An editorial in today’s New York Times explains why poverty levels in American may be higher than previously thought, after the Census Bureau released alternative formulas for measuring poverty. The measurement that most closely matches the formula recommended by the National Academy of Sciences, which takes into account things like geographical differences, childcare expenses and the value of noncash government benefits like food stamps, puts the poverty line for a family of four at $22, 841. That adds up to 41.3 million poor Americans, 4.4 million more than the official count. The poverty line currently used by the government is much lower -- $19, 806.
No matter what method is used to determine the nation’s poverty level, there are too many Americans living in poverty.
