Poverty Threshold Quiz

What is the poverty threshold used for?

• To determine eligibility for retirement benefits

• To evaluate the income that people receive

• To calculate the gross domestic product

• To set the minimum wage

How are people classified as living in poverty?

• If they do not have a permanent residence

• If their income is below the median income level

• If their income falls below the poverty threshold

• If they are unemployed for over a year

What kind of assistance might a person below the poverty threshold receive?

• Student loans and grants

• Food stamps, subsidized housing, and Medicaid

• Unemployment benefits and job training

• Tax credits and legal aid

Who developed the poverty thresholds?

• The Department of Health and Human Services

• The Social Security Administration

• The Census Bureau

• The Department of Housing and Urban Development

On what basis are the poverty thresholds adjusted?

• According to changes in the unemployment rate

• Annually for inflation

• Every five years based on the census

• Biannually for cost of living

In what year were the poverty thresholds developed by the Social Security Administration?

• 1954

• 1964

• 1974

• 1984

What did the second study, used to develop the poverty thresholds, find about Americans' spending on food?

• That Americans spend half of their income on food

• That Americans spend a quarter of their income on food

• That Americans spend a third of their income on food

• That Americans spend a tenth of their income on food

According to the 2018 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and District of Columbia, what is the poverty guideline for a family/household of 4 persons?

• $16,460

• $25,100

• $29,420

• $33,740

How much is added to the poverty guideline for each additional person beyond 8 in the 2018 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and District of Columbia?

• $3,000

• $4,320

• $5,400

• $6,240

What is the purpose of the "Poverty Guidelines" as mentioned in the document?

• To determine tax brackets

• To set minimum wage levels

• To determine eligibility for programs like Head Start or the Food Stamps Program

• To calculate annual inflation rates