Question

According to the 2019 poverty guidelines, a family of 4 is only poor if the household earnings are:

a) Less than $50,000
b) Less than $20,000
c) Less than $30,000
d) Less than $25,000

Answer 1

A family of four is considered poor if household earnings are less than $25,240 according to the 2019 poverty guidelines. These guidelines determine eligibility for government aid, but do not account for non-cash benefits or regional cost of living differences.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the 2019 poverty guidelines, a family of four is considered poor if the household earnings are less than $25,240.

In the context of American poverty guidelines, it's important to note that the federal government sets an official poverty threshold that adjusts for inflation and the number of people in a household. For instance, the 2015 U.S. poverty line for a single individual was $11,790, while it was $25,240 for a household of four people. These numbers are crucial for assessing whether families qualify for various government aid programs such as Medicaid, federal housing assistance, and food aid.

However, these figures do not include the value of non-cash benefits received by households, which can be a significant part of the support provided to low-income families. The poverty guidelines are also subject to criticism due to variance in living costs across different states; for example, median household incomes and living expenses are much higher in New Jersey compared to Mississippi.