As the number of Americans living in poverty soars, people with disabilities are faring among the worst, new Census data shows.

Nearly 28 percent of those with disabilities ages 18 to 64 were in poverty in 2010, according to statistics released this week from the U.S. Census Bureau. Meanwhile, the poverty rate for their peers in the general population reached 12.5 percent.

This comes as the tough economy left 46.2 million Americans in poverty, the highest number seen since the government began keeping track 52 years ago.

A single person was considered to be living in poverty in 2010 if they earned less than $11,139.

Even among those who were not in poverty, the Census data also shows disparities based on disability status. Median earnings for men with disabilities were about $41,500, compared to roughly $48,000 for those without.

Women with disabilities had a median income of just under $32,000, while their typically developing peers earned more than $37,000.

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