A new report from the Center for Public Policy Priorities suggests that the Federal Income Poverty Level Guidelines need to change.

The government's official poverty level for a family of four is $20,650, which is about two parents working full-time jobs that pay minimum wage.

The guidelines were established back in the 1960's and are updated only to reflect annual inflation, but they do take into account the cost of living in different areas.

More than one-third of working families in Texas are low-income, with earnings below twice the federal poverty level.

The Austin-Round Rock area is the third most expensive metro area in the state, according to the study by the liberal think tank. Here a two-parent, two-child family needs a minimum income of $43,640 a year. That's $22,990 more than the poverty level to stay afloat.

The Fort Worth-Arlington area is the most expensive area. There a family needs to earn $45,770 a year. At $29,982 a year, Brownsville-Harlingen is the least expensive.

The minimum income covers housing, food, child care, health care, transportation, and other basic needs without relying on government assistance.

The CPPP says several factors have contributed to this phenomenon: the cost of living is rising faster than wages; fewer employers are able to offer comprehensive health insurance and Texas’ high sales and property tax rates hit lower-paid workers the hardest.

The study also indicates Texas has the highest percentage of people without health care coverage in the nation.