A new report says the federal benchmark for determining eligibility for public programs underestimates the needs of California seniors. The report from UCLA says the federal poverty line covers less than half the basic costs of older adults. KPBS reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
The federal poverty line was designed in the 1960s. The measure is based on the cost of a basic food budget. It doesn't factor in the cost of housing, medical care, or transportation.
UCLA’s Steven Wallace says it doesn't give an accurate picture of the bare minimum seniors need to live on.
Wallace : What we did is we looked at the actual cost of living in California for older adults, and came up with a figure that was about twice what the federal government says is the poverty line.
For an average older couple in California, the figure Wallace came up with is around $30,500. The federal poverty line is about $13,700. Wallace says the federal formula needs to be updated.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
