UI and stimulus payments substantially boosted low incomes in 2020

Percent change from 2019 to 2020

NOTES: Stimulus amounts reflect first and second rounds of payments and are imputed by Census researchers based on a combination of survey responses and tax modeling. UI amounts are unadjusted; since UI and other safety net participation is regularly underreported in survey data, the chart likely underestimates its role in supporting income in 2020. Text in the blog describes inequality using a definition of cash income that includes UI as an income source.