Mississippi Economic Policy Center

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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

August 31, 2010
Jackson County supervisors rescind resolution calling for payday lending regulation (click here)

August 22, 2010
Stimulus II and education: Second chance funding (click here)

August 21, 2010
More time for jobless (click here)

August 17, 2010
Supervisors want crackdown on loans (click here)

August 16, 2010
Jackson County likely to ask state to crack down on payday lenders (click here)

August 15, 2010
Medicaid and education act holds big plus for Northeast Mississippi (click here)

August 12, 2010
Impact from aid unclear for now (click here)

August 11, 2010
Miss. in line for $249.6M under federal jobs bill (click here)

August 11, 2010
Emergency state aid bill could save jobs of 2,000 Mississippi educators (click here)

August 10, 2010
Listen to MEPC Director Ed Sivak Live at 4:05 on 97.3 FM (Jackson) (click here)

August 09, 2010
Recognizing Our State and Local Public Service Workers (click here)

August 09, 2010
State begins its work on health care exchange (click here)

August 08, 2010
Public service workers earn recognition (click here)

August 03, 2010
Law lets jobless continue benefits (click here)

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

June 22, 2010
Mississippi's Unemployed and Public Employees Wait on Congressional Jobs Bill (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 07, 2010
Extension of Key State Fiscal Relief Measure Vital to Mississippi (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)