Annual Statistical Supplement, 2009

Social Welfare and the Economy

Poverty

Table 3.E1 Weighted average poverty thresholds for nonfarm families, by size, 1959–2008 (in dollars)
Year Unrelated individuals Families Annual
average
CPI a
2 persons 3 persons 4 persons 5 persons 6 persons 7 persons
or more
All ages Under
age 65		 Aged 65
or older		 All ages Householder
under age 65		 Householder
aged 65
or older
1959 1,467 1,503 1,397 1,894 1,952 1,761 2,324 2,973 3,506 3,944 4,849 29.2
1960 1,490 1,526 1,418 1,924 1,982 1,788 2,359 3,022 3,560 4,002 4,921 29.6
1961 1,506 1,545 1,433 1,942 2,005 1,808 2,383 3,054 3,597 4,041 4,967 29.9
1962 1,519 1,562 1,451 1,962 2,027 1,828 2,412 3,089 3,639 4,088 5,032 30.3
1963 1,539 1,581 1,470 1,988 2,052 1,850 2,442 3,128 3,685 4,135 5,092 30.6
1964 1,558 1,601 1,488 2,015 2,079 1,875 2,473 3,169 3,732 4,193 5,156 31.0
1965 1,582 1,626 1,512 2,048 2,114 1,906 2,514 3,223 3,797 4,264 5,248 31.5
1966 1,628 1,674 1,556 2,107 2,175 1,961 2,588 3,317 3,908 4,388 5,395 32.5
1967 1,675 1,722 1,600 2,168 2,238 2,017 2,661 3,410 4,019 4,516 5,550 33.4
1968 1,748 1,797 1,667 2,262 2,333 2,102 2,774 3,553 4,188 4,706 5,789 34.8
1969 1,840 1,893 1,757 2,383 2,458 2,215 2,924 3,743 4,415 4,958 6,101 36.7
1970 1,954 2,010 1,861 2,525 2,604 2,348 3,099 3,968 4,680 5,260 6,468 38.8
1971 2,040 2,098 1,940 2,633 2,716 2,448 3,229 4,137 4,880 5,489 6,751 40.5
1972 2,109 2,168 2,005 2,724 2,808 2,530 3,339 4,275 5,044 5,673 6,983 41.8
1973 2,247 2,307 2,130 2,895 2,984 2,688 3,548 4,540 5,358 6,028 7,435 44.4
1974 2,495 2,562 2,364 3,211 3,312 2,982 3,936 5,038 5,950 6,699 8,253 49.3
1975 2,724 2,797 2,581 3,506 3,617 3,257 4,293 5,500 6,499 7,316 9,022 53.8
1976 2,884 2,959 2,730 3,711 3,826 3,445 4,540 5,815 6,876 7,760 9,588 56.9
1977 3,075 3,152 2,906 3,951 4,072 3,666 4,833 6,191 7,320 8,261 10,216 60.6
1978 3,311 3,392 3,127 4,249 4,383 3,944 5,201 6,662 7,880 8,891 11,002 65.2
1979 3,689 3,778 3,479 4,725 4,878 4,390 5,784 7,412 8,775 9,914 12,280 72.6
1980 4,190 4,290 3,949 5,363 5,537 4,983 6,565 8,414 9,966 11,269 13,955 82.4
1981 4,620 4,729 4,359 5,917 6,111 5,498 7,250 9,287 11,007 12,449 . . . 90.9
1982 4,901 5,019 4,626 6,281 6,487 5,836 7,693 9,862 11,684 13,207 . . . 96.5
1983 5,061 5,180 4,775 6,483 6,697 6,023 7,938 10,178 12,049 13,630 . . . 99.6
1984 5,278 5,400 4,979 6,762 6,983 6,282 8,277 10,609 12,566 14,207 . . . 103.9
1985 5,469 5,593 5,156 6,998 7,231 6,503 8,573 10,989 13,007 14,696 . . . 107.6
1986 5,572 5,701 5,255 7,138 7,372 6,630 8,737 11,203 13,259 14,986 . . . 109.6
1987 5,778 5,909 5,447 7,397 7,641 6,872 9,056 11,611 13,737 15,509 . . . 113.6
1988 6,022 6,155 5,674 7,704 7,958 7,157 9,435 12,092 14,304 16,146 . . . 118.3
1989 6,310 6,451 5,947 8,076 8,343 7,501 9,885 12,674 14,990 16,921 . . . 124.0
1990 6,652 6,800 6,268 8,509 8,794 7,905 10,419 13,359 15,792 17,839 . . . 130.7
1991 6,932 7,086 6,532 8,865 9,165 8,241 10,860 13,924 16,456 18,587 . . . 136.2
1992 7,143 7,299 6,729 9,137 9,443 8,487 11,186 14,335 16,952 19,137 . . . 140.3
1993 7,363 7,518 6,930 9,414 9,728 8,740 11,522 14,763 17,449 19,718 . . . 144.5
1994 7,547 7,710 7,108 9,661 9,976 8,967 11,821 15,141 17,900 20,235 . . . 148.2
