2005 Federal Poverty Guidelines Issued

IMMIGRATION LAW & POLICY

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(The most recent Poverty Income Guidelines are available here.)

2005 Federal Poverty Guidelines issued

The U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services has issued updated federal poverty income guidelines that took effect Feb. 18, 2005. The guidelines, which serve as a basis for determining eligibility for many means-tested benefits, are updated yearly to reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. Under the affidavit of support requirements created by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, sponsors seeking to immigrate family members must establish that they have an income of at least 125 percent of the federal poverty income. The table below contains the new guidelines.

2005 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines
	100% of Poverty Line			125% of Poverty Line
FAMILY UNIT SIZE	48 CONTIGUOUS STATES & D.C.	ALASKA	HAWAII	48 CONTIGUOUS STATES & D.C.	ALASKA	HAWAII
1	$ 9,570	$11,950	$11,010	$11,963	$14,938	$13,763
2	12,830	16,030	14,760	16,038	20,038	18,450
3	16,090	20,110	18,510	20,113	25,138	23,138
4	19,350	24,190	22,260	24,188	30,238	27,825
5	22,610	28,270	26,010	28,263	35,338	32,513
6	25,870	32,350	29,760	32,338	40,438	37,200
7	29,130	36,430	33,510	36,413	45,538	41,888
8	32,390	40,510	37,260	40,488	50,638	46,575
For each additional family member, add
	3,260	4,080	3,750	4,075	5,100	4,688
70 Fed. Reg. 8373–75 (Feb. 18, 2005).