How many children in the US live in families with low incomes?
Given that official poverty statistics are deeply flawed, the National Center for Children in Poverty uses “low income” as one measure of economic hardship. Low income is defined as having income below twice the federal poverty level—the amount of income that research suggests is needed on average for families to meet their basic needs. About 39 percent of the nation’s children—nearly 29 million in 2006—live in families with low incomes, that is, incomes below twice the official poverty level (for 2008, about $42,000 for a family of four). Although families with incomes between 100 and 200 percent of the poverty level are not officially classified as poor, many face material hardships and financial pressures similar to families with incomes below the poverty level. Missed rent payments, utility shut offs, inadequate access to health care, unstable child care arrangements, and running out of food are not uncommon for such families.
Given that official poverty statistics are deeply flawed, the National Center for Children in Poverty uses “low income” as one measure of economic hardship. Low income is defined as having income below twice the federal poverty level — the amount of income that research suggests is needed on average for families to meet their basic needs. About 39 percent of the nation’s children — nearly 29 million in 2007 — live in families with low incomes, that is, incomes below twice the official poverty level (for 2009, about $44,000 for a family of four). Although families with incomes between 100 and 200 percent of the poverty level are not officially classified as poor, many face material hardships and financial pressures similar to families with incomes below the poverty level. Missed rent payments, utility shut offs, inadequate access to health care, unstable child care arrangements, and running out of food are not uncommon for such families.