1995 7,763 7,929 7,309 9,933 10,259 9,219 12,158 15,569 18,408 20,804 . . . 152.4
1996 7,995 8,163 7,525 10,233 10,564 9,491 12,516 16,036 18,952 21,389 . . . 156.9
1997 8,183 8,350 7,698 10,473 10,805 9,712 12,802 16,400 19,380 21,886 . . . 160.5
1998 8,316 8,480 7,818 10,634 10,972 9,862 13,003 16,660 19,680 22,228 . . . 163.0
1999 8,501 8,667 7,990 10,869 11,214 10,075 13,290 17,029 20,127 22,727 . . . 166.6
2000 8,794 8,959 8,259 11,239 11,590 10,419 13,738 17,603 20,819 23,528 . . . 172.2
2001 9,039 9,214 8,494 11,569 11,920 10,715 14,128 18,104 21,405 24,195 . . . 177.1
2002 9,183 9,359 8,628 11,756 12,110 10,885 14,348 18,392 21,744 24,576 . . . 179.9
2003 9,393 9,573 8,825 12,015 12,384 11,133 14,680 18,810 22,245 25,122 . . . 184.0
2004 9,645 9,827 9,060 12,334 12,714 11,430 15,067 19,307 22,831 25,788 . . . 188.9
2005 9,973 10,160 9,367 12,755 13,145 11,815 15,577 19,971 23,613 26,683 . . . 195.3
2006 10,294 10,488 9,669 13,167 13,569 12,201 16,079 20,614 24,382 27,560 . . . 201.6
2007 10,590 10,787 9,944 13,540 13,954 12,550 16,530 21,203 25,080 28,323 . . . 207.3
2008 b 10,997 11,201 10,326 14,060 14,490 13,032 17,165 22,017 26,043 29,410 . . . 215.3
SOURCE: Census Bureau, Current Population Survey.
NOTES: CPI = Consumer Price Index; . . . = not applicable.
Three technical changes in the definition of poverty are described in "Characteristics of the Population Below the Poverty Level, 1980," Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Series P-60, No. 133: (1) Distinctions based on the sex of the family householder will no longer be made; (2) income thresholds for farm families will be the same as for nonfarm families of the same size and composition, and (3) the increased sample size will now permit separate poverty income criteria for families of 7, 8, and 9 or more persons. Separate criteria for these family sizes by number of children have been developed by the Social Security Administration for the base year 1978 on the same basis as the original poverty matrix for smaller family sizes, and then updated by means of the all-items CPI. The dollar thresholds for larger families beginning in 1980 are:
Year 7 persons 8 persons 9 persons
or more
1980 12,761 14,199 16,896
1981 14,110 15,655 18,572
1982 15,036 16,719 19,698
1983 15,500 17,170 20,310
1984 16,096 17,961 21,247
1985 16,656 18,512 22,083
1986 17,049 18,791 22,497
1987 17,649 19,515 23,105
1988 18,232 20,253 24,129
1989 19,162 21,328 25,480
1990 20,241 22,582 26,848
1991 21,058 23,605 27,942
1992 21,594 24,053 28,745
1993 22,383 24,838 29,529
1994 22,923 25,427 30,300
1995 23,552 26,237 31,280
1996 24,268 27,091 31,971
1997 24,802 27,593 32,566
1998 25,257 28,166 33,339
1999 25,912 28,967 34,417
2000 26,754 29,701 35,060
2001 27,517 30,627 36,286
2002 28,001 30,907 37,062
2003 28,544 31,589 37,656
2004 29,236 32,641 39,048
2005 30,249 33,610 40,288
2006 31,205 34,774 41,499
2007 32,233 35,816 42,739
2008 b 33,471 37,191 44,380
 
a. Beginning in January 1978, the Bureau of Labor Statistics introduced a new price index for all urban consumers (CPI-U) for all items (1982–1984 = 100) that forms a continuous series with the earlier index for urban wage earners and for clerical workers as of December 1977.
