1287.0 - Standards for Cash Income Statistics, 1997  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 19/12/1997   
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COLLECTION METHODS


STANDARD QUESTION MODULES

79. A very accurate and precise measure of 'Total cash income' from all sources requires numerous detailed questions administered through a personal interview with every individual in scope of the collection. However, because of time, space and cost constraints, it is not always feasible to collect income data in this way.

80. This section presents four standard question modules designed to meet a range of requirements retaining as much conceptual and operational consistency as possible. The choice of module will depend on analytical requirements and operational constraints
.

  • Full module
  • Basic module
  • Short module
  • Single question module

Full question module

81. The module used in ABS surveys with a focus on household income and expenditure (i.e. SIHC and HES) comprises 131 questions, collecting details of wages from each job, current and last financial year receipts, partial prepayment of government benefits and many other details required for accurate calculation of Total cash income, imputation of income tax payable and disposable cash income, and derivation of Sources of cash income and Principal source of cash income at the person, income unit, family or household level. Because of its length and intrusiveness, it is not recommended for use except in the intended vehicles.

Basic question module

82. The Basic module comprises eight questions (excluding sequence guides) and provides a broad measure of 'Total cash income'. It is recommended for use in surveys (other than surveys of the Indigenous population) where economic wellbeing is not a major focus but a broad measure of cash income is needed for cross-classificatory purposes. This module collects the amount of income received in dollar values from two groups of sources rather than individual sources and therefore does not support analysis of amount of income by Source of Cash Income. It therefore requires the respondent to report 'Principal source of cash income' rather than deriving it.

83. A version of this module that incorporates response categories for payments only available to Indigenous persons is used in the ISS and is recommended in any survey of the Indigenous population not specifically in remote communities. A specially tailored version of the ISS module is used in remote Indigenous communities.

Short question module

84. The Short question module comprises four questions (excluding a sequence guide and including the optional Principal source question) and has been designed as an interview question for use where time or space constraints prohibit use of the Basic module.

85. The Short module is considered less accurate than the Basic module. It collects only one value ('Total cash income' from all sources) and therefore requires the respondent to report 'Principal source of cash income' rather than deriving it.

Single question module

86. Comprising one question only, this module provides a very broad measure of 'Total cash income' and no information on source(s) of income. It is designed for use in self-enumerated questionnaires where simplicity and brevity are very important, and a very broad measure of income is considered adequate for analytical purposes. Amount of income is collected as dollar values. A version of this question, collecting Total cash income in ranges, is used in the Census.


FULL QUESTION MODULE

87. The Full question module documented in Appendix B was developed for use in the 2003-2004 Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES). Beginning with this survey, the cash income question modules for the HIES and the Survey of Income and Housing Costs (SIHC) will be the same. The modules are designed for computer assisted personal interviewing and are not suitable for a telephone interviewing environment.

88. It comprises 18 modules for a total of 131 questions, excluding instructions and sequence guides. Also excluded from this standard are questions relating to:
  • lump-sum and one-off receipts
  • children's income
  • in-kind housing, telephone and vehicle benefits from an employer (these three modules are documented below, but are not part of the standard)

Counted among the questions are seven (in Modules 4 and 7) concerning receipts of Family Tax Benefit as an income tax rebate. Such receipts are not prompted for in other modules.


BASIC QUESTION MODULE

89. The Basic question module was used in the 2002 General Social Survey (GSS) and replaces the 'Standard question module' used in previous versions of this standard. It comprises 8 questions, plus sequence guides (and when collected using Computer assisted personal interviewing (CAPI), data entry fields). It is designed for CAPI, but may be adapted for a paper and pencil instrument. Due to the use of prompt cards (see Appendix C), it would require modification for telephone interviewing.

90. This basic module is recommended ahead of the short question module for most uses. The module provides more detailed information than the short question module and should be used when more detailed output items such as 'Principal source of cash income' are required or where disaggregation of Australian government transfer payments may be necessary.

91. Note that because Q1 collects Unincorporated business and Property cash income for last financial year and Q3 explicitly excludes receipts from these sources for the current period, it is possible for a respondent whose only income last financial year was from a source collected on a current basis in Q3 and whose only current income is from a source collected at Q1 to appear to have no income. By the same token, a respondent whose only income last financial year was from a source collected at Q1 and whose only current income is from a source collected at Q3 may appear to have 'current' income from both sets of sources. There are similar issues associated with the full question module.

