The US Census Bureau says that one in seven Americans was living in poverty last year and that the level of working-age poor was the highest since the 1960s.
Officials say the number of people in poverty increased between 2008 and 2009 by nearly four million - to 43.6 million.
The bureau defines poverty as any family of four living on less than $US22,000 ($NZ30,000) a year.
Meanwhile, new figures show home foreclosures in August hit the highest level since the mortgage crisis began.
Realty Trace says banks repossessed more than 95,000 properties in August - 3% more than in July and 25% more than in August 2009.