b. Preliminary estimates.
CONTACT: Bernadette D. Proctor (301) 763-3213 or supplement@ssa.gov.
Table 3.E2 Number and percentage of poor persons, by age, at end of selected years 1959–2007
Age and family status a 1959 1970 1980 1985 1990 b 1995 2000 2005 2007
Total population c (millions)
All ages 176.5 202.5 225.0 236.6 248.6 263.7 275.9 293.1 298.7
Children under 18 in families— 64.0 69.9 62.2 62.0 64.9 70.3 70.6 72.0 72.6
With male householder d 58.3 60.8 50.6 49.5 49.5 52.1 54.5 54.4 54.1
With female householder 5.7 9.0 11.5 12.5 15.4 18.2 16.1 17.6 18.6
18–54 e 81.0 94.9 116.3 125.2 132.3 140.7 147.4 153.6 154.8
55–64 15.5 18.4 21.7 22.1 21.3 21.1 23.8 31.0 33.3
65 or older 15.6 19.3 24.7 27.3 30.1 31.7 33.0 35.5 36.8
In families 11.9 13.4 16.7 18.4 20.1 21.1 22.3 23.8 24.7
Unrelated individuals 3.7 5.8 8.0 8.9 10.0 10.6 10.7 11.7 12.1
Men 1.2 1.4 1.7 2.0 2.3 2.7 2.9 3.4 3.4
Women 2.5 4.4 6.3 7.0 7.7 7.9 7.8 8.3 8.7
Number poor c (millions)
All ages 39.5 25.3 29.3 33.1 33.6 36.4 31.1 36.9 37.3
Children under 18 in families— 17.2 10.5 11.1 12.5 13.3 14.4 11.1 12.3 12.8
With male householder d 13.1 5.7 5.2 5.8 5.3 5.6 4.9 5.0 5.0
With female householder 4.1 4.8 5.9 6.7 8.0 8.9 6.2 7.3 7.7
18–54 e 13.4 8.2 12.2 14.8 14.6 16.5 14.1 18.0 17.7
55–64 3.3 2.1 2.1 2.3 2.1 2.2 2.2 2.7 2.9
65 or older 5.5 4.7 3.9 3.5 3.7 3.3 3.4 3.6 3.6
In families 3.2 2.0 1.4 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.1 1.3 1.3
Unrelated individuals 2.3 2.7 2.4 2.3 2.5 2.3 2.2 2.3 2.2
Men 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.5 0.4
Women 1.6 2.2 2.0 1.9 2.1 1.9 1.7 1.7 1.8
Percentage poor c
All ages 22.4 12.6 13.0 14.0 13.5 13.8 11.3 12.6 12.5
Children under 18 in families— 26.9 15.0 17.9 20.1 20.5 20.5 15.7 17.1 17.6
With male householder d 22.4 9.3 10.4 11.7 10.7 10.7 8.9 9.2 9.3
With female householder 72.2 53.4 50.8 53.6 52.1 48.6 38.4 41.6 41.7
18–54 e 16.5 8.7 10.5 11.8 11.0 11.7 9.6 11.7 11.4
55–64 21.5 11.4 9.5 10.5 9.7 10.2 9.4 8.7 8.6
65 or older 35.2 24.6 15.7 12.6 12.2 10.5 10.2 10.1 9.7
In families 26.9 14.7 8.5 6.4 5.9 5.0 5.1 5.6 5.4
Unrelated individuals 61.9 47.1 30.6 25.6 24.8 21.4 20.8 19.5 18.4
Men 59.0 38.9 24.4 20.5 17.3 14.3 18.3 15.6 13.1
Women 63.3 49.7 32.3 27.0 26.9 23.8 21.8 21.1 20.4
SOURCES: Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, public-use file of the March 2008 Income Supplement. Data for 1970 are based on the 1970 Census of Population controls.
