poverty level, poverty guidelines

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poverty level, federal poverty level (FPL), poverty line, poverty threshold - A family's annual income at or below the amount determined by the U.S. Census Bureau to cover the basic necessities of life (food, shelter, clothing, health care).

poverty guidelines - A family's annual income at or below the amount determined by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (or a percentage multiple such as 150 percent) that determines eligibility for certain federal assistance programs such as food stamps, welfare, Medicaid. Also, WORKING POOR.

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• The poverty rate in the United States is about 12.5 percent. There are 37 million Americans living at or below the poverty line. Under the 2008 Federal Poverty Guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the poverty level for a family of four is $21,200 (higher in Alaska and Hawaii.
  
  
  
• Families who earn up to 200% of the poverty level (depending on the number of adults and children in the family) are considered "near poor."
  
  
  
• The working poor are families in which at least one person is working fulltime yearround, but earnings remain under 200 percent of the federal poverty level. "One in twelve working families lives below the official poverty line" according to The Working Poor Families Project.
  
  
  
• The poverty level is updated annually for inflation by the U.S. Census Bureau.
  
  
  
• Poverty guidelines (and percentage multiples of the guidelines such as 125 percent, 150 percent, 200 percent) are used to determine eligibility for Medicare, Food Stamps, the subsidized portion of Medicare/Prescription Drug Coverage, and the National School Lunch Program. The guidelines also determine eligibility for programs such as Legal Aid and Head Start. Frequently Asked Questions Related to the Poverty Guidelines and Poverty
  
  
  
• Medicaid covers 53 million people (including 28 million children), but there are 47 million Americans who have no health coverage or insurance because primarily because they earn too much to qualify for Medicaid.
  
  
  
• To provide health care for children whose families earn too much to qualify for Medicaid, Congress enacted the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). Each state sets the income eligibility level for S-CHIP, up to 200% of the federal poverty level. For more information: Kaiser Family Foundation, StateHealthFacts.org
  
  

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