💰 Financial Reality Check
Discover the real financial challenges facing low-income workers. This interactive calculator uses actual government data to show what life looks like on minimum wage and how proven policies could make a difference.
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🧮 Budget Calculator
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Federal minimum: $7.25/hour
Federal programs like SNAP, WIC, Medicaid, childcare subsidies, Section 8
📋 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Eligibility:
⚠️ Benefits Cliff: At $15/hour full-time, a single person earns ~185% FPL, which may disqualify them from some benefits.
Budget Analysis & Policy Solutions
📊 Current Monthly Budget
Monthly Income
Monthly Expenses
🚀 Policy Solutions
Test proven policies individually or combine them - all changes update the budget above
Benefits Cliff Alert
✅ Real-World Success Stories
These policies have already worked in real places with real people
Child Tax Credit (2021)
Monthly payments of $300 per child cut child poverty by 40% in just one year. 3.7 million children lifted out of poverty.
📊 U.S. Census Bureau →Alaska Permanent Fund
Annual payments ($1,000-$2,000) for 40+ years. Reduced poverty 20% and boosted rural economies with no negative work effects.
📈 NBER Study →Earned Income Tax Credit
Lifts 5.6 million people out of poverty annually. Every $1 invested generates $1.50-$2.00 in economic activity.
🏛️ Tax Policy Center →$15 Minimum Wage
Seattle's gradual increase to $15/hr raised wages 13% with minimal job losses. Workers gained $100+ million annually.
🔬 NBER Research →Universal Pre-K (Oklahoma)
Free pre-K for all 4-year-olds. Increased high school graduation by 7% and college attendance by 13%. $7 return per $1 invested.
🏛️ Brookings Institution →Housing Vouchers
Housing vouchers reduce homelessness by 75% and improve children's long-term outcomes. Every $1 spent saves $2 in social costs.
🏛️ HUD Study →Medicaid Expansion
States that expanded Medicaid saw 6.6% drop in uninsured rate, reduced medical debt, and improved financial security for working families.
📊 Kaiser Family Foundation →SNAP Food Assistance
Every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.50-$1.80 in economic activity. Reduced food insecurity by 30% and improved children's health outcomes.
🌾 USDA Research →Sources & Methodology
Data Sources
- • Housing: HUD Fair Market Rents and national apartment rental data
- • Food: USDA Thrifty Food Plan cost estimates
- • Transportation: Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey - Low-income households (lowest quintile) spending patterns
- • Healthcare: BLS healthcare spending data for lowest income quintile
- • Childcare: Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago childcare spending analysis
Government Assistance Programs
- • SNAP: USDA Food and Nutrition Service
- • Medicaid: Medicaid.gov eligibility guidelines
- • Housing: HUD Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program
Important Notes
- • All figures represent national averages and may vary significantly by location
- • Calculations assume full-time work (40 hours/week, ~160 hours/month)
- • Government assistance eligibility based on Federal Poverty Level guidelines
- • Does not include taxes, savings, emergency expenses, or discretionary spending
- • Healthcare costs reflect out-of-pocket expenses for low-income individuals