NOTES: Table includes civilian noninstitutionalized population residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
For a discussion of standard errors of estimated numbers and percentages, see Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Series P-60.
a. Income and poverty status refer to the calendar year shown; family status is as of March of the succeeding year.
b. Based on revised methodology.
c. Includes armed forces in the United States living off post or with families on post. Excludes unrelated individuals under age 16.
d. Includes children in families with both spouses present and in families with male householder with no spouse present.
e. Includes persons under age 18 listed as unrelated individual, family householder, spouse of householder, or other family member.
CONTACT: Diane Wallace (410) 965-0165 or supplement@ssa.gov.
Table 3.E3 Shares of money income from earnings and other sources for aged and nonaged families, 2007
Type of money income received during year Aged family units Nonaged family units
Individuals aged 65 or older living alone or with nonrelatives only Multiperson families with householder aged 65 or older Individuals under age 65 living alone or with nonrelatives only Multiperson families with householder under age 65
Total Nonpoor Poor a Total Nonpoor Poor a Total Nonpoor Poor a Total Nonpoor Poor a
Number of families and unrelated individuals (millions) 12.1 9.9 2.2 12.5 11.8 0.7 39.4 31.3 8.1 65.4 58.5 6.9
Percentage receiving income of specified type b
Earnings 17 20 3 47 48 19 81 93 37 93 97 65
Public program payments
Social Security c 89 91 77 90 91 67 7 6 12 11 11 12
Supplemental Security Income 5 3 15 4 3 13 3 1 12 3 2 9
Other public assistance 2 2 2 3 3 5 8 7 11 10 9 20
Other programs d 3 4 1 7 7 3 5 6 3 8 8 5
Other sources
Dividends, interest, rent 50 57 19 61 64 21 37 44 11 52 57 11
Employment-related pensions, alimony, annuities 39 46 8 49 52 10 6 7 3 15 15 14
Percentage distribution of income, by type
Total percent 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 100
Earnings 18 19 1 38 38 14 88 89 47 90 90 69
Public program payments
Social Security c 43 41 83 30 30 68 2 2 21 2 2 10
Supplemental Security Income 1 e 10 e e 8 1 e 16 e e 6
Other public assistance e e e e e 2 2 1 9 1 1 7
Other programs d 1 1 e 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1 2
Other sources
Dividends, interest, rent 17 17 2 14 14 4 4 4 1 4 4 1
Employment-related pensions, alimony, annuities 20 21 3 16 17 4 3 3 3 3 3 5
Median income (dollars) 17,118 20,274 7,381 42,044 44,367 9,178 27,750 34,017 4,234 56,529 56,895 10,183
SOURCE: Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, public-use file of the March 2008 Income Supplement.
NOTES: Table includes civilian noninstitutionalized population residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
For a discussion of standard errors of estimated numbers and percentages, see Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Series P-60.
a. Poverty status based on money income of all family members after receipt of Social Security and any other cash transfer payments.
b. Received by individuals or any family member at any time during 2007. Most individuals or families received more than one type of income during the year.
c. Social Security may include more than one type of income during the year.
d. Unemployment insurance, workers' compensation, or veterans' payments.
e. Less than 0.5 percent.
CONTACT: Diane Wallace (410) 965-0165 or supplement@ssa.gov.
