The Trump administration has taken a step toward changing the way the poverty threshold is calculated, a move that could strip many low-income Americans of their federal benefits
The annual increase in the official poverty line, which determines who qualifies for food stamps, Medicaid and other assistance programs, is currently set using the consumer price index. The administration is considering switching to a different inflation measure that rises more slowly, a change that over time would make it harder to qualify for help. The move is the latest in what liberals see as President Donald Trump and Republicans' continued attacks on the poor.
Read MoreHad chained CPI been used over the past five years, the federal poverty level in 2018 would have been $12,113 for a single person, rather than the actual threshold of $12,140, according to Douglas Holtz-Eakin, president of the American Action Forum and former official in both Bush administrations.Holtz-Eakin supports switching to chained CPI because it's more accurate than the current index.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Melania Trump praises Twitter, Facebook as 'true partners' as Donald Trump Jr. slams their 'political discrimination'“Your work is saving lives and helping children,' Melania Trump said of Twitter, Facebook, Google and other organizations.
Read more »
'Hung jury': Public remains divided over Mueller probe in new NBC/WSJ pollSixty percent of Americans say President Donald Trump has been dishonest in the Russia investigation, but it's a mixed bag on impeachment hearings.
Read more »
Trump gets good marks for economy, but are Americans really feeling it?With key data points and indicators showing a booming economy, 2020 Democrats will have an uphill battle as they make the case: a rising tide has not lifted all boats, and the gap between the wealthy and the rest has only gotten worse.
Read more »
Trump says he had 'a very good call' with Putin, sees 'tremendous potential' for Russia relationshipPresident Donald Trump says the 'Fake News Media' is misleading Americans about the U.S.-Russia relationship.
Read more »
Trump may redefine poverty, cutting Americans from welfare rollsThe Trump administration may change the way it determines the national poverty threshold, putting Americans living on the margins at risk of losing access to welfare programs.
Read more »
Opinion | Why don’t Americans want to impeach Trump?Opinion: Why don’t Americans want to impeach Trump?
Read more »
'Not innocent, not guilty, no consensus' – The Mueller report has not changed Americans' minds about Trump and Russia: NBC/WSJ pollOverall, Trump's public standing remains little changed. The proportion approving of the president's job performance has ticked up slightly to 46%, while 51% disapprove. But his job rating has moved within a narrow band for some time now.
Read more »
Opinion | How House Democrats' investigations of Trump put Americans at riskTheir obsession with going after the president means he is distracted from serious threats like North Korea and China.
Read more »
Trump admin slaps new restrictions on Iran’s nuclear activitiesTrump admin. imposes new limits on Iran's nuclear activities but stopped short of scrapping several waivers that allow Tehran to receive international assistance for the conversion of atomic sites for civilian uses.
Read more »
Emails show Trump admin had 'no way to link' separated kids to parentsOn the day the Trump admin. said it would reunite migrant families with the help of a 'central database,' an official admitted privately the government only had enough info to reconnect 60 parents with their kids, according to emails obtained by NBCNews.
Read more »