The Problem with the Poverty Line

Morning Edition recently aired a story about why the poverty line, and how it is measured, is so problematic, using two interview subjects an example:

• Rico Saccoccio, a junior at Fordham University, earns $8,000 a year doing odd jobs and is considered by the U.S. government to be living in poverty ($11,945 is the poverty threshold for an individual).

• Marion Matthew, a single mom who works as a home health aide, earns $23,000 a year, but is considered well above the poverty threshold of $15,825 for a family of two.

The story goes into other problems with the poverty line — it’s the same no matter where you live, regardless of the cost of living, and it’s based on an outdated 50-year formula. It’s also hard to change because of political obstacles involved: housing aid and Medicaid are tied to the poverty line.

Photo: ajmexico

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