Sources of household income

Sources of household income identifies the various sources from which all household members aged 15 years and over received income in the 12 months ending 6 March 2018.

In the census, it is generally only realistic to collect money income. This is income that a person can normally recall or can readily retrieve from their financial records. Money income is money flow from the deployment of one’s labour, entrepreneurial skills and assets, and from transfers received. So, the concept of money income relies on identifying its sources.

Excluded are income in kind, imputed income, unrealised income, and contingent income (contingent income depends on the unknown outcome of a course of action, for example to sue). Also excluded is money received by borrowing, making withdrawals from savings, receiving repayments of loan principal; and tax credits and reimbursements of expenses.

See also ‘Sources of personal income’ in Individual definitions; and ‘Sources of extended family income’ and ‘Sources of family income’ in Family definitions.