Codes and Frequencies
Description
For sample adults and sample children, GOTINT indicates whether any family members received income from interest-bearing accounts or investments, dividends from stocks or mutual funds, net rental income, royalty income, or income from estates and trusts in the last year.
Prior to 2019, GOTINT was asked of all persons. In 1990-1996, GOTINT was asked about income received during the month prior to the interview. In 1997-forward, GOTINT was asked about income received in the last calendar year. In 1993, this question was only asked of persons who were interviewed in quarters 3 and 4.
Please see Comparability tab for changes in wording between samples.
From 1990 to 1996, GOTINT is part of the Family Resources supplement that provides information on individuals' health benefits, amount of coverage and income received from employment, welfare benefits, public assistance, and savings. Starting in 1997, this variable is part of the person core questionnaires.
Questions in the Family Resources supplement are different from those in the core survey in terms of the content and the treatment of missing data. Questions in the Family Resources were normally asked of the month prior to the interview while the core survey asked of the last calendar year. All missing data in the Family Resources supplement were imputed by NHIS. Users can refer to the imputation flag variable QINCINT to identify persons with imputed data.
Please see GOTWAGE for additional source of income variables.
Comparability
Due to the change in reference period, users should exercise strong caution when making comparisons between 1990-1996, 1997-2018, and 2019-forward.
In 1997, the question asked whether the person received interest from savings or bank accounts.
In 2000, the wording changed to ask specifically if the person received "income from interest bearing checking accounts, saving accounts, IRAs or certificates of deposit, money market funds, treasury notes, bonds, or any other investments that earn interest." In addition, dividends were explicitly excluded between 2000-2018.
In 2019, the wording changed to ask specifically if the person received "income from interest-bearing accounts or investments, dividends from stocks or mutual funds, net rental income, royalty income, or income from estates and trusts."
In addition, the NHIS questionnaire was substantially redesigned in 2019 to introduce a different data collection structure and new content. For more information on changes in terminology, universes, and data collection methods beginning in 2019, please see the user note.
Universe
- 1990-1992; 1994-2018: All persons.
- 1993: All persons in quarters 3 and 4.
- 2019-2022: Sample adults 18+ and sample children 0-17.
- 2019-2023: Sample adults 18+ and sample children 0-17.
Availability
- 1990-2023
Weights
- 1990-1992, 1994-2018 : PERWEIGHT
- 1993, 2019-2023 : SAMPWEIGHT