New Census Data Raise Number of Poor to 49 Million

[marmar]

Published on Tuesday, November 8, 2011 by Reuters
New Census Data Raise Number of Poor to 49 Million

by David Morgan


WASHINGTON - The number of poor Americans hit a record 49 million in 2010, or 16 percent, according to new data released on Monday that showed poverty rates for the elderly, Asians and Hispanics higher than previously known.

The figures were calculated by the Census Bureau under a broad new measure intended to supplement the official standard with a fuller picture of poverty in the United States. Results contrast with official poverty data, released in September, that put the number of poor Americans at 46.2 million.

The biggest rise occurred among people aged 65 and older who are being driven into poverty by out-of-pocket medical expenses, including premiums and co-pays from the federal government's Medicare program for the elderly.

The poverty rate for the elderly jumped to 15.9 percent, or a roughly 1 in 6 senior citizens, versus 9 percent under the official count. ............(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2011/11/08-0

[DJ13]

1. The poverty rate for the elderly jumped to 15.9 percent, or a roughly 1 in 6 senior citizens

Imagine the damage that chained CPI will cause the elderly.

We need to stop them from enacting that.