Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines
While the U.S. Census Bureau uses poverty thresholds for statistical purposes - for instance, preparing estimates of the number of Americans in poverty each year - the U.S. Department of Health and Human services issues another version of the federal poverty measure called the "poverty guidelines." These guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds for use for administrative purposes - for instance, determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs, such as Head Start, the Food Stamp Program, the National School Lunch Program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Unlike the "poverty thresholds," the "poverty guidelines" make no distinction of age; yet do provide separate guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii.
For 2005, the HHS Poverty Guidelines are
| Size of Family Unit |
48 Contiguous States and D.C. |
Alaska |
Hawaii |
| 1 |
$9,570 |
$11,950 |
$11,010 |
| 2 |
12,830 |
16,030 |
14,760 |
| 3 |
16,090 |
20,110 |
18,510 |
| 4 |
19,350 |
24,190 |
22,260 |
| 5 |
22,610 |
28,270 |
26,010 |
| 6 |
25,870 |
32,350 |
29,760 |
| 7 |
29,130 |
36,430 |
33,510 |
| 8 |
32,390 |
40,510 |
37,260 |
For each
additional
person, add |
3,260 |
4,080 |
3,750 |
Source: Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 33, February 18, 2005, pp. 8373-8375.
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