That is nuts...I was making more than that in the 1980s...
How in hell can these people survive on 1980s wages?
And throw in sky high winter energy bills??
Thats nuts.
You forget that most of these people have all their necessities paid for by the taxpayers - food stamps, free medical care
The employed, people working get all that? wow...
Yes, check out the income levels where benefits kick in and you will be surprised. They also get the earned income tax credit, which is a tax refund for people who don’t pay taxes.
And poverty statistics are calculated using only income; the value of non-cash benefits people receive from taxpayers is not included. So, the next time you hear that “x” percentage of Americans are living in poverty, add to their supposed income all the freebies they get plus any money they make that they don’t report to the IRS. They may be poor by wealthy American standards, but they are not living in abject poverty.
Oh, and don’t forget what they can get from various private charities and.... free government cheese!