Q1[I would now like to ask you some questions about income.]

Interviewer: Show Prompt Card A

In the last financial year did you receive income from any of these sources?

Interviewer: If 'yes', prompt for which ones.

More than one response is allowed.
1 - Profit or loss from own unincorporated business or share in a partnershipQ2
2 - Profit or loss from rental propertyQ2
3 - Dividends or interestQ2
4 - No/none of theseQ3
Q2Before income tax is taken out, but after business expenses have been deducted, how much did you receive from [this source/these sources] last financial year?
1 - Profit oooooooQ3
2 - NilQ3
3 - Loss oooooooQ3
Q3Interviewer: Show Prompt Card B

Do you currently receive income from any of these sources?

Interviewer: If 'yes', prompt for which ones.

More than one response is allowed.
1 - Wages or salary (including from own incorporated business)Q4
2 - Government pension or allowance (include Family Tax Benefit A or B if received as a payment from Centrelink)Q4
3 - Child Support or maintenanceQ4
4 - Superannuation or AnnuityQ4
5 - Workers Compensation Q4
6- Any other regular source (excluding profit or loss from business, rent or investment)Q4
7 - No/none of theseQ9
Q4Before income tax is taken out, how much do you usually receive from [this source/these sources] in total?

Interviewer: Enter amount. If respondent unable to answer, prompt for their best estimate.
oooooooQ5
Q5What period does that cover?
1 - WeekQ6
2 - FortnightQ6
3 - Four weeksQ6
4 - Calendar monthQ6
5 - YearQ6
6 - Other (please specify)Q6
Q6Sequence guide:
If currently receive income from government pension or allowance (Q3=2)Q7
If more than one source of income in either Q1 or Q3 or bothQ10
ElseEnd
Q7Interviewer: Show Prompt Card C

Do you currently receive any of these pensions, allowances or benefits?

Interviewer: If 'yes', prompt for which one.

Only one response is allowed.
1 - Australian Age PensionQ8
2 - Newstart AllowanceQ8
3 - Mature Age AllowanceQ8
4 - Service Pension (DVA) (exclude superannuation e.g. DFRDB)Q8
5 - Disability Support Pension (Centrelink)Q8
6 - Wife PensionQ8
7 - Carer PaymentQ8
8 - Sickness AllowanceQ8
9 - Widow Allowance (Widow B Pension) (Centrelink)Q8
10 - Special BenefitQ8
11 - Partner AllowanceQ8
12 - No/none of theseQ8
13 - Don't knowQ8
Q8Interviewer: Show Prompt Card D

Do you currently receive any of these pensions, allowances or other forms of assistance?

Interviewer: : If 'yes', prompt for which ones.

More than one response is allowed.
1 - War Widow's Pension (DVA)Q9
2 - Disability Pension (DVA)Q9
3 - Carer Allowance Q9
4 - Overseas pensions/benefitsQ9
5 - Family Tax Benefit (Parts A and B)Q9
6 - Parenting PaymentQ9
7 - Youth AllowanceQ9
8 - Other (please specify)Q9
9 - No/none of theseQ9
10 - Don't knowQ9
Q9Sequence guide:
If more than one source of income in either Q1 or Q3 or bothQ10
ElseEnd
Q10Interviewer: Show Prompt Card E

What is your
main source of income?
1 - Wages or salary (including from own incorporated business)End
2 - Profit or loss from own unincorporated business or share in a partnershipEnd
3 - Profit or loss from rental propertyEnd
4 - Dividends or interestEnd
5 - Any Government pension or allowance End
6 - Child Support or maintenanceEnd
7 - Superannuation or AnnuityEnd
8 - Workers' CompensationEnd
9 - OtherEnd
VARIATIONS FOR INDIGENOUS SURVEYS

92. The question module used in the 2002 Indigenous Social Survey (ISS) in non-remote communities is identical to the basic module, except that it provides for specific aspects of Labour force participation (Community Development Employment Projects (CDEP)) in Indigenous communities and specific entitlements for Indigenous students (ABSTUDY). Further details of the modules used in the remote and non remote ISS instruments are documented in Appendix D and are recommended for use in surveys of the Indigenous population.


