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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 2004, the
HHS Poverty Guidelines are
| Size of Family Unit |
48 Contiguous States and D.C. |
Alaska |
Hawaii |
| 1 |
$9,310 |
$11,630 |
$10,700 |
| 2 |
12,490 |
15,610 |
14,360 |
| 3 |
15,670 |
19,590 |
18,020 |
| 4 |
18,850 |
23,570 |
21,680 |
| 5 |
22,030 |
27,550 |
25,340 |
| 6 |
25,210 |
31,530 |
29,000 |
| 7 |
28,390 |
35,510 |
32,660 |
| 8 |
31,570 |
39,490 |
36,320 |
For each
additional
person, add |
3,180 |
3,980 |
3,660 |
Source: Federal Register, Vol. 69, No. 30, February 13, 2004, pp. 7336-7338.
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