Fact check: What is the poverty line income amount for a family of three in 2025 in Il

1. Summary of the results

Based on the analyses provided, the poverty line income amount for a family of three in Illinois in 2025 is $26,650 per year ^{[1] [2] [3]}. This figure represents 100% of the Federal Poverty Level according to the 2025 Poverty Guidelines for the 48 contiguous states. The monthly equivalent of this annual amount is $2,220.83 per month ^{[1] [4]}.

Multiple sources consistently confirm this figure, with the Federal TRIO Programs and Medicaid Planning resources providing identical amounts ^{[2] [4]}. Illinois follows the federal poverty guidelines that apply to the 48 contiguous states, rather than having state-specific poverty thresholds.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question focuses solely on the federal poverty line, but several important contextual factors are missing:

• Living wage vs. poverty line disparity: One analysis reveals that in Kane County, Illinois, a family of four needed $84,444 to cover basic essentials in 2023, which is nearly three times the Federal Poverty Level of $30,000 ^[5]. This suggests the federal poverty line may significantly underestimate actual living costs in Illinois.
• Program eligibility variations: The poverty guidelines serve as baseline measurements, but many government programs use different percentage thresholds. For example, some programs may use 150% of the poverty level, which would be $39,975 for a family of three ^[2].
• Geographic cost variations: While Illinois uses the standard 48-state guidelines, actual living costs can vary dramatically between urban areas like Chicago and rural regions of the state.

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

The original question itself does not contain misinformation or bias - it is a straightforward factual inquiry about official poverty guidelines. However, there are potential areas where the poverty line figure could be misleading if used without proper context:

• Understated living costs: Organizations and policymakers who benefit from maintaining lower assistance program thresholds might emphasize the official poverty line without acknowledging that it may not reflect actual living costs in Illinois.
• Program funding implications: Government agencies and budget-conscious officials benefit from using the lower federal poverty line as it limits the number of people eligible for assistance programs, thereby reducing program costs.

The analyses consistently provide accurate information from official government sources, with no apparent bias in the reporting of the $26,650 figure ^{[1] [2] [3]}.