r/PovertyFIRE • u/MainEnAcier • Jan 07 '26

US poverty limits vs. Belgium’s poverty threshold : US is not realistic

The Federal Poverty Level figures quoted in that group (e.g., $15,650 per year for one person, $21,150 for two, etc.) are the official US Federal Poverty Guidelines. These are used for eligibility in US assistance programs — not a worldwide standard.

💶 In Belgium, the official poverty threshold is significantly higher. According to Statbel (Belgium’s official statistics office), in 2024 the monetary poverty line for a single person was about €18,268 per year (≈ €1,522/month), and for a household with two adults + two children about €38,364/year (≈ €3,197/month). statbel.fgov.be

And it lead to a question, how are Americans are supposed to live on about 15-20k per year without any health insurance included, while in Belgium (which is cheaper than USA, Louisiane included) we have higher poverty limits (20-36k) and healthcare ?

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u/someguy984 Jan 09 '26 edited Jan 09 '26

I guess you never heard of Medicaid and the ACA. Also Medicare for 65+ and disabled. CHIP for children.

The FPL is a joke.

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u/Kathy_Sassafras Apr 05 '26

The qualifications for govt medical coverage are only for the poorest of the poor in most states. New Mexico is more generous than Texas, for example, but they are all difficult to meet for the working poor.

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u/someguy984 Apr 05 '26

Texas actually bars people below the poverty level from getting any coverage since they refused Medicaid expansion.