The number of Americans living in poverty rose to a record 46.2 million last year, according to new census data.
This is the highest figure since the US Census Bureau started collecting the data in 1959.
In percentage terms, the poverty rate rose to 15.1% - the highest since 1993 and up from 14.3% in 2009.
The number of Americans living below the poverty line has now risen for four years in a row, the BBC reports.
Poverty among black and Hispanic people was much higher than for the overall US population last year.
The data comes as the US unemployment rate remains above 9%.
President Barack Obama last week launched a new $US450 billion job creation plan, which still requires backing from Congress.
He wants to fund huge construction projects, schools and services, while giving tax cuts to workers and small businesses to boost recruitment.
