The minimal level of income that the federal government considers necessary for individual's and families' basic subsistence is called the

A) poverty line.
B) minimum wage.
C) welfare subsidy.
D) taxable income.

The poverty line is the minimum income level considered necessary for individuals and families to afford basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. It is used to determine eligibility for government assistance programs and to measure the level of poverty in a population. The minimum wage and taxable income are not necessarily related to poverty, and welfare subsidies are a form of government assistance rather than a measure of basic subsistence.