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The Poverty Line
Food, shelter, clothing, health care, transportation - these are only the beginnings of the basic necessities of modern American living. Each year, the federal government calculates the minimum amount of money required by families to meet these basic needs. The resulting calculation is what is commonly referred to as the "poverty line." Using 2005 data, the government has set the 2006 poverty guidelines at:
Size of Family Unit |
Weighted Average Thresholds |
| One person |
10,294 |
| Two people |
13,167 |
| Three people |
16,079 |
| Four people |
20,614 |
| Five people |
24,382 |
| Six people |
27,560 |
| Seven people |
31,205 |
| Eight people |
34,774 |
| Nine people or more |
41,499 |
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2006
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