Show of Hands

That's for household. I believe the question is speaking of a single person.

I was raised by a single parent with an older brother, without welfare. Making less than 40k.

Maybe people are not living within their means.
I'm not disagreeing, only giving another view

Sorry, I believe MIT over your personal anecdote. livingwage.mit.edu/

I agree with you common. Everyone thinks they need to have the newest phone or nice clothes, etc. They live well above their pay and then fall back on the government to help.

I agree with Common, MIT study or not, it is easily possible to live under 40k as a single parent. Maybe with the exception of Los Angeles or New York, ect.

There's a reason why we generalize: it's because that way, you get a grip on the general situation, not any one individual's.

The median income is 51,000.

Okay. But remember that mit's report is based on generalizing, not absolutes.

Lelouch is correct. www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/central.html

I didn't know which measurement you were using.