In 2026, 300 percent of the federal poverty level is $47,880 for a single person in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, and it rises to $99,000 for a family of four. The Department of Health and Human Services sets the underlying poverty guideline each year, and federal benefit programs multiply that baseline to draw their income lines. The 300% mark keeps you inside the eligibility window for Affordable Care Act premium tax credits and, in many states, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, while placing you above the cutoffs for several programs aimed at lower incomes.
2026 Income Limits at 300% FPL by Household Size
These figures apply to the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States
- 1 person: $47,880
- 2 people: $64,920
- 3 people: $81,960
- 4 people: $99,000
- 5 people: $116,040
- 6 people: $133,080
- 7 people: $150,120
- 8 people: $167,160
For households larger than eight, add $17,040 for each additional person. That’s the 300% equivalent of the $5,680 per-person increment HHS uses at the 100% baseline.
Alaska and Hawaii Use Higher Numbers
HHS publishes separate guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii to reflect the higher cost of living. For 2026, the 100% guideline for a single person is $19,950 in Alaska and $18,360 in Hawaii, which puts the 300% threshold at $59,850 in Alaska and $55,080 in Hawaii.2U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Poverty Guidelines API Each additional person raises the line proportionally.
How to Count Your Household
Getting household size right matters because every additional person raises the 300% ceiling by $17,040. Count too few people and your income looks higher relative to the guideline than it actually is.
For most federal programs, your household includes you, your spouse if you file jointly, and anyone you claim as a tax dependent. Children you support financially are the most common dependents, but qualifying relatives who meet IRS dependency criteria also count.3Internal Revenue Service. Dependents
People who share your address but aren’t on your tax return generally don’t count. Roommates are excluded unless you claim them as dependents. An unmarried partner only counts if you have a child together or you claim the partner as a dependent.4HealthCare.gov. Who’s Included in Your Household
What Income Counts Toward the 300% Line
Most programs that use the FPL measure income as Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). The Health Insurance Marketplace, Medicaid, and CHIP all rely on it.5HealthCare.gov. Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI)
MAGI starts with the adjusted gross income from your tax return. AGI already captures wages, salary, business income, investment income, interest, dividends, and unemployment benefits. MAGI then adds back three items some filers exclude from taxable income: untaxed foreign income, non-taxable Social Security benefits, and tax-exempt interest.
Several kinds of money you may receive don’t count at all. Child support payments, Supplemental Security Income, veterans’ disability payments, gifts, worker’s compensation, and loan proceeds are all excluded from MAGI.6HealthCare.gov. What’s Included as Income A household receiving $6,000 a year in child support, for instance, doesn’t add that in when measuring against the 300% line.
Income isn’t the whole picture for every program. Some benefits, including Medicare Extra Help and certain food assistance programs, also test resources like bank accounts, investments, and other savings. A household can fall below the income line and still be disqualified if assets exceed a program’s limit.
What 300% of the FPL Qualifies You For
The 300% mark isn’t a single federal cutoff. Different programs set their own thresholds, and 300% sits inside the window for some and above the ceiling for others.
ACA Premium Tax Credits
For 2026, premium tax credits through the Marketplace are available to households with income between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.7Internal Revenue Service. Eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit At 300% you’re inside that range and eligible for credits that reduce your monthly premium. The credit works on a sliding scale, so households closer to 100% receive larger subsidies than those near 400%.
The temporarily expanded premium tax credits that removed the 400% cap and increased subsidy amounts expired at the start of 2026. Households above 400% FPL no longer receive any premium tax credit, and households below that cap receive somewhat smaller subsidies than they did in 2024 and 2025.
What 300% Does Not Get You
Cost-sharing reductions, which lower deductibles and copays on silver-tier Marketplace plans, cut off at 250% FPL. At 300% your premiums are still subsidized, but your out-of-pocket costs at the doctor or pharmacy aren’t reduced through this program.
Medicare Part D Extra Help caps 2026 income at $23,940 for an individual and $32,460 for a married couple, roughly 150% FPL.8Medicare. Help With Drug Costs A single person at 300% FPL earns too much to qualify.
Federally funded legal aid through the Legal Services Corporation caps eligibility at 125% of the poverty guidelines, with limited exceptions allowing service up to 200%.9eCFR. 45 CFR Part 1611 – Financial Eligibility The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program sets its maximum at 150% of the poverty guidelines or 60% of state median income, whichever is higher.10LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Income Eligibility for States and Territories A household at 300% FPL doesn’t qualify for either on income.
Children’s Health Insurance Program
CHIP eligibility varies by state, with income limits ranging from roughly 170% to 400% of the federal poverty level.11Medicaid. CHIP Eligibility and Enrollment The 300% mark carries particular weight because federal law requires states to maintain CHIP coverage for children in families below 300% FPL through fiscal year 2027.12Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission. CHIP Eligibility States cannot cut children’s eligibility below that line during that period. If your children were covered by CHIP and your household income is at or below 300% FPL, coverage should remain available regardless of what your state does to its budget.
If Your Income Changes During the Year
Enrolling in a benefit at 300% FPL doesn’t lock your eligibility in place for the year. The Health Insurance Marketplace asks you to update your application as soon as income or household size changes.13HealthCare.gov. Reporting Income, Household, and Other Changes
This matters most with premium tax credits. The Marketplace estimates your annual income at enrollment and pays credits to your insurer each month based on that estimate. If your actual income turns out higher, you’ll owe some or all of the credits back on your tax return. If it turns out lower, you may have left money on the table by not updating sooner. The reconciliation happens at tax time regardless.
A drop in income can also push you into eligibility for a different program, such as Medicaid. Reporting the change promptly keeps you from paying more than you need to or receiving benefits you’ll later have to repay.