Fair enough, and point taken. Mom worked at a thrift store, probably not making much more than minimum wage, step-dad was on disability. They lived with mom, dad, family friend, and aunt (?) all sharing the rent on half a house. I would wager money that they were pretty close to the poverty line.
NOTE: it is damn sure no insult to be poor and I do not use the word in that way. I am poor.
BBM
Chris_Texas, it's always enlightening to see your posts! My following the various WS threads that interest me has been spotty for a month or so owing to poor health and for the past week the internet service provider had major challenges so I wasn't able to go online at all. I've been playing catch up all evening.
WN is drawing permanent and total VA disability compensation. Currently (and VA disability compensation is subject to annual COLA's) that is $2673.00 per month for him with an additional $150.00 per month for his spouse plus a monthly amount for each minor child that could very well bring his total monthly VA disability compensation to above $3000.00 TAX FREE. That $36,000.00 annual figure would be "grossed up" by 25% if he were to seek a VA home loan, and I believe it would be "grossed up" by at least 20% for other kinds of loans; "grossing up" is the catch all term used by lenders to estimate taxable income if anyone is not familiar with that term. In the case of WN, the $36,000.00 net becomes $45,000.00 gross, and while I am not familiar with poverty level guidelines, I do believe $45,000.00 for two parents and two minor children is above the poverty level.
In addition to VA disability compensation, WN may also be drawing Social Security disability which is also nontaxable. Drawing VA disability compensation in no way precludes the veteran from drawing Social Security disability if he/she is eligible and qualifies.
I recently read that 15% of the population of the U.S. lives at or below the poverty level, but I don't recall that the article mentioned a figure or figures that define what the poverty level is.
From my 11 years living in the North Country, I would speculate that the population as a whole is not at the poverty level, but if I had to speculate, I would say that the poverty level in the North Country is currently somewhere between 10 and 13 percent.
My current knowledge tells me WN and his family are not "pretty close to the poverty line."
While you may be "poor" when it comes to money,
Chris_Texas, you definitely are NOT poor when it comes to expressing yourself: Thank you for all your contributions on the CC thread!
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As always, to those veterans who read this post, thank you for your service to our country and
to Vietnam veterans, welcome home!
