Final answer:
Relative poverty is when families have incomes less than 50% of the average median income, distinguishing it from absolute poverty which is the lack of basic needs.
Step-by-step explanation:
The most common definition of relative poverty is defined as those families with incomes that are less than 50% of the median average income. In the United States, the concept of relative poverty refers to the inability to live the lifestyle of the average person in the country, encompassing more than just the lack of basic necessities, which would be categorized under absolute poverty. As of 2021, the poverty line for a single individual was set at $12,880, for a couple at $17,420, and for a family of four at $26,500, according to ASPE 2021 figures.