This data collection is part of a longitudinal survey designed to provide detailed information on the economic situation of households and persons in the United States. These data examine the distribution of income, wealth, and poverty in American society and gauge the effects of federal and state programs on the well-being of families and individuals. There are three basic elements contained in the survey. The first is a control card that records basic social and demographic characteristics for each person in a household, as well as changes in such characteristics over the course of the interviewing period. The second element is the core portion of the questionnaire, with questions repeated at each interview on labor force activity, types and amounts of income, participation in various cash and noncash benefit programs, attendance in postsecondary schools, private health insurance coverage, public or subsidized rental housing, low-income energy assistance, and school breakfast and lunch participation. The third element consists of topical modules, which are series of supplemental questions asked during selected household visits. A topical module was not created for the first wave of the 1986 panel. The topical module for Wave II is considered a Personal History topical module. It includes data on fertility, marital status, migration, recipiency of transfer payments, employment, work disability, and education and training history. Data on family background and household relationships are also provided. Wave III topical module concerns child care arrangements, child support agreements, support for non-household members, job offers, health status and utilization of health care services, long-term care, and disability status of children. Wave IV topical module includes data on assets and liabilities, real estate property and vehicles, retirement ... Cf. : http://webapp.icpsr.umich.edu/cocoon/ICPSR-STUDY/09319.xml.