Living on the minimum wage

Living on the minimum wage

Advertisement

Delores Leonard helps her daughter Erin with her homework.

Leonard, a single mother of two daughters, has worked at McDonald's for seven years and makes $8.25 an hour. The job is her only source of income and she has never made more than minimum wage working at the drive-thru window.

. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

One of her latest paychecks, for two weeks of work, was for $292.52 after deductions.

Dolores, who says that she receives assistance from the Chicago Housing Authority, pays 30% of her monthly income toward the subsidised rent. This is her first year getting housing assistance. In her previous one bedroom apartment, where she paid the full rent, she shared a bed with her two daughters.

1 / 11

Slideshow

Delores helps her daughter Erin with her homework.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

Delores helps her daughter Erin with her homework.

She gets her daughters Erin and Emmarie breakfast before heading to work.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

She gets her daughters Erin and Emmarie breakfast before heading to work.

The family walks to school.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

The family walks to school.

Delores shows Erin how to make a heart symbol with her hands.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

Delores shows Erin how to make a heart symbol with her hands.

She rides a bus to work.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

She rides a bus to work.

Dolores arrives at McDonald’s for her shift.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

Dolores arrives at McDonald’s for her shift.

A recent paycheck shows her hourly wage of $8.25.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

A recent paycheck shows her hourly wage of $8.25.

Delores shops for groceries after finishing her shift.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

Delores shops for groceries after finishing her shift.

She makes dinner for her daughters.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

She makes dinner for her daughters.

She reads a book to Erin.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

She reads a book to Erin.

Delores helps the girls get ready for bed.
. CHICAGO, United States. REUTERS/Jim Young

Delores helps the girls get ready for bed.