My wife and I "slid" out of the middle class a few years back, by most measures.... mostly the result of "income stagnation" for too long... the only way we're bucking the trend is that we own our house and car outright and pay cash for everything.
It's ironic: Income-wise, we qualify for assistance but because we have no debt and own property, we're DISqualified.
Yes, the middle class is fading away...
Transfer your property to a trust and then you qualify.