Table 3.E4 Current living arrangements of persons aged 65 or older, by sex and poverty status, March 2008
Living arrangement Population (thousands) Percentage distribution Percentage officially poor
Total Poor Nonpoor Total Poor Nonpoor
All persons aged 65 or older
Total 36,790 3,556 33,234 100.0 100.0 100.0 9.7
Unrelated individuals 12,080 2,218 9,861 32.8 62.4 29.7 18.4
Family members 24,710 1,337 23,373 67.2 37.6 70.3 5.4
Householder or spouse 22,417 1,154 21,263 60.9 32.5 64.0 5.1
Other relative a 2,293 183 2,110 6.2 5.1 6.4 8.0
Poor by own income 946 141 805 2.6 4.0 2.4 14.9
Not poor by own income 1,347 42 1,305 3.7 1.2 3.9 3.1
Men
Subtotal 15,762 1,033 14,729 42.8 29.0 44.3 6.6
Unrelated individuals 3,367 442 2,924 9.2 12.4 8.8 13.1
Family members 12,395 590 11,805 33.7 16.6 35.5 4.8
Householder 7,786 357 7,429 21.2 10.0 22.4 4.6
Spouse of householder 4,002 195 3,807 10.9 5.5 11.5 4.9
Other relative a 608 39 569 1.7 1.1 1.7 6.3
Poor by own income 205 28 177 0.6 0.8 0.5 13.6
Not poor by own income 403 11 392 1.1 0.3 1.2 2.6
Women
Subtotal 21,028 2,523 18,505 57.2 71.0 55.7 12.0
Unrelated individuals 8,713 1,776 6,937 23.7 50.0 20.9 20.4
Family members 12,315 747 11,568 33.5 21.0 34.8 6.1
Householder, no husband present 1,871 243 1,628 5.1 6.8 4.9 13.0
Householder with husband present 3,114 133 2,981 8.5 3.7 9.0 4.3
Wife of householder 5,645 226 5,418 15.3 6.4 16.3 4.0
Other relative a 1,686 144 1,541 4.6 4.1 4.6 8.6
Poor by own income 741 113 628 2.0 3.2 1.9 15.3
Not poor by own income 944 31 913 2.6 0.9 2.7 3.3
SOURCE: Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, public-use file of the March 2008 Income Supplement.
NOTES: Living arrangements as of March 2008.
Poverty status in 2007 as reflected by income of unrelated individual or family money income for year compared with official poverty income criterion for families of appropriate size and composition.
Table includes civilian noninstitutionalized population residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
For a discussion of standard errors of estimated numbers and percentages, see Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Series P-60.
a. Aged family members who are neither the family householder nor the spouse of the householder. Official poverty classification is based on combined income of all related persons living together. Persons in this group are classified here on the basis of official poverty criteria for family income and on a comparison of their own income with official poverty criteria for elderly persons maintaining their own households. The hidden poor are other relatives in nonpoor households whose own income is below the official poverty line for unrelated individuals or married couples.
CONTACT: Diane Wallace (410) 965-0165 or supplement@ssa.gov.
Table 3.E6 Percentage distribution of aged families receiving Social Security benefits, by share of income from benefits and race, 2007
Social Security share of money income for year a Individuals aged 65 or older living alone or with nonrelatives only Multiperson families with householder aged 65 or older
Total Nonpoor Poor Percent poor Total Nonpoor Poor Percent poor
All races b
Number (thousands) 12,063 9,851 2,212 . . . 12,902 12,064 837 . . .
Percent 100 100 100 18 100 100 100 6
No Social Security benefits 11 9 23 37 11 9 33 21
Some Social Security benefits 89 91 77 16 89 91 67 5
Less than one-fourth of income 10 12 1 2 22 24 0 0
One-fourth to one-half of income 16 20 1 2 23 24 5 1
One-half to three-fourths of income 17 20 5 6 19 19 10 3
Three-fourths or more of income 46 40 70 28 25 23 52 13
White only
Number (thousands) 10,386 8,742 1,645 . . . 10,939 10,444 495 . . .
Percent 100 100 100 16 100 100 100 5
No Social Security benefits 10 8 21 32 9 8 34 17
Some Social Security benefits 90 92 79 14 91 92 66 3
Less than one-fourth of income 10 12 1 1 23 24 1 0
One-fourth to one-half of income 17 20 1 1 24 25 5 1
One-half to three-fourths of income 17 20 5 5 19 20 10 2
Three-fourths or more of income 45 40 72 25 25 24 50 9
Black only
Number (thousands) 1,275 828 447 . . . 1,003 837 166 . . .
