200% FPL Income Thresholds and Program Eligibility

In 2026, 200% of the federal poverty level is $31,920 a year for a single person and $66,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. The Department of Health and Human Services sets these numbers each January, and a handful of assistance programs use the 200% line as their eligibility cutoff.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines

2026 Thresholds by Household Size

These figures apply to the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. To get the 200% number for any household size, double the base HHS poverty guideline.

  • 1 person: $31,920 per year ($2,660 per month)
  • 2 people: $43,280 per year ($3,607 per month)
  • 3 people: $54,640 per year ($4,553 per month)
  • 4 people: $66,000 per year ($5,500 per month)
  • 5 people: $77,360 per year ($6,447 per month)
  • 6 people: $88,720 per year ($7,393 per month)
  • 7 people: $100,080 per year ($8,340 per month)
  • 8 people: $111,440 per year ($9,287 per month)

For households larger than eight, add $11,360 for each additional person. That’s twice the $5,680 per-person increment HHS uses in the base guidelines.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines Because the guidelines shift with inflation each January, always work from the current year’s numbers rather than a prior year’s.2Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines

Alaska and Hawaii Have Higher Numbers

Both states get separate poverty guidelines reflecting higher living costs. At 200% FPL for 2026:1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines

  • Alaska, 1 person: $39,900 per year ($3,325 per month)
  • Alaska, 4 people: $82,500 per year ($6,875 per month)
  • Alaska, each person beyond 8: add $14,200
  • Hawaii, 1 person: $36,720 per year ($3,060 per month)
  • Hawaii, 4 people: $75,900 per year ($6,325 per month)
  • Hawaii, each person beyond 8: add $13,060

The spread matters. A family of four in Alaska can earn $16,500 more than the same family in Texas and still fall below the 200% line.

What Income Actually Counts

Most federal programs tied to the poverty guidelines measure your income as Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), not gross pay. MAGI starts with the adjusted gross income on line 11 of your Form 1040 and adds back untaxed foreign income, non-taxable Social Security benefits, and tax-exempt interest.3HealthCare.gov. What’s Included as Income For most people, MAGI and AGI come out very close.4HealthCare.gov. Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)

Counted income includes wages, tips, self-employment earnings after business deductions, unemployment compensation, Social Security benefits (including the non-taxable portion), pension and retirement distributions, rental income, and investment income such as interest, dividends, and capital gains. Alimony from a divorce finalized before 2019 counts too.

Income That Doesn’t Count

Several income types stay out of the MAGI calculation and won’t push you above 200% FPL. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is explicitly excluded.3HealthCare.gov. What’s Included as Income Child support you receive doesn’t count. Life insurance proceeds paid because of someone’s death are generally not included in gross income.5Internal Revenue Service. Life Insurance and Disability Insurance Proceeds Gifts, inheritances, and workers’ compensation benefits also sit outside MAGI.

The difference is bigger than it sounds. Someone earning $20,000 in wages plus $10,000 in SSI has a MAGI of $20,000, not $30,000. If you’re near the line, sort the counted income from the excluded income before deciding you’re over.

Who Counts in Your Household

Household size sets which row of the table applies to you, so it matters as much as the income number. For most federal programs, your household is the tax filer, their spouse, and any tax dependents.6HealthCare.gov. Who to Include in Your Household Dependents count regardless of age, and children under 21 living with you may count even if you don’t claim them on your return.

A roommate who pays their own rent and files their own taxes isn’t in your household. Adding someone who doesn’t belong there inflates your limit and can be treated as misrepresentation; leaving out a dependent who does belong shrinks it and can cost you benefits you qualify for.

Which Programs Use the 200% Line

The 200% mark is one of the most common eligibility cutoffs in federal benefit programs, but not every program uses it. Two use it directly:

  • The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Federal law sets CHIP eligibility at the higher of 200% FPL or 50 percentage points above the state’s 1997 Medicaid income level, and many states have expanded well past that floor.7Medicaid. CHIP Eligibility and Enrollment
  • The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program, which covers home energy improvements like insulation, furnace repair, and air sealing at no cost for households at or below 200% FPL.8Department of Energy. How to Apply for Weatherization Assistance

Several programs people associate with 200% FPL actually use different cutoffs:

States and local agencies can go above federal minimums. A state might run CHIP at 250% FPL or set energy assistance against state median income instead. The federal numbers are the floors and ceilings, not the last word on your local program.

If Your Income Changes After You Qualify

Qualifying under 200% FPL isn’t permanent. For Marketplace coverage in particular, you’re required to update your application when your income or household changes.14HealthCare.gov. Reporting Income, Household, and Other Changes If income rises and you keep collecting advance premium tax credits based on your old estimate, you’ll owe the difference back at tax time. If it drops and you report it, your subsidy going forward can go up.

Most benefit programs also require you to recertify on a schedule that runs anywhere from six months to three years. Missing a recertification deadline typically closes your case automatically, even if you still qualify. Treat the packet like a bill.