Health and the Working Poor

This research investigates the problems of the working poor who are limited by health, drug abuse, alcoholism, or other serious personal handicaps, like blindness. From 1985 to 1995, one third of working poor young baby boomers had at least one of these major limitations. More importantly, individuals with health problems or limitations are twice as likely as others to become working poor, spend longer in both working and non-working poverty and have lower income after leaving poverty. Hence, policies designed to reduce working poverty must focus on helping many individuals with significant health issues.