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Self-Sufficiency Standard

The Self Sufficiency Standard calculates how much a family needs to earn to live in their county without any government or private assistance.  The Standard is unique in that it varies based on the county of residence, the type of family (1 parent or 2 parents) and the number and ages of children. 

The map below links to county fact sheets that provide the self sufficiency snap shot for every county in the state. 

Click on a county in the map below, or choose one from the list at the right to view Self-Sufficiency Standard information for that county.

In addition to the snapshot provided by the fact sheets, individuals can access a Self Sufficiency Calculator to identify the Self Sufficiency Standard for their specific.  Click here to answer the question: How much do I need to earn to be self-sufficient?

Desoto County Marshall County Benton County Tippah County Alcorn County Tishomingo County Tunica County Tate County Prentiss County Coahoma County Quitman County Panola County Lafayette County Union County Itawamba County Lee County Pontotoc County Monroe County Chickasaw County Calhoun County Yalobusha County Tallahatchie County Bolivar County Sunflower County Leflore County Grenada County Carroll County Montgomery County Webster County Clay County Lowndes County Oktibbeha County Choctaw County Washington County Issaquena County Warren County Sharkey County Humphreys County Holmes County Attala County Winston County Noxubee County Yazoo County Madison County Leake County Neshoba County Kemper County Lauderdale County Newton County Scott County Rankin County Hinds County Claiborne County Clarke County Jasper County Smith County Simpson County Copiah County Jefferson County Wayne County Jones County Covington County Jefferson Davis County Lawrence County Lincoln County Franklin County Adams County Wilkinson County Amite County Pike County Walthall County Marion County Lamar County Forrest County Perry County Greene County George County Jackson County Stone County Harrison County Pearl River County Hancock County

Counties

News

July 09, 2010
Listen to MEPC Director Ed Sivak Live at 5:05 on 97.3 FM (Jackson) (click here)

June 26, 2010
Jackson among 20 cities to hold budget forum (click here)

June 22, 2010
Mississippi's Unemployed and Public Employees Wait on Congressional Jobs Bill (click here)

June 21, 2010
Savings pushed by IDAs (click here)

June 17, 2010
Basic needs too costly for many (click here)

June 14, 2010
Better revenue options than lottery (click here)

June 13, 2010
Waiting game: Will Congress extend state stimulus funds? (click here)

June 12, 2010
Budget: States need Medicaid help (click here)

June 11, 2010
Report Finds Struggling Households in Hinds County (click here)

June 10, 2010
New Report Lists What Families Need to Make Ends Meet (click here)

June 10, 2010
Report: Many families struggling (click here)

June 07, 2010
Extension of Key State Fiscal Relief Measure Vital to Mississippi (click here)

June 02, 2010
Miss. residents join talk on national debt (click here)

May 24, 2010
Working Smarter (click here)

April 21, 2010
New Legislation Would Change Benefit Amounts (click here)

April 14, 2010
Three Ways to Help Raise Revenue in Mississippi (click here)

April 13, 2010
3Qs with Ed Sivak (click here)

March 30, 2010
What Will Health Care Reform Legislation Mean For Mississippi's Uninsured (click here)

March 24, 2010
The High Cost of Calories (click here)

March 22, 2010
Mississippi Laws for Payday Loans (click here)

February 28, 2010
County poverty rate is higher than state average (click here)

February 08, 2010
Mississippi Think Tank Calls for Balanced Approach to Revenue Shortfall (click here)

February 07, 2010
Mississippi - time for reveille on new revenue? (click here)

January 29, 2010
*MEPC Director, Ed Sivak Appears on Mississippi Public Broadcasting's (MPB) news program “Quorum”* (click here)

January 15, 2010
State Lawmakers Weigh Budget Cuts Against Tax Increases (click here)