Statistics
What is the current (2024) federal minimum wage in the US?
$7.25 and hour. For a 40 hour work week, that's roughly $15,000 a year before taxes.
How much rent can I afford on minimum wage, following the rule of only spending up to 30% of my income on housing?
$377/month in rent.
How many children in the US live in poverty?
11.6 million (2024) - or approximately 16% of children.
Who provides the majority of mental health care in the US?
Social workers! Estimates between 60 and 80% of all mental health care is provided by social workers.
How many people in the US don't have health insurance?
About 25.6 million (2022) non-elderly people were uninsured. Most were from low income households with at least one working family member.
How many people (of any age) live in poverty in the US? (US overall population is 333 million)
38 million (2022). Or over 11%.
How many hours at minimum wage ($7.25) would I have to work to pay for the average grocery bill for a family of 4?
134 hours PER MONTH, to pay average monthly car loan bill of $976. (83% of a month)
Which state in the US has the highest rate of children in poverty?
Mississippi - 26%
(New Hampshire is lowest at 7%)
What policy/law could social workers advocate for to increase income?
Increase the federal minimum wage for the first time in 15 years.
What percentage of adults report delaying medical care, medication, mental health, or dental care due to cost?
28% (more than 1 in 4)
When was the last time the federal minimum wage was increased?
2009 when it was increased from $6.55 an hour to $7.25 that it still is today.
How many hours at minimum wage ($7.25) would I have to work to pay for a used car loan?
72 hours PER MONTH, to pay average monthly car loan bill of $523. (45% of a month)
How many children in the US quality for free or reduced-price lunch programs at school?
30.1 million, or over 60% of public school students
What resources are available to help with food and food costs that social workers may know about?
SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) and WIC for low income families. Free local food pantry resources.
How much do US citizens owe in medical debt? (unpaid medical bills)
$220 BILLION.
How much can a 4 person household make in a year and still be considered living in poverty?
$31,200 or less. This is known as the Federal Poverty Level. This is roughly $15/hour for one worker, 40 hours a week.
How much money does it cost to put one child through daycare in a year (2023)?
$11,500. That is approximately $220/week.
Do childhood poverty rates vary by race/ethnicity?
Yes. Children of Black, Hispanic, and American Native/Native Alaskan heritage experience poverty at a higher rate (up to 26%) than children of White, non-Hispanic, or Asian/Pacific Islander backgrounds (as low as about 8%).
What do social workers do to help with housing needs in their communities?
- Work for emergency shelters, temporary housing, transitional/supportive housing
- Outreach!
- Advocate for policy changes to provide affordable housing
How much education debt do we have in the US? (ex. college loans)
$1,770,000,000,000 (1.77 trillion)
Between $100,000-$120,000 year. Estimates vary based on cost of living differences by city/state. A 'living wage' takes into consideration food, childcare, housing, health care, and transportation costs.
What percentage of US are living 'paycheck to paycheck' - meaning if they did not get their next paycheck they would not be able to pay all their monthly bills?
Over 70% (2023). Nearly 80% state they have less than $2,000 in savings.
Are children from lower income households more, or less likely, to graduate from highschool?
Less. Approximately 11% less likely than students from higher income households.
What environments might people come across a social worker who can help?
Schools, social service agencies, healthcare, mental health, housing programs, substance misuse/recovery programs, job training programs, policy making, advocacy groups, etc.
What are a few health risks for persons from low income households?
Lower income is correlated to higher risk of things like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, anxiety and depression, than their higher income counterparts.