Percent 100 100 100 35 100 100 100 17
No Social Security benefits 19 14 27 51 16 14 28 29
Some Social Security benefits 81 86 73 31 84 86 72 14
Less than one-fourth of income 5 7 1 5 20 24 1 1
One-fourth to one-half of income 12 17 2 5 21 24 5 4
One-half to three-fourths of income 15 20 5 13 17 18 15 14
Three-fourths or more of income 50 42 65 46 26 21 52 33
SOURCE: Census Bureau, Current Population Survey, public-use file of the March 2008 Income Supplement.
NOTES: Civilian noninstitutionalized population residing in the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
Totals do not necessarily equal the sum of rounded components.
For a discussion of standard errors of estimated numbers and percentages, see Census Bureau, Current Population Reports, Series P-60.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Payments under Social Security program any time in 2007 to any family member as reported in the March 2008 Current Population Survey.
b. Includes other races.
CONTACT: Diane Wallace (410) 965-0165 or supplement@ssa.gov.
Table 3.E8 Poverty guidelines for families of specified size, 1965–2009 (in dollars)
Date of issuance a 1 person 2 persons 3 persons 4 persons 5 persons 6 persons 7 persons 8 persons Increment b
December 1965 1,540 1,990 2,440 3,130 3,685 4,135 4,635 5,135 500
August 1967 1,600 2,000 2,500 3,200 3,800 4,200 4,700 5,300 500
September 1968 1,600 2,100 2,600 3,300 3,900 4,400 4,900 5,400 500
September 1969 1,800 2,400 3,000 3,600 4,200 4,800 5,400 6,000 600
December 1970 1,900 2,500 3,100 3,800 4,400 5,000 5,600 6,200 600
November 1971 2,000 2,600 3,300 4,000 4,700 5,300 5,900 6,500 600
October 1972 2,100 2,725 3,450 4,200 4,925 5,550 6,200 6,850 650
March 1973 2,200 2,900 3,600 4,300 5,000 5,700 6,400 7,100 700
May 1974 2,330 3,070 3,810 4,550 5,290 6,030 6,770 7,510 740
March 1975 2,590 3,410 4,230 5,050 5,870 6,690 7,510 8,330 820
April 1976 2,800 3,700 4,600 5,500 6,400 7,300 8,200 9,100 900
April 1977 2,970 3,930 4,890 5,850 6,810 7,770 8,730 9,690 960
April 1978 3,140 4,160 5,180 6,200 7,220 8,240 9,260 10,280 1,020
May 1979 3,400 4,500 5,600 6,700 7,800 8,900 10,000 11,100 1,100
April 1980 3,790 5,010 6,230 7,450 8,670 9,890 11,110 12,330 1,220
March 1981 4,310 5,690 7,070 8,450 9,830 11,210 12,590 13,970 1,380
April 1982 4,680 6,220 7,760 9,300 10,840 12,380 13,920 15,460 1,540
February 1983 4,860 6,540 8,220 9,900 11,580 13,260 14,940 16,620 1,680
February 1984 4,980 6,720 8,460 10,200 11,940 13,680 15,420 17,160 1,740
March 1985 5,250 7,050 8,850 10,650 12,450 14,250 16,050 17,850 1,800
February 1986 5,360 7,240 9,120 11,000 12,880 14,760 16,640 18,520 1,880
February 1987 5,500 7,400 9,300 11,200 13,100 15,000 16,900 18,800 1,900
February 1988 5,770 7,730 9,690 11,650 13,610 15,570 17,530 19,490 1,960
February 1989 5,980 8,020 10,060 12,100 14,140 16,180 18,220 20,260 2,040
February 1990 6,280 8,420 10,560 12,700 14,840 16,980 18,120 21,260 2,140
February 1991 6,620 8,880 11,140 13,400 15,660 17,920 20,180 22,440 2,260
February 1992 6,810 9,190 11,570 13,950 16,330 18,710 21,090 23,470 2,380
February 1993 6,970 9,430 11,890 14,350 16,810 19,270 21,730 24,190 2,460
February 1994 7,360 9,840 12,320 14,800 17,280 19,760 22,240 24,720 2,480
February 1995 7,470 10,030 12,590 15,150 17,710 20,270 22,830 25,390 2,560
March 1996 7,740 10,360 12,980 15,600 18,220 20,840 23,460 26,080 2,620
