Minimum wage needs to increase with the cost of living. Federal poverty levels for a family of three (in this example using a single parent of two) is $20,420 annual income. Illinois' minimum wage is 8.25 an hour so for a single parent making minimum wage in Illinois needs to work 47+ hours weekly to meet the poverty guidelines. At $13.55 a single parent of two would need to work 28+ hours weekly to make $20,420 a year.