Poverty increases in Maverick County
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc., Copyright 2015
Poverty increased in the United States during 2010-2015 according to the U.S. Census Bureau’s recent release of its Five Year American Community Survey. Maverick County, Texas is no exception to this phenomena.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average median income in Maverick County for an adult person is $34,145 and the average married couple median income is $41,826.
In a single parent male head of household in Maverick County, the average income is $31,447. However, in a female single parent head of household in Maverick County the average median income is $15,636, approximately 50% less than in a single parent male head of household.
The U.S. Census Bureau’s Five Year American Community Survey further states that 40% of married couples under the poverty line in Maverick County receive public assistance benefits such as SSI, TANF, and SNAP.
The income threshold for a married couple to qualify for public assistance in the State of Texas is $25,725 per year for a household of three, including parents.
The national poverty level for a family of three is designated at $20,090 to be considered under the poverty line.
Currently, there are approximately 6,500 senior citizens living in Maverick County, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
A review of the yearly average Social Security income shows that a person who qualifies for SSI receives $14,169.60 in annual benefits. Thus, most senior citizens in Maverick County qualify for public assistance benefits and rely generally on SSI as their sole means of income to subsist on and are under the poverty guideline level.
On average, a single person Senior Citizen who receives $1,180.75 per month, or $14,169 per year, from Social Security would qualify for up to $160.23 in SNAP benefits per month. Thus, the total amount received by a single person senior citizen in Maverick County qualifies for SNAP benefits of $1,922.26 per year. If one adds the total amount of SNAP benefits received of $1,992.26 per year to the total Social Security annual benefits of $14,169.60 totals only $16,091.86 annual income per year, which is below the poverty guideline level.
An issue which burdens Maverick County senior citizens are payment of ad valorem taxes charged by local governmental tax entities. Even with payment plans, discounts, and exemptions, the ad valorem taxes presents a huge burden on the poverty stricken population in Maverick County, particularly senior citizens.
The average Maverick County senior citizen owning a home valued at $100,000 in Maverick County pays an average of almost $3,000 in ad valorem taxes annually between all local taxing entities combined.
The figures detailed in this article are based on average Social Security and SNAP income benefits allowed on an average senior citizen figures with varying income thresholds not reflected.
It is estimated that 40% of children in Maverick County and 11.4% of the elderly live in poverty, totaling 24,560 Maverick County residents. Approximately 40 percent of all Maverick Countians live or earn under the U.S. poverty guideline level of $20,090 per year for a family of three persons.
