Poverty Level A Joke/ Artificially Way Too Low/ Meant To Keep Millions Off Federal Programs.

[TheMastersNemesis]

The official poverty level rage artificially too low. It keeps millions from qualifying for federal or state programs.

Family of 1 - $11,490 Of 2 - $15,510 Of 3 - $19,530 Of 4 - 23,550.

People really cannot live on double these numbers in most places in the US. If you count the cost of rent alone it would take about 60% to 75% of income leaving little for food or anything else. In the case of a family of 1 the amount would not even pay the rent. At just $1000 a month rent that is common that is $12,000 for housing alone in most parts of the country.

The poverty level rate was way too low all the 24 years I worked at DOL 1974 to 1998. And they have remained low since I retired. If poverty rates were figured accurately the poverty rate would be well over 35%. in the US.

The GOP wants to eliminate many government statistics actually. And there are a lot of tea baggers who think they are useless.

[xchrom]

1. du rec.

[MannyGoldstein]

2. It's calculated, IIRC, as 3x the cost of food needed to stay alive

It's been calculated that way for many decades.

The problem is that food has gotten relatively cheaper over time compared to other things like food and shelter, so the level has gotten absurd.

[spooky3]

6. I think you meant, "like health care and shelter" or some other item that's gotten relatively more

expensive.

[Progressive dog]

3. The level was originally set at 3x a thrifty food plan

At that time, the average American household spent 1/3 of their income on food. It is indexed to CPI and does not rely on food prices.
Some programs (e.g. ACA) use multiples of poverty guidelines. From HHS

The HHS poverty guidelines, or percentage multiples of them (such as 125 percent, 150 percent, or 185 percent), are used as an eligibility criterion by a number of federal programs, including those listed below. For examples of major means-tested programs that do not use the poverty guidelines, see the end of this response.

[TheKentuckian]

12. The poverty level is still the basis of the calculations, if it is poorly calibrated

then everything will be off track from there.

I believe the calculation should at minimum be based of the minimum wage, full time at minimum wage would equal poverty. I might extend that up to around 10-11 bucks based on a family of one but minimum wage is a no brainer to me, that is poverty.

[Progressive dog]

13. It is indexed to inflation so at least

it won't get worse. It would take Congress to change it.
The Congress still hasn't extended unemployment benefits. The President has asked for an increase in the minimum wage which requires a vote in the Republican house and 60 votes in a Senate that only has 55 in the Democratic caucus.

[stevenleser]

4. Agreed, K&R nt

[daleanime]

5. K&R....

[Egalitarian Thug]

7. K&R Was there ever any doubt? n/t

[bhikkhu]

8. I don't know of any real federal programs

all of its state-level here (oregon) and it does all hinge on the federal poverty level. Usually, its full benefits (food, housing, healthcare or whatever) if you're at or below poverty level. Then it tapers off up to 4x poverty level, where it ends.

I don't know that changing federal standards would make a difference, as states would just adjust their own standards to keep expenditures stable.

I have a much bigger issue with the minimum wage, as I don't think anyone working full time anywhere should have to live in poverty, relying on state assistance to survive.

[notemason]

10. Well

SSI is a federal program but states use it to reduce their own burden on SNAP benefits by counting it as unearned income thereby reducing SNAP benefits and leaving the recipient very little net gain.

[freshwest]

11. I did not know that, it's just not been part of my life or people i know. Medicaid for them, yes.

But many who are eligible for SSI are also eligible for Medicaid and it covers a lot of things to help people out.

I have a friend in OR who qualifies for something like Medicaid, but not SNAP or SSI. She's stuck with paying for RX which where I live Medicaid pays for it. She also pays a premium. I don't understand what is going on.

She recieves a low retirement pension through SS and that's it. The rest of the needs of the poor appears to have been dumped onto churches and they don't anything but supply the food bank in her small town and it's not very much or healthy.

She's always in a bind. I wish she could move from there.

[hfojvt]

9. I have spent most of my adult life

living below 200% of the poverty level http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002625762

So, yes, people can even live well below the poverty level and survive.

In many places rent is well below $1,000 a month. I just checked my paper and there's a 1 bedroom for $435.

Further, if somebody is paying $1,000 a month in rent, I would not say that their income is too low, I would say that their rent is too damned high.