“Older, Suburban and Struggling, ‘Near Poor’ Startle the Census”

 “Near Poor”

Name __________________

Answer the following questions after reading the New York Times article, “Older, Suburban and Struggling, ‘Near Poor’ Startle the Census”.

1. Describe the Census Bureau’s new measure of poverty.

The new measure, called the Supplemental Poverty Measure, looks at the money people actually have to live on. It counts taxes, medical bills, transportation, work costs and also includes government benefits like food stamps. It even adjusts for how expensive it is to live in different parts of the country.

2. How many Americans under this new measure are considered poor or “near-poor”?

About 100 million people, roughly one in three Americans, fall into either poverty or the “nearpoor” group under this new measure.

3. What are some flaws critics see with this new measure?

Some people think calling families “near-poor” makes them seem worse off than they really are. Many of these families are getting by, so the label can feel a bit misleading.

4. What are some flaws critics see with the official measure of poverty used by the federal government?

The official measure ignores many expenses like taxes, medical bills and transportation, and doesn’t count government benefits like food stamps or tax credits. It also doesn’t adjust for regional differences in cost of living.

5. What did this new measure uncover about older Americans?

It showed that more older Americans are struggling than previously thought: 34% of the elderly are now considered poor or near-poor, compared to only 22% under the official measure. High medical costs are a big factor.

6. What age group suffers the most under both the official measure of poverty and this new measure from the Census Bureau?

Children are the most affected group, with 39% considered poor or near-poor

7. Do you think it is important to measure the number of Americans who are do not fall into the official category of poor but are still struggling? Why or why not?

I think it is important to measure the number of Americans who are do not fall into the official category of poor but are still struggling because counting only those officially “poor” misses millions of families living paycheck to paycheck. Understanding who is struggling helps policymakers create programs and support for those who are vulnerable but not technically poor.

8. Do you think we do enough in the United States to help those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder? Why or why not?

I don’t think United States does enough to help those at the bottom of the socio-economic ladder. Indeed, many low-income families lack access to affordable healthcare, housing, and education. Programs exist, but they often don’t fully cover real costs, leaving families one emergency away from financial disaster

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