Apple Pie and the Working Poor

Jul 23, 2026

THIS WEEK: Apple Pie and the Working Poor

The “working poor” — it feels like a term that ought to apply to people toiling on the floor of a garment factory in 19th century England.

But now it’s as American as baseball and apple pie.

Federal minimum wage is now a poverty wage. In other words, if you work full-time and make minimum wage ($7.25) you would still officially qualify as a person living in poverty per the U.S. government.

Wait…what? Yup

This matters a lot right now as Americans are increasingly feeling the ripple effect of changes to SNAP benefits, part of the GOP’s budget reconciliation package passed last year.

Even people who work full-time and make well above the minimum wage are struggling.

Consider the math: Someone working $17 an hour who works 30-hours a week will earn $26,500. In a lot of places you’ll need half of that to cover rent.

That’s where SNAP comes in. It’s a government food program designed to supplement a working person’s income, while that person looks for ways to get paid more.

What exactly are these jobs that people are doing that lead them to ask the government to supplement their incomes and/or work a second shift?

You might be surprised to discover that a lot of them are jobs we (and members of our families) rely on quite a bit.

1. Home heath aides

2. Child-care workers

3. Nursing home aides

4. School bus drivers

5. Farm workers

6. Store clerks

Because changes to SNAP benefits are increasingly impacting states, the job/wage/hunger story is top of mind.

So, Reporting Right has some answers to FAQ’s.

What is the history of SNAP?

It was started during the depression