Astrid, that's why i posed the question, and believe me I've wondered the same thing based on our current income - well under the $100K mark but pretty much double what it was when I was SAHMing with DD1 and we were just scraping by (I ask my self how we can be earning double and still have to penny-pinch). I also agree 100% with your comments about what start you had in life. Now approaching age 40, it's starting to become really apparent that the seeds of wealth (for those of my peers who now have it) really started 20 or more years ago. Having a good foundation at the beginning of your adult life really sets you up in a way I don't think I've really understood until now.
Same here, we are in a "poor" position compared to where we "should" be due to minimal family support in our younger years and low paying jobs (also add to that some silly financial decisions). We should technically own our home outright now, but we don't. IF we had, our middle to low financial position would be more comfortable than what it is now.

I suppose all the government can do is work on averages of wages etc to work out where to cut-off support.