March 1997 7,890 10,610 13,330 16,050 18,770 21,490 24,210 26,960 2,720
February 1998 8,050 10,850 13,650 16,450 19,250 22,050 24,850 27,650 2,800
March 1999 8,240 11,060 13,880 16,700 19,520 22,340 25,160 27,980 2,820
February 2000 8,350 11,250 14,150 17,050 19,950 22,850 25,750 28,650 2,900
February 2001 8,590 11,610 14,630 17,650 20,670 23,690 26,710 29,730 3,020
February 2002 8,860 11,940 15,020 18,100 21,180 24,260 27,340 30,420 3,080
February 2003 8,980 12,120 15,260 18,400 21,540 24,680 27,820 30,960 3,140
February 2004 9,310 12,490 15,670 18,850 22,030 25,210 28,390 31,570 3,180
February 2005 9,570 12,830 16,090 19,350 22,610 25,870 29,130 32,390 3,260
January 2006 9,800 13,200 16,600 20,000 23,400 26,800 30,200 33,600 3,400
January 2007 10,210 13,690 17,170 20,650 24,130 27,610 31,090 34,570 3,480
January 2008 10,400 14,000 17,600 21,200 24,800 28,400 32,000 35,600 3,600
January 2009 10,830 14,570 18,310 22,050 25,790 29,530 33,270 37,010 3,740
SOURCE: Department of Health and Human Services, Federal Register, vol. 74, no. 14 (January 23, 2009), pp. 4199–4201; earlier Federal Register notices (1968–2008); and Israel Putnam, "Poverty Thresholds: Their History and Future Development" [November 1970], p. 281 in Mollie Orshansky [editor], Documentation of Background Information and Rationale for Current Poverty Matrix (Technical Paper I of The Measure of Poverty), Washington, D.C., U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, 1977.
NOTES: Except for Alaska and Hawaii. Guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii since 1980 are:
Year Alaska Hawaii
1 person Increment 1 person Increment
1980 4,760 1,520 4,370 1,400
1981 5,410 1,720 4,980 1,580
1982 5,870 1,920 5,390 1,770
1983 6,080 2,100 5,600 1,930
1984 6,240 2,170 5,730 2,000
1985 6,560 2,250 6,040 2,070
1986 6,700 2,350 6,170 2,160
1987 6,860 2,380 6,310 2,190
1988 7,210 2,450 6,650 2,250
1989 7,480 2,550 6,870 2,350
1990 7,840 2,680 7,230 2,460
1991 8,290 2,820 7,610 2,600
1992 8,500 2,980 7,830 2,740
1993 8,700 3,080 8,040 2,820
1994 9,200 3,100 8,470 2,850
1995 9,340 3,200 8,610 2,940
1996 9,660 3,280 8,910 3,010
1997 9,870 3,400 9,070 3,130
1998 10,070 3,500 9,260 3,220
1999 10,320 3,520 9,490 3,240
2000 10,430 3,630 9,590 3,340
2001 10,730 3,780 9,890 3,470
2002 11,080 3,850 10,200 3,540
2003 11,210 3,930 10,330 3,610
2004 11,630 3,980 10,700 3,660
2005 11,950 4,080 11,010 3,750
2006 12,250 4,250 11,270 3,910
2007 12,770 4,350 11,750 4,000
2008 13,000 4,500 11,960 4,140
2009 13,530 4,680 12,460 4,300
 
Separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii reflect Office of Economic Opportunity administrative practice beginning in the 1966–1970 period. The Census Bureau, producer of the primary version of the poverty measure (the poverty thresholds), does not produce separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii.
Before 1983, the guidelines shown are for nonfarm families only.
a. The guidelines are effective from the date of issuance (unless otherwise specified by a particular program using them).
b. Add this amount for each additional family member. Before 1973, increments between some of the smaller family sizes differed from the increment shown in the table. Beginning in 1973, the increment has been the same for all family sizes in each year's set of guidelines.
CONTACT: Gordon Fisher (202) 690-7507 or supplement@ssa.gov.