Poverty box information

Poverty defined

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services cited the following household sizes and income levels as meeting its 2002 poverty test for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia:

Number in householdIncome

1$8,860

2$11,940

3$15,020

4$18,100

5$21,180

6$24,260

7$27,340

8$30,420

The Missouri Economic Research and Information Center developed a study called the Missouri Self-Sufficiency Standard. This research takes into account realistic considerations such as family composition, as well as cost factors like food, housing, child care, transportation, clothing and work-related expenses to determine necessary wage levels for self-sufficiency.

The MERIC study found "in many instances the wage level necessary for self-sufficiency is more than twice the poverty rate."