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Food, shelter, clothing, health care, transportation - these are only the beginnings of the basic necessities of modern American living. Each year, the federal government calculates the minimum amount of money required by families to meet these basic needs. The resulting calculation is what is commonly referred to as the "poverty line." Using 2004 data, the government has set the 2005 poverty guidelines at:
Size of Family Unit |
Weighted Average Thresholds |
One person
(unrelated individual) |
9,645 |
| Under 65 years |
9,827 |
| 65 years and over |
9,060 |
| Two persons |
12,334 |
Householder
under 65
|
12,649 |
Householder 65
and over |
11,418 |
| Three persons |
15,067 |
| Four persons |
19,307 |
| Five persons |
22,831 |
| Six persons |
25,788 |
| Seven persons |
29,236 |
| Eight persons |
32,641 |
| Nine persons or more |
39,048 |
SOURCE: U.S. Census Bureau, Income, Poverty, and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2004
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