In the Rodgers family, Steve works 40 hours a week, all year, at a fast-food restaurant. He earns the federal minimum wage of $7
.25. He has one week of paid vacation a year. Steven and his wife, Diane, have struggled to make ends meet since the birth of their son, now 5 months old, so Diane has decided to return to work at the same fast-food restaurant where her husband works. They have decided to stagger their schedules in order to avoid the cost of daycare for their son. The federal poverty threshold in 2018 was $20,780 for a family of three. Answer these questions: Are Steve, Diane, and their son currently living above, at, or below the 2018 federal poverty line? If Diane were to return to work 40 hours a week, would the family be characterized as at increased risk for food insecurity? Why or why not?
