Health problems across the income distribution Work-limiting health conditions were roughly twice as common among low-income New Yorkers and those in poverty compared to higher-income New Yorkers. There is an extensive literature documenting that low-income individuals are more likely to have health problems than those with higher incomes. 28 Income is a social determinant of health, in part due to poli- cy choices, as policies that bolster income have been found to improve people’s health. 29 Poverty Tracker data show that in New York City, these health disparities by income are significant: 34% of New Yorkers in poverty and 27% of low-income New Yorkers endured work-limiting health conditions in 2022 compared to 18% of moderate-income and 13% of higher-income New Yorkers (see Figure 4.4). While less common than work-limiting health conditions, rates of poor health are also elevated among low-income New Yorkers (5%) and those in poverty (6%), compared to those with moderate or higher incomes (2% and 2%, respectively). In contrast, Poverty Tracker data shows that serious psychological distress is common across the income distribution. About 15% of New Yorkers in poverty and with low incomes experience serious psychologi- cal distress, along with 14% of those with moderate incomes (see Figure 4.4). It is, however, less common among the highest-income New Yorkers (7%). Overall, psychological distress affects New Yorkers across the city but is most acute among those also struggling to makes ends meet in a high-cost environment.
Health problems and psychological distress by income level (2022) Figure 4.4
Among New Yorkers who are… In poverty (under 100%)
Low income (100%-200%) Higher income (300%+)
Moderate income (200%-300%)
35% 34%
30%
27%
25%
20%
18%
15% 15%
15%
14%
13%
10%
7%
6%
5%
5%
2% 2%
0%
Experiencing work- limiting health condition
Experiencing poor health
Experiencing serious psychological distress
Source: Annual Poverty Tracker survey data, second, third, fourth, and fifth Poverty Tracker cohorts. Note: For a two-adult, two-child family in rental housing, 100% of the poverty line is $43,890, 200% is $87,780, and 300% is $131,670.
28 See Phelan, Link, and Tehranifar, “Social Conditions as Fundamental Causes of Health Inequalities”; Braveman et al., “Socioeconomic Dis- parities in Health in the United States”; Brucker et al., “More Likely to Be Poor Whatever the Measure.” 29 Chetty et al., “The Association Between Income and Life Expectancy in the United States, 2001–2014.”
38 THE STATE OF POVERTY AND DISADVANTAGE IN NEW YORK CITY VOL. 6
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