if someone works 40hrs/week for minimum wage and makes $12000 a year why is the national poverty line $19000?

Answer 1

Because working for minimum wage IS living in poverty.

Answer 2

The minimum wage is set by congress which is a political process. The poverty line is determined by the cost of living. They should be related but are not. You number of $19000 is for family of 4.
2006 HHS Poverty Guidelines

48 Contiguous
States and D.C. Alaska Hawaii
Persons
1 9,800 12,250 11,270
2 13,200 16,500 15,180
3 16,600 20,750 19,090
4 20,000 25,000 23,000
5 23,400 29,250 26,910
6 26,800 33,500 30,820
7 30,200 37,750 34,730
8 33,600 42,000 38,640
For each additional
person, add 3,400 4,250 3,91

Answer 3

If the minimum wage of 1960 was adjusted for inflation today, it would be around 12 to 14 dollars an hour. Since women work now. the power elite rakes off more in taxes and interest to the Federal Reserve, war, and government programs

Answer 4

In the past minimum wage was an accepted wage for school kids to earn, after school, as extra spending money. It was set in place to protect the rights of kids. Minimum wages were never meant to be for starting up a family or to buy the better things in life. It was the accepted norm that once you left school you would go to work in some trade, brick layer, plumber, policeman, teacher etc., etc., etc., which would start you off higher than minimum wage. I used to use my minimum wages to buy comic books, trading cards, and my choice of school supplies instead of letting my mother choose for me. Minimum wage was the first step towards freedom. So if you work for minimum wage and only make 12,000 a year, go back to school.