each calendar year.

Sources: Pennsylvania Department of Human Services; Social Security Administration

© 2019 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Philadelphians’ enrollment in Medical Assistance, or Medicaid—the federal-state program that helps low-income individuals and families pay for health care—has grown dramatically after the 2015 expansion of eligibility in Pennsylvania under the Affordable Care Act. Supplemental Security Income benefits are available to disabled individuals or those 65 or older who have limited income and resources. Ninety-two percent of Philadelphians enrolled for Supplemental Security Income qualified for it because of a disability.

0

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

700,000

20172016201520142013201220112010200920082007

461,451478,480 496,086529,595

516,315

517,135

521,607

528,758

618,386

649,751 666,591

98,424

99,854

101,631

104,864

108,137

111,263

112,075

110,676

109,532

108,140

107,209

Medical Assistance

Supplemental Security Income

Percentage of Philadelphians Living Below the Federal Poverty Line

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, five-year estimates, 2013-17, Table S1701 (Poverty Status in the Past 12 Months), http://factfinder.census.gov

© 2019 The Pew Charitable Trusts

Poverty in Philadelphia is widespread, with the highest concentrations found primarily in parts of North and West Philadelphia. In some areas, including much of North Philadelphia, the poverty rate is over 45 percent; in most of the city’s residential ZIP codes, it is over 20 percent.

19131

19124

19134

19144

19140

19104

19121

19132

19141

19139

19122

19145 19148

19143

19135

19149

19138

19153

19136

19111

19116

19115

19137

19151

19129

19146

19125

19150

19123

19126

19154

19114

19119

19152

19128

19127

19118

19130

1910319102

19133

19112

19147

1910619107

19142

19120

Less than 15 percent

15-29 percent

30-44 percent

45 percent or more

Insu�cient data/nonresidential

Contact: Elizabeth Lowe, communications officer Email: elowe@pewtrusts.org Project website: pewtrusts.org/philaresearch

The Pew Charitable Trusts is driven by the power of knowledge to solve today’s most challenging problems. Pew applies a rigorous, analytical approach to improve public policy, inform the public, and invigorate civic life.