Understanding the U.S. poverty line
The following table shows the U.S. poverty thresholds for 2021 by size of family and number of related children under the age of 18. All figures are in dollars. For example, a family with two adults and three children is considered to be living in poverty if the family's income in 2021 is below $32,338.
Use the table to answer the questions that follow.
| Size of Family Unit | None | Related Children under 18 Years | Five |
|---------------------|------|---------------------------------|------|
| One person (unrelated individual) | | | |
| Under 65 years | 14,097 | | | | |
| 65 years and over | 12,996 | | | | |
| Two persons | | | | | |
| Households under 65 years | 18,145 | 18,667 | | | |
| Households 65 years and over | 16,379 | 18,606 | | | |
| Three persons | 21,196 | 21,811 | 21,831 | | |
| Four persons | 27,949 | 28,406 | 27,479 | 27,575 | |
| Five persons | 33,705 | 34,195 | 33,148 | 32,338 | 31,843 |
| Six persons | 38,767 | 38,921 | 38,119 | 37,350 | 36,207 | 35,529 |
| Seven persons | 44,606 | 44,885 | 43,925 | 43,255 | 42,009 | 40,554 |
| Eight persons | 49,888 | 50,329 | 49,423 | 48,629 | 47,503 | 46,073 |
| Nine persons or more | 60,012 | 60,303 | 59,501 | 58,828 | 57,722 | 56,201 |
Source: "Poverty Thresholds for 2021 by Size of Family and Number of Related Children Under 18 Years," United States Census Bureau, https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/income-poverty/historical-poverty-thresholds.html.
Juanita and Gilberto are married, under the age of 65, and have two children under the age of 18. Gilberto works full time and earns $19,000, while Juanita works part time and earns $9,000. Thus, in total, their family income is $28,000. Are Gilberto and Juanita living in poverty?
Yes
No
Suppose that Gilberto divorces Juanita and leaves the family without paying alimony or child support. Juanita must now support her two children alone, so she begins working full time and earns a total of $18,000. Are Juanita and her children living in poverty?
Yes
No
Again, consider Juanita, a single mother with two children under 18 who earns an annual income of $18,000. Suppose that Juanita qualifies for a welfare program for single mothers that provides her with $4,000 in food assistance. After receiving welfare, is Juanita's family living in poverty?
Yes
No
Juanita and Gilberto are married, under the age of 65, and have two children under the age of 18. Gilberto works full time and earns $19,000, while Juanita works part time and earns $9,000. Thus, in total, their family income is $28,000. Are Gilberto and Juanita living in poverty?
Yes
No
Suppose that Gilberto divorces Juanita and leaves the family without paying alimony or child support. Juanita must now support her two children alone, so she begins working full time and earns a total of $18,000. Are Juanita and her children living in poverty?
Yes
No