Federal Government Redefines Poverty

NPR talks about the new changes with Rebecca Blank, who serves as undersecretary for economic affairs at the Commerce Department.

"Today, the Commerce Department will announce a new experimental formula that includes things like taxes or tax credits, medical bills and work expenses. The official calculation will remain the same. Indeed, the Commerce Department says the new yardstick would be an inappropriate way to measure an individual, but it will give us a better picture both nationally and regionally."