What the minimum annual income per household is which is considered to be above the poverty line.

There are a range of indicators which can be used to measure poverty, of which low income is only one.The Statistical Programme Committee of the European Union recommend using a range of different thresholds for the analysis of low income based on various percentages of mean (50%, 60%) and median (50%, 60%, 70%) equivalised income. The 60% median threshold has been recommended for use as the headline indicator. Data for these thresholds are set out in the Social Justice Annual Report. The table illustrates the level of the low income threshold for various types of households in 1998-99 for 60% median GB net equivalised income. Equivalisation adjusts income according to household size and composition to reflect the extent to which households of different sizes require a different level of income to achieve the same standard of living. The actual level of the low income threshold is therefore different depending on the household composition. Low Income Threshold (60% median GB Net Income), 1998-99 (£ annual)Couple | Before Housing Costs | After Housing Costs
No children | 8,447 | 7,248
1 child age 5 | 10,220 | 8,760
2 children 5, 11 | 12,358 | 10,689
2 children age 11 | 12,671 | 11,054
3 children 5,11,16 | 15,382 | 13,401
Single | |
No children | 5,162 | 4,015
1 child age 5 | 6,935 | 5,527
2 children 5, 11 | 9,073 | 7,404
2 children age 11 | 9,386 | 7,769
3 children 5,11,16 | 12,097 | 10,168
Source: DSS Households Below Average Income.Notes:1. Estimates are based on sample counts, and are therefore subject to sampling variability.2. Income is net of: income tax payments, national insurance contributions, domestic rates/council tax, contributions to occupational pension schemes, all maintenance and child support payments, and parental contributions to students living away from home.