Census finds 49.1 million living in poverty

{mosads}Under the new measurements, more adults over 18 years old and seniors fall below the poverty line, while fewer children do.

Under the official estimate, the poverty line for a two-adult, two-child household in America was $22,113 in 2010. Under the new measure, the poverty line is $24,343.

The supplemental poverty measure was made in response to criticism by the National Academy of Sciences, which in 1995 called the official measure flawed.

Under the new measurement, 46.5 million people were in poverty in 2009 and 2.6 million more people became poor by 2010. 

House Ways and Means Committee member Rep. Jim McDermott (D-Wash.) said in response that the report shows how valuable government assistance is in keeping people out of poverty and that more needs to be done to help the poor.

“This new poverty measure puts to rest the lie that government programs don’t make a difference to struggling Americans,” he said.