The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services just released new poverty guidelines for 2013. The new amounts reflect a 2.1% increase in the Consumer Price Index between calendar years 2011 and 2012. These guidelines are used for eligibility purposes in numerous federal and state public assistance programs, often as a percentage multiple of the guidelines (e.g., 150%).
This means that for a household of one, the annual guideline is rising from $11,170 to $11,490 and for a household of two, the amount rises from $15,130 to $15,510, and so forth.