SHORT QUESTION MODULE

Short Question Module - Four Questions

93. The Short Question Module comprises four questions and has been developed for use in surveys using Personal Interview (PI) methodology in telephone or face-to-face contexts. Note that Q1 selects the population for this module. It also reminds the respondent of possible sources of cash income to assist them in providing an answer to Q2. It is suitable for the collection of data on 'Sources of cash income' at the broad level. The optional Q5 collects the variable 'Principal source of cash income'. Some survey instruments employing this module sequence those answering Q1 with 'Any Government pension benefit or allowance' to added questions based on questions 7 and 8 of the Basic module to collect which government transfer payments are received.

94. Those contemplating using this module should contact the Standards Support HOTLINE, Canberra (02) 6252 5736 if they have any queries about its use.



    Q1
Could you please tell me if ..... receives income from any of these sources:

Multiple responses allowed for this question
1 - Wages or salary?Q2
2 - Profit or loss from own unincorporated business or share in a partnership?Q2
3 - Any Government pension, benefit or allowance?Q2
4 - Any other regular source?Q2
5 - None of the above End
    Q2
Before income tax is taken out, how much does ..... usually receive from [this source/these sources] in total?

Interviewer: If respondent unable to answer, prompt for their best estimate
Amount (dollars) oooooooQ3
NilQ4
LossQ3
Don't knowQ4
    Q3
What period does that cover?
1 - WeekQ4
2 - FortnightQ4
3 - Four weeksQ4
4 - Calendar monthQ4
5 - YearQ4
6 - Other (please specify)Q4
[End of module. Additional question (Q5) identifies Principal Source of Cash Income.]
    Q4
Sequence guide:
If Q1=1 onlyEnd
If Q1=3 onlyEnd
ElseQ5
    Q5
Interviewer: Show Prompt Card E

What is .....
main source of income?

Only one response allowed
1 - Wages or salary (including from own incorporated business)End
2 - Profit or loss from own unincorporated business or share in a partnershipEnd
3 - Profit or loss from rental propertyEnd
4 - Dividends or interestEnd
5 - Any Government pension or allowance End
6 - Child Support or maintenanceEnd
7 - Superannuation or AnnuityEnd
8 - Workers' CompensationEnd
9 - OtherEnd

SINGLE QUESTION MODULE

Single Question Module

95. The Single question module collects no information about 'Sources of cash income' and only a broad measure of 'Total cash income'. It is only suitable for self-enumerated questionnaires.

96. This is the recommended single question for self-enumeration:

Q1Before tax is taken out, how much income do you/does ... usually receive each week/year from all sources?
Include: wages, salary, all government pensions and allowances, interest, dividends, superannuation, profit/loss from own business or rental property, and any other regular income.
Amount per week (dollars)
oooooo
or amount per year (dollars)
oooooo
Nil income
o
1
Negative income
oooooo
2

97. The 2001 Census used a question collecting cash income in ranges because this option is easily processed with OMR technology and was intended to maintain high response rates. Collection of income amounts in ranges limits accurate aggregation of income unit, family or household income and analysis in standard quintiles. In other question modules it is preferable to prompt for a best estimate.

2001 Census Question
What is the gross income (including pensions and allowances) that the person usually receives each week from all sources?
  • Mark one box only:
  • Do not deduct:
    tax
    superannuation
    health insurance
  • Count all income for each person including:
    family allowance
    parenting payment
    unemployment benefits
    rental assistance
    pensions
    student allowance
    maintenance (child support)
    workers' compensation
    superannuation
    wages
    salary
    overtime
    commissions and bonuses
    interest received
    dividends
    rents received
    (less expenses of operation)
    business or farm income
    (less expenses of operation)
  • o $1,500 or more per week
    ($78,000 or more per year)

    o $1,000 -$1499 per week
    ($52,000- $77,999 per year)

    o $800-$999 per week
    ($41,600-$51,999 per year)

    o $700- $799 per week
    ($36,400 - $41, 599 per year)

    o $600 - $699 per week
    ($31,200-$36,399 per year)

    o $500- $599 per week
    ($26,000 - $31,199 per year)

    o $400-$499 per week
    ($20,800 - $25,999 per year)

    o $300- $399 per week
    ($15,600 - $20,799 per year)

    o $200-$299 per week
    ($10,400-$15,599 per year)

    o $160-$199 per week
    ($8,320 - $10,399 per year)

    o $120 - $159 per week
    ($6,240 - $8,319 per year)

    o $80 - $119 per week
    ($4,160 - $6,239 per year)

    o $40-$79 per week
    ($2,080 - $4,159 per year)

    o $1-$39 per week
    ($1 - $2,079 per year)

    o Nil income
    o Negative income




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