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Poverty in Schuylkill County

Poverty Guidelines
Federal Poverty Guidelines are used to determine financial eligibility for certain federal and state funded programs.
2008 HHS Poverty Guidelines
Persons in Family or Household 48 Contiguous States and D.C.
1 $10,400
2 $14,000
3 $17,600
4 $21,200
5 $24,800
6 $28,400
7 $32,000
8 $35,600

For each additional person, add $3,600

SOURCE: Federal Register, Vol. 73, No. 15, January 23, 2008, pp. 3971-3972
The Self-Sufficiency Standard
The Self-Sufficiency Standard measures how much income is needed for a family of a certain composition in a given place to adequately meet their basic needs with or without public assistance.


Poverty Thresholds
The dollar amount the Census Bureau uses to determine poverty

How does the Census Bureau determine poverty?
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/povdef.html#2

What are the Poverty Thresholds?
http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/poverty/threshld/thresh06.html
 

Poverty in Schuylkill County
The latest statistics
 
The 2006 American Community Survey reveals the following results for Schuylkill County:

In 2006:
  • People in Poverty
    12.4 percent (17,432) of people were in poverty (PA, 12.1%, US, 13.3%) - a rate slightly above the statewide rate, but below national estimates.
  • Related Children in Poverty
    18.5 percent of related children under 18 were below the poverty level (PA, 16.5%, US, 17.9%) - a higher percentage than state and national levels.
  • People Age 65 and over in Poverty
    8.3 percent of people age 65 years and over were below the poverty level (PA, 8.9%, US, 9.9%) - a percentage slightly below state and national percentages.
  • Families in Poverty
    9.4 percent of all families (PA, 8.2%, US, 9.8%) and 34.2 percent of families with a female headed householder and no husband present (PA, 26.8%, US 28.36%)had income below the poverty level - rates slightly above state and national levels (not including percentage of all families, which is slightly below national rates).
  • Median Earnings
    The median earnings for the population 16 and over was $24,845 (PA, $27,151, US, $27, 239) - median earnings lag behind state and national levels.
  • Median Income
    The median income of households was $38,496 (PA, $46,259, US, $48,451) - median income is below that of state and national levels.
A comparison of 2004, 2005, and 2006 County ACS data shows:
 
Schuylkill County, American Community Survey Estimates 2004 2005 2006
People in Poverty 10.2% 13% 12.4%
Percent of related children under 18 below the poverty level 12.2% 19% 18.5%
Percent of people age 65 years and over below the poverty level 12.7% 12% 8.3%
Percent of all families below poverty level 7.2% 10% 9.4%
Percent of families with a female headed householder and no husband present below poverty level 21.5% 30% 34.2%
Median earnings for the population 16 and over $23,977 $25,492 $24,845
Median income of households $36,843 $35,610 $38,496

The American Community Survey (ACS) can be accessed by visiting the U.S. Census Bureau website, at www.census.gov.


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