150% of the Federal Poverty Level: 2026 Limits and Eligibility

For 2026, 150% of the federal poverty level is $23,940 a year for a single person and $49,500 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. That figure comes from multiplying the base poverty guideline published by the Department of Health and Human Services by 1.5, and it sets the eligibility ceiling for a handful of federal programs, including home energy assistance, USCIS fee waivers, and the strongest cost-sharing reductions on the ACA Marketplace. The dollar amounts reset every January, so a threshold that worked last year will not work for a 2026 application.

The 2026 Income Figures by Household Size

HHS published the 2026 poverty guidelines at 91 Fed. Reg. 1798, setting the base poverty level for one person in the contiguous states and D.C. at $15,960.1GovInfo. Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 10 – Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines Multiplying that base by 1.5 gives you the $23,940 threshold. Each additional household member adds $8,520 at the 150% level.

Here are the 2026 income limits at 150% of FPL for the contiguous states and D.C.:

  • 1 person: $23,940
  • 2 people: $32,460
  • 3 people: $40,980
  • 4 people: $49,500
  • 5 people: $58,020
  • 6 people: $66,540
  • 7 people: $75,060
  • 8 people: $83,580

For households larger than eight, add $8,520 for each additional person.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Poverty Guidelines

Alaska and Hawaii

Both states have separate, higher federal guidelines reflecting elevated living costs. In Alaska, the 2026 base poverty level for one person is $19,950, putting the 150% threshold at $29,925. In Hawaii, the base is $18,360 and the 150% figure is $27,540.3U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – Detailed Tables For a family of four, the 150% threshold is $61,875 in Alaska and $56,925 in Hawaii.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Poverty Guidelines

What Falling Under 150% of FPL Qualifies You For

Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program

LIHEAP is the program most directly tied to this threshold. Federal law caps LIHEAP income eligibility at 150% of the poverty guidelines or 60% of state median income, whichever is higher, and prevents states from excluding anyone below 110% of poverty.4Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 8624 – Applications and Requirements In practice, roughly 18 states set their cutoff right at 150%, while others use 60% of state median income because that produces a higher dollar figure for their residents.5The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Eligibility LIHEAP covers heating and cooling bills, emergency fuel delivery, and weatherization-related services, depending on how your state structures its program.

USCIS Fee Waivers

If your household income falls at or below 150% of the poverty guidelines, you can request a fee waiver on most USCIS applications using Form I-912. USCIS publishes an annual table with the 150% figures already calculated for each household size, plus separate columns for Alaska and Hawaii.2U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Poverty Guidelines The waiver does not apply to every form, so check the I-912 instructions for the specific filing you’re submitting.

ACA Marketplace Cost-Sharing Reductions

Enrollees with household income between 100 and 150% of FPL who pick a Silver plan on the Marketplace get the strongest cost-sharing reductions available. The plan’s actuarial value jumps from around 70% to 94%, which for many standardized plans in 2026 means a $0 deductible and an individual out-of-pocket maximum of $3,500. The reductions apply automatically when you select a Silver plan.

Households in this income band have also received enhanced premium tax credits that reduced monthly premiums to $0 in recent years. Those enhanced credits were set to expire, and whether they remain in effect for 2026 depends on congressional action.6Congress.gov. Enhanced Premium Tax Credit and 2026 Exchange Premiums Check current subsidy amounts on HealthCare.gov before enrolling.

Income-Driven Student Loan Repayment

Income-driven repayment plans for federal student loans use 150% of FPL as the income protection threshold for borrowers with graduate debt. If your adjusted gross income falls below that line, your monthly payment drops to zero. For undergraduate-only borrowers, some plans set the protection threshold higher, at 225% of FPL. Income-driven repayment has shifted significantly because of litigation and regulatory changes, so confirm current plan terms with your loan servicer.

Programs That Use Different Thresholds

Being under 150% of FPL does not automatically qualify you for every benefit, and several well-known programs draw their eligibility lines somewhere else. Confusing these thresholds is a common mistake.

Always verify the exact percentage for the specific program you’re applying to.

How Your Income and Household Get Counted

Almost all programs using the poverty guidelines measure gross income, meaning total earnings before taxes and payroll deductions. That number is higher than the take-home pay in your bank account, and the gap surprises people budgeting from net pay. Gross income includes wages, salary, Social Security benefits, pensions, alimony, unemployment compensation, and self-employment revenue.

Household size matters as much as the dollar amount. The guidelines define a household as all individuals living together and sharing financial resources, which does not always match who’s on the lease or who’s related by blood. A roommate who splits groceries and rent might count; an adult child who pays their own way and buys their own food might not. Each program defines “household” a little differently, so read the application instructions carefully.3U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – Detailed Tables

Some programs add an asset or resource test on top of the income threshold. LIHEAP’s federal statute does not require one, but roughly a dozen states have added their own.5The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Eligibility If your income qualifies but you own significant assets, check whether your state’s version of the program considers them.

Documents You’ll Need

Expect to provide pay stubs from the last 30 to 60 days and W-2 forms from your most recent tax year. Self-employed applicants and independent contractors typically need 1099 forms and a copy of their federal tax return showing total earnings. If you’ve lost these records, the IRS provides free tax transcripts through Form 4506-T, which you can submit online, by mail, or by fax.11Internal Revenue Service. About Form 4506-T, Request for Transcript of Tax Return

Errors or inconsistencies between the income you report and what shows up in government databases are the most common reason applications stall. Double-check that the numbers on your forms match your actual pay stubs and tax records before you submit.

If Your Application Is Denied

A denial is not the end. Federal law generally guarantees the right to request a fair hearing to challenge an eligibility decision. The denial notice itself should include instructions on how to appeal and the deadline, which typically falls between 30 and 90 days from the date on the notice.

At a fair hearing, you can represent yourself or bring a lawyer, family member, or other advocate. You have the right to review the evidence the agency used, bring your own witnesses, and question the agency’s witnesses in front of an impartial hearing officer who was not involved in the original decision. If you were already receiving benefits when the adverse action was taken and you file your appeal before the effective date of that action, benefits generally continue until the hearing is resolved. A decision in your favor requires the agency to reinstate or grant benefits retroactively to the date of the incorrect action.

Appeal deadlines are firm. If the notice says 30 days, day 31 is too late. Open the envelope the day it arrives, note the deadline, and start gathering additional income documentation that supports your case.