For 2026, 200 percent of the federal poverty level equals $31,920 for a single person in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, and it rises by $11,360 for each additional household member, reaching $66,000 for a family of four. That figure comes from doubling the base 2026 poverty guideline of $15,960 that the Department of Health and Human Services publishes in the Federal Register each January.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines Many federal and state assistance programs use this doubled figure as their income ceiling.
2026 Income Limits by Household Size
In the lower 48 states and D.C., 200 percent of the poverty level for 2026 works out to:
- 1 person: $31,920
- 2 people: $43,280
- 3 people: $54,640
- 4 people: $66,000
- 5 people: $77,360
- 6 people: $88,720
For households larger than six, add $11,360 for each additional person.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines The guidelines are adjusted each year for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.2GovInfo. Federal Register Vol. 91, No. 10 – 2026 Poverty Guidelines
Alaska and Hawaii Figures
Alaska and Hawaii use separate, higher guidelines to reflect their cost of living. At 200 percent of the 2026 poverty level:
- Alaska: $39,900 for one person, $82,500 for a family of four, adding $14,200 per additional person
- Hawaii: $36,720 for one person, $75,900 for a family of four, adding $13,080 per additional person
Your eligibility is recalculated against the guideline for your current state if you move.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
How Programs Count Your Income
There is no single definition of “income” across every program that uses the 200 percent cutoff, and this catches people off guard. You can qualify for one program and not another at the same dollar amount.
Programs tied to the Affordable Care Act — Marketplace premium tax credits, cost-sharing reductions, Medicaid, and CHIP — use modified adjusted gross income. MAGI starts with the adjusted gross income from your tax return and adds back untaxed foreign income, non-taxable Social Security benefits, and tax-exempt interest. Supplemental Security Income is not counted under MAGI, so someone receiving SSI has that income excluded when applying for Marketplace coverage.3HealthCare.gov. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) – Glossary
Programs outside the ACA framework often follow the broader Census Bureau definition, which counts pre-tax earnings, dividends, Social Security payments, SSI, veterans’ payments, and child support received. It does not count non-cash benefits like food assistance or housing vouchers.4U.S. Census Bureau. How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty Always check the specific program’s rules rather than assuming one definition applies everywhere.
How Household Size Is Counted
Household size sets which row of the guidelines applies to you. The count typically includes the primary taxpayer, their spouse, and any dependents claimed on federal tax returns. A person living alone counts as a household of one. Children under legal guardianship or foster children generally count if claimed as dependents.
People who share a home but are not related by birth, marriage, or adoption and do not file taxes together usually count as separate households. Two unrelated roommates splitting rent would each be evaluated against the single-person guideline rather than combined into a two-person household. Program rules on household composition vary, so the count that works for a Marketplace application may not match the count your state uses for SNAP.
Programs That Use the 200 Percent Cutoff
The 200 percent mark shows up across federal programs because it captures households earning too much for traditional welfare but still squeezed by basic costs.
Weatherization Assistance Program
The Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program defines “low-income” as household income at or below 200 percent of the poverty level. The program pays for insulation, air sealing, and heating system upgrades to reduce utility bills.5GovInfo. 42 U.S. Code 6862 – Definitions Households that already receive LIHEAP benefits or cash assistance under the Social Security Act can qualify automatically without a separate income check.6Department of Energy. Poverty Income Guidelines
SNAP Through Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility
Regular federal SNAP rules cap gross income at 130 percent of poverty, but most states have adopted broad-based categorical eligibility, which lets them raise the gross income limit as high as 200 percent. As of late 2025, most BBCE states use 200 percent, though some set the ceiling at 165 or 185 percent.7Food and Nutrition Service. Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility Qualifying through BBCE does not guarantee a large benefit. A household near the top of the range may receive only a small monthly allotment, but the door stays open.
ACA Cost-Sharing Reductions
If you buy a Silver plan through the Marketplace with income between 100 and 250 percent of poverty, you qualify for cost-sharing reductions that lower deductibles, copays, and out-of-pocket maximums. The 200 percent line is a hard boundary in the tiering. Between 150 and 200 percent of poverty, the insurer covers 87 percent of total allowed costs. Just above 200 percent, that drops to 73 percent.8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 U.S. Code 18071 – Reduced Cost-Sharing for Individuals Enrolling in Qualified Health Plans A small income increase around this threshold can mean hundreds of dollars more in annual out-of-pocket costs.
Children’s Health Insurance Program
CHIP covers children in families earning too much for Medicaid but not enough to afford private coverage. States set their own upper limits, ranging from 170 to 400 percent of poverty. The 200 percent mark matters here because the vast majority of children enrolled in CHIP-funded coverage live in families with incomes at or below that level.9MACPAC. CHIP Eligibility
Related Programs That Use a Different Percentage
Not every low-income program uses 200 percent, and assuming it does can waste an application or cause you to miss one you qualify for.
LIHEAP, the federal heating and cooling assistance program, caps income eligibility at 150 percent of the poverty guidelines or 60 percent of state median income, whichever is higher.10LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Income Eligibility for States and Territories Medicaid expansion under the ACA covers adults with incomes up to 138 percent of poverty in states that have adopted the expansion. The National School Lunch Program uses 185 percent of poverty for reduced-price meals and 130 percent for free meals.
The Benefits Cliff at 200 Percent
Programs with a hard income ceiling at 200 percent can drop benefits sharply the moment you cross the line. A family of four earning $65,900 qualifies; the same family at $66,100 may lose eligibility entirely. This is often called the “benefits cliff,” and a modest raise or a stretch of overtime can cost more in lost benefits than it adds in pay.
Some programs soften the edge by phasing out gradually. ACA premium tax credits scale down smoothly as income rises. Programs with hard caps, like the Weatherization Assistance Program, draw the line at 200 percent with no transition. If you are near the threshold, run the numbers on the net effect of additional income before assuming more earnings leave you better off.
When Assets Also Matter
Meeting the income test is not always enough. Some programs also look at savings, property, or other resources. Federal LIHEAP law does not require an asset test, but individual states can impose one.11LIHEAP Clearinghouse. Eligibility Regular federal SNAP rules include an asset limit, though most states using broad-based categorical eligibility have eliminated or raised it. The Weatherization Assistance Program has no federal asset test. Before assuming you qualify, verify whether a resource test applies in your state.