Poverty Measurement in the U.S.

‘Poverty threshold’ update sought, By Sarah Chacko, August 11, 2009, Baton Rouge Advocate: “Members of the U.S. Congress are seeking to update the federal ‘poverty threshold’ and measure figures that determine at what income level a household is considered poor. Backers say the change will more accurately define poverty in America and show that the current measure underestimates the problem. Opponents say the change is an attempt to raise support for wasteful spending on social services. The ‘poverty threshold’ – the line by which people’s incomes are measured to determine their economic status – is what the federal government uses to determine who receives how much in services…”