Budgeting for Poverty The federal government says a family of four making $18,852 a year is living in poverty. But how far does $18,852 go in America today? How do you budget? What do you leave out?

The median fair-market annual rent for a two-bedroom apartment in DuPage County is $11,820. from $18, ,820 ___________________________ $ 7,032

Families of four earning less than $19,000 annually will not owe federal taxes. State taxes, however, will reduce their income by 3% or $565 annually. This family would also pay $1168 towards Social Security and $273 for Medicare, for a grand total of $ ,006 ___________________________ $ 7,032 $ 5,026 and DPC payroll department

To keep a family of four warm and secure, the average expense for utilities and public services runs $1,008 a year. from $ 5, ,008 ___________________________ $ 4,018

For two people to ride the bus daily to and from work in DuPage County, (assuming that there is public transport in the vicinity of home and work) the annual one round trip per day, five days a week – from - 1,512 ___________________________ $ 4,018 $ 2,506 combined transportation cost would be about $1512. Additional trips—to the store, doctor’s office, wherever—would raise the total significantly.

Families making less than $18,852 on average spend $5,200 a year on food. Even with public assistance, such as food stamps, a family at the poverty line will still need to spend $1,552 annually on food. from Household Food Security in the United States, 2001, USDA and Paula Drake, DPC Senior Services - 1,552 ___________________________ $ 2,506 $ 954

Families living at or below the poverty level are eligible for state subsidized child care programs. In DuPage County the estimated annual co-pay for a family with two children attending day care is $ ,144 ___________________________ $ 954 $ - 190

So now you’re $190 over budget, and you still don’t have everything you need. What do you leave out?

Poverty in America 35.9 million, or 1 out of 8, Americans are living in poverty. 2.6 million Americans work full- time but don’t earn enough to raise them above the poverty line. Illinois experienced the 4 th largest increase in poverty in the United States, 1.2%, in From