<P> In recent years, there have been a number of concerns raised about the official U.S. poverty measure . In 1995, the National Research Council's Committee on National Statistics convened a panel on measuring poverty . The findings of the panel were that "the official poverty measure in the United States is flawed and does not adequately inform policy - makers or the public about who is poor and who is not poor ." </P> <P> The panel was chaired by Robert Michael, former Dean of the Harris School of the University of Chicago . According to Michael, the official U.S. poverty measure "has not kept pace with far - reaching changes in society and the economy ." The panel proposed a model based on disposable income: </P> <Table> <Tr> <Td> "</Td> <Td> According to the panel's recommended measure, income would include, in addition to money received, the value of non-cash benefits such as food stamps, school lunches and public housing that can be used to satisfy basic needs . The new measure also would subtract from gross income certain expenses that cannot be used for these basic needs, such as income taxes, child - support payments, medical costs, health - insurance premiums and work - related expenses, including child care . </Td> <Td>" </Td> </Tr> </Table> <Tr> <Td> "</Td> <Td> According to the panel's recommended measure, income would include, in addition to money received, the value of non-cash benefits such as food stamps, school lunches and public housing that can be used to satisfy basic needs . The new measure also would subtract from gross income certain expenses that cannot be used for these basic needs, such as income taxes, child - support payments, medical costs, health - insurance premiums and work - related expenses, including child care . </Td> <Td>" </Td> </Tr>

The official measure of poverty in the us government is