Is the 125% poverty amount calculated by total earnings without witholdings and taxes or is it based on net?

[Kevinbolts 0]

I believe the 125% poverty limit is around $18,000 and right now I am making well over $20,000. If you factor in taxes, social security, medicare, disability, etc. then my net will be less than $18,000. Which one is the amount that they are looking at?

[Lainie B 465]

It's gross earnings, unless you are self-employed

[NikLR 13,234]

It's closer to 20k than it is to 18k

http://www.uscis.gov/i-864p

[aleful 1,905]

hi

it was 18 a long time ago, its over 19 for 2, so you are borderline, just over $500, but it's enough

[SteveXXJuliet 27]

Currently it's $19,388 for a family of two.

As Lanie B has said it's generally gross earnings, meaning if you make $20,000 annually but only take home 18,000 you are still above the $19,388.

It can be complex as Lanie B pointed out as in the case of being self-employed.

This from: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/faq.cfm#before

Are the poverty guidelines before-tax or after-tax? Are they gross income or net income? What definition of income is used with the poverty guidelines?

There is no simple answer to these questions. When determining program eligibility, some agencies compare before-tax income to the poverty guidelines, while other agencies compare after-tax income. Likewise, eligibility can be dependent on gross income, net income, or some other measure of income. Federal, state, and local program offices that use the poverty guidelines for eligibility purposes may define income in different ways. To find out the specific definition of income (before-tax, after-tax, etc.) used by a particular program or activity, one must consult the office or organization that administers that program.

Usually this is no matter at all, but for instance if you receive an annual payment of, let's say, $4,000 from an annuity left to you from your Grandfather's copper mine....then this could be added, since it's a form of repeated annual income, even though unearned.