Although income is not the only element in someone's sociological status, it is an important measure of a person's ability to obtain better health and educational outcomes. In the United States, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) gauges income levels as a percentage of the Area Median Income (AMI). A family earning less than 80% of the AMI is considered low-income, and a family earning less than 50% of the AMI is considered Very Low Income. These categories are used to allocate housing vouchers and other assistance.