What Was the Poverty Threshold in 2007?
Whether any family is considered below the poverty threshold depends on the families’ total income before taxes, not including any capital gains or noncash benefits, such as food stamps or housing subsidies. The Census Bureau’s poverty threshold varies depending on the number of adults and children in a family. It is adjusted each month to account for inflation. Because respondents filled out the American Community Survey in different months, the poverty threshold applied to each family depends on the month in which the survey was taken. To give a general idea of poverty levels, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, the average poverty threshold for a family of four in 2007 was $21,203; for a family of three, $16,530; for a family of two, $13,540; and for unrelated individuals, $10,590. All members of a family are assigned the same poverty status. Poverty thresholds are the same for the whole United States, despite differences in the cost of living across US communities. C
