Federal poverty thresholds used by the Census Bureau: $8,590 in annual income for an individual and $17,650 for a family of four (February 2001).

An income level below which an individual or family is considered poor. The U.S. Census Bureau defines poverty level based on a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and composition. If a family's total income is less than that family's threshold, then that family, and every individual in it, is considered poor. The Census Bureau updates its poverty thresholds annually. In 2000, a family of two adults and two children with total income below $17,463 was considered below the poverty level. Tables showing the Census Bureau's poverty thresholds are available at http://www.census.gov/hhes/poverty/threshld.html.

'pä-vur-tê · 'le-vul/ A monetary threshold below which all family members of considered poor. There are different threshold levels for different family sizes and compositions. For example, the poverty level for a single adult is $9,359 whereas the level for a four-person family with two children is $18,244. Mainly used for statistical purposes, the system for determining the poverty level was developed in the 1960's by Mollie Orshansky.

Poverty statistics presented in this report are based on a definition developed by the Social Security Administration in 1964 and revised by Federal Interagency Committees in 1969 and 1980. The poverty index provides a range of income cutoffs adjusted by such factors as family size and number of children under 18 years old.

Poverty statistics are based on a set of money income thresholds that vary by family size and makeup. Families or persons with income below their appropriate thresholds are classified as below poverty level. The average poverty threshold for a family of four was $15,569 in 1995 and $13,359 in 1990.