Low-Income Families in Illinois: Results from the Family Resource Simulator

About 85 percent of low-income children have parents who work, and most have at least one parent working full-time, year-round. Nonetheless, many of these parents are unable to afford basic necessities for their families, such as food, housing, and stable child care. Even a full-time job is not alwa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Policy File 2004
Main Authors: Dinan, Kinsey Alden, Cauthen, Nancy K, Fass, Sarah
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
Children & youth/Families & family life
National Center for Children in Poverty
Poverty
Online Access:Request full text
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Summary:About 85 percent of low-income children have parents who work, and most have at least one parent working full-time, year-round. Nonetheless, many of these parents are unable to afford basic necessities for their families, such as food, housing, and stable child care. Even a full-time job is not always enough to make ends meet, and many parents cannot get ahead simply by working more. As earnings increase--particularly as they rise above the official poverty level--families begin to lose eligibility for work supports. At the same time, work-related expenses, such as child care and transportation, increase. This means that parents may earn more without a family experiencing more financial security. In some cases, earning more actually leaves a family with fewer resources after the bills are paid.