A quarter of Pennsylvanians don't make enough to cover cost of living

(Philadelphia) -- A new report finds a quarter of Pennsylvanians lack the income to meet their cost of living.

The study from Philadelphia-based PathWays PA says 25 percent of households live below the advocacy group's so-called "self-sufficiency standard."

Senior Director of Policy Marianne Bellesorte explains how the number is calculated.

"We look at the cost of food, of transportation, of health care, housing and child care, as well as miscellaneous costs," Bellesorte says. "Using publicly verifiable data, we're able to determine how much, at minimum, a family would need to make ends meet."

Bellesorte says the number was only 20 percent in 2007.

She says many families are "overlooked and undercounted" -- meaning they live above federal poverty level, but aren't able to support themselves.

She adds childcare is generally the biggest cost for any family.