What does it mean to live below the poverty line?

Answer 1

Poverty line isn't a line, it's a set amount ov money you're supposed to need each month in order to maintain an "acceptable" standard of living. If you only have access to less money than that you are "below the poverty line".

Answer 2

The "poverty line" is a point where an individual's income just meets the minimum necessary for basic survival in a society.

Firstly, there are two type of poverty: absolute poverty(also known as destitution) is where an individual is unable to meet basic human survival needs - they are unable to get enough food, water, clothing, and shelter to continue to live, and will die relatively shortly after reaching the absolute poverty level; relative poverty (also known as being poor) where the individual's standard of living is considerably below the mean (generally, at least 50% below mean income level). Those in relative poverty are not in any immediate danger of death, but suffer from significant issues with malnutrition, health, substandard clothing and housing, and an almost complete lack of any luxury goods, as compared to a "typical" member of that society.

In most contexts, the poverty line is the income level where an individual (or family) enters relative poverty. For instance, 2010 mean US household income is about $50,000. The poverty limit for a family of four was a household income of $22,000, or about 44% of the mean household income.

Thus, living under the poverty line means that the individual/family is definitely poor, and cannot afford much more than the very basics of life.

In the United States, the phrase "under the poverty line" has a specific meaning in the context of government documents. It refers to the "absolute poverty line": the income threshold below which families or individuals are considered to be lacking the resources to meet the basic needs for healthy living; having insufficient income to provide the food, shelter and clothing needed to preserve health.

Answer 3

To live below poverty line means to not have a acceptable standard living. Some people don't have food for days, water, no shelter, etc. Their living isn't acceptable, good, and/or fair.