The Montgomery County Community Action Agency released the Self-Sufficiency Standard for Maryland 2016 Report. The report found that Montgomery County has the highest self-sufficiency standard in Maryland. A family of three with one adult, one preschooler and one school-age child would need an income of $86,580 to cover the basic necessities – more than four times the Federal Poverty Level for a family of three ($20,160). Despite Montgomery County’s higher minimum wage, a parent with two young children would need to work over 155 hours per week at minimum wage to make ends meet.
