Nobody in the United State lives in absolute poverty except by choice.

On a global level, the World Bank defines absolute poverty as living on less than $1.90 a day. That’s not cash income, but the value of all consumption, including housing, the medical care you don’t get, and the pension you’ll not live to collect. That’s at US prices too—imagine trying to buy your entire life at Walmart with $1.90 per person per day.

Relative poverty is what folks are talking about, here in the UK.    And,  that is 60% of the medium income.  In the US,  poverty is measured in dollars and cents:  $12 ,000  or less for single folks,  $25,000 for a family of four.  Depending on your fiscal circumstance,  you or your family may be eligible for as much as $35,000 more in benefits  (food stamps,  housing assistance, etc.).

Persons in Family Unit	48 Contiguous States and D.C.	Alaska	Hawaii
1	$12,140	$15,180	$13,960
2	$16,460	$20,580	$18,930
3	$20,780	$25,980	$23,900
4	$25,100	$31,380	$28,870
5	$29,420	$36,780	$33,840
6	$33,740	$42,180	$38,810
7	$38,060	$47,580	$43,780
8	$42,380	$52,980	$48,750
Each additional person adds	$4,320	$5,400	$4,970