National Poverty

Poverty

The U.S. Census Bureau determines poverty status by comparing pre-tax cash income against a threshold that is set at three times the cost of a minimum food diet in 1963, updated annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index, and adjusted for family size, composition, and age of householder. "Family" is defined as persons living together who are related either by blood or marriage. Thresholds do not vary geographically.

• Obama Administration created a supplemental measure in 2012 that accounts for well-being. 

Cost of Living

Someone working full time (2,080 hours a year) at the minimum wage of $7.25 would earn about $15,000 a year, far less than the poverty threshold for a family of four ($23,492 in 2012), and even less than the poverty level of a family of three.
The number of Americans on food stamps went up by more than 80 percent between 2007 and 2013.

• Showing that more and more Americans are beginning to be dependent on government funded welfare.

Average value of food stamps from American beneficiaries is 4$

• Often making cheap/unhealthy fast food the only option for families in food welfare programs.

Hiding in plain sight

Experiencing poverty has become mainstream for americans, because the majority of American’s are or have been below the poverty line sometime in their life.

• Half of American children will at some point reside in a home that uses food stamps.
• Unlike the common perception, about 2/3s of those below the poverty line identify themselves as white.