A new report by the U.S. Census Bureau show's America's poverty rate is at it's highest level in more than 15 years.

New numbers out Thursday show that 14.3 percent of Americans lived in poverty in 2009. That's one in seven of all Americans, making it the highest poverty level since 1994.

Last year's poverty level stood at $21,954 for a family of four. The new figures represent the poverty level during President Obama's first term.

The report comes out at a politically sensitive time with midterm elections just weeks away.