The U.S. Census Bureau is planning to develop a Supplemental Poverty measure that will take into account additional items such as work expenses and income supports in measuring poverty.  This new "Supplemental Poverty Measure" will not take the place of the current poverty measure, which will still be the basis of determining eligibility for government programs.  For more information, see the Observations from the Interagency Technical Working Group on Developing a Supplemental Poverty Measure, and the Washington Post.