Is it just me, or the poverty guidelines are off?

[Wuozopo 4,293]

I am wondering if any of you have seen really poor people. They have multiple generations crammed into one falling down shack and depend on pooled income from granny’s social security benefits, to the teen’s paper route. They go to the food pantry.  They have a beat up car with no auto insurance. That have fake paper tags to avoid licensing fees. They don’t have air conditioning or heat. They don’t have internet. They don’t have medical insurance. 

[Letspaintcookies 2,310]

1 hour ago, ROK2USA said:

I assume you are a household of 2 and if so:  can you and your partner live on $18,310 a year? Even with all the benefits military receive? 

Oh absolutely not. I'm not saying it's right it's just my explanation as to why it only has to be 100% for military instead of 125%. Maybe it's just their version of a military discount 🤣🤣

[Redro 4,611]

1 minute ago, Letspaintcookies said:

Oh absolutely not. I'm not saying it's right it's just my explanation as to why it only has to be 100% for military instead of 125%. Maybe it's just their version of a military discount 🤣🤣

😅😅😅

 

Thanks for the explanation! 

Gotta love the military discounts... 

[Rocio0010 5,579]

52 minutes ago, Wuozopo said:

I am wondering if any of you have seen really poor people. They have multiple generations crammed into one falling down shack and depend on pooled income from granny’s social security benefits, to the teen’s paper route. They go to the food pantry.  They have a beat up car with no auto insurance. That have fake paper tags to avoid licensing fees. They don’t have air conditioning or heat. They don’t have internet. They don’t have medical insurance. 

I come from a third world country. I grew up seeing that. However, that doesn’t mean I understand why the DHS has set up the bar so unrealistically in order to be able to sponsor an immigrant imho. 

[Redro 4,611]

1 hour ago, Wuozopo said:

I am wondering if any of you have seen really poor people. They have multiple generations crammed into one falling down shack and depend on pooled income from granny’s social security benefits, to the teen’s paper route. They go to the food pantry.  They have a beat up car with no auto insurance. That have fake paper tags to avoid licensing fees. They don’t have air conditioning or heat. They don’t have internet. They don’t have medical insurance. 

Aren't these behaviours/actions USCIS/NVC  doesn't want a new immigrant to engage in?

The entire point of the I-864 is to show the new immigrant won't become a public charge or a burden on the US... 

 

Edited April 19, 2022 by ROK2USA

[Wuozopo 4,293]

2 hours ago, Rocio0010 said:

I come from a third world country. I grew up seeing that. However, that doesn’t mean I understand why the DHS has set up the bar so unrealistically in order to be able to sponsor an immigrant imho. 

Maybe the Heath and Human Services data is the best source they have without having to delegate resources to coming up with their own studies. Then DHS  just kicks it up 25% for immigration purposes.

 

 

2 hours ago, ROK2USA said:

Aren't these behaviours/actions USCIS/NVC  doesn't want a new immigrant to engage in?

The entire point of the I-864 is to show the new immigrant won't become a public charge or a burden on the US... 

 

I thought the topic was the guidelines are a joke because  how can people live on these HHS incomes? Comments were on my rent, my health insurance, car insurance,, utilities etc. My comment was that people do live on small incomes, not what I think should be required for an immigrant. Maybe I misunderstood the OP’s thoughts. 

[Rocio0010 5,579]

On 4/18/2022 at 11:45 PM, Wuozopo said:

I thought the topic was the guidelines are a joke because  how can people live on these HHS incomes? Comments were on my rent, my health insurance, car insurance,, utilities etc. My comment was that people do live on small incomes, not what I think should be required for an immigrant. Maybe I misunderstood the OP’s thoughts.

No, you did not misunderstand! That is my thinking, how does a family of 9 survive on 58k?

[lameset 3]

On 4/20/2022 at 9:24 AM, Rocio0010 said:

No, you did not misunderstand! That is my thinking, how does a family of 9 survive on 58k?

By living within your means.

Also, it depends on where you live.

It is more possible for someone to survive on that if the family lives in an area where the cost of living is not as high.

[powerpuff 6,667]

*** Topic moved to Off Topic forum as the thread is about opinions on poverty guidelines rather than seeking specific advice ***

[Boiler 45,427]

If memory serves me right it does not take into account Housing, which is an ever increasing percentage.

 

I am no expert but this is why we see quite a few cases where people are on food stamps, medicaid etc. but comfortably meet the income needs

 

The other reason is because of the figures they use, I know quite a few people who are self employed and their income is sort of fungible in that there are no end of expense they can deduct. I am not knocking btw, or if you are involved in renting property.

 

And then of course there is quite a large under the table industry. The best paid person at your local Restaurant is probably the waitress, I assume it is a lot harder to hide tips now that most transactions are on a Card. A bar I occasionally frequent just charges the list price if you pay in cash and cash tips are very welcome.