Federal Poverty Level Guidelines: Household Size and Programs

For 2026, the federal poverty level guidelines set the baseline at $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Those numbers, published by the Department of Health and Human Services and effective January 13, 2026, are what federal agencies use to decide who qualifies for Medicaid, SNAP, ACA marketplace subsidies, and dozens of other programs.¹

2026 Guidelines by Household Size

For the 48 contiguous states and DC:

1 person: $15,960
2 persons: $21,640
3 persons: $27,320
4 persons: $33,000
5 persons: $38,680
6 persons: $44,360
7 persons: $50,040
8 persons: $55,720

Add $5,680 for each person beyond eight. A ten-person household, for instance, has a poverty guideline of $67,080.²

Alaska and Hawaii Have Higher Figures

If you live in Alaska or Hawaii, do not use the numbers above. Both states have separate, higher guidelines that account for their cost of living.

In Alaska, a single person’s guideline is $19,950, a family of four is $41,250, and a household of eight is $69,650. Each additional person adds $7,100.²

In Hawaii, a single person is at $18,360, a family of four at $37,950, and a household of eight at $64,070. The per-person increment is $6,530.²

How to Calculate Your Percentage of the Poverty Level

Most programs don’t cut off eligibility at 100% of the guideline. They set the line at a percentage above it, so your first job is figuring out where your household lands.

Divide your annual household income by the guideline for your household size, then multiply by 100. A four-person household earning $49,500 works out to $49,500 ÷ $33,000 × 100 = 150%. That household is at 150% of the federal poverty level, which will qualify it for some programs and not others.²

To check a specific program threshold, multiply the guideline by that percentage. For a family of four measuring against a 200% cutoff, the comparison figure is $66,000.

What Counts as Income and Household

Two things trip people up here.

First, use gross income, not take-home pay. Most programs start with your income before taxes and then apply their own deductions or disregards. Comparing your after-tax paycheck against the guideline understates what you earn and can create problems when your application is verified.

Second, your household generally includes everyone living together who shares financial resources. Spouses and children almost always count. Whether unrelated roommates count depends on the specific program. When you apply, expect to hand over tax returns or pay stubs to back up the numbers you report.

Which Programs Use the Guidelines

Health Coverage

In states that expanded Medicaid, adults generally qualify with income up to 138% of the guidelines. The statute sets the line at 133%, but a built-in 5% income disregard raises it in practice.³ For one person in 2026, that comes to roughly $22,025.

The Children’s Health Insurance Program covers kids in families who earn too much for Medicaid. Income limits vary by state and commonly reach 200% of the poverty level or higher.⁴

ACA marketplace premium tax credits generally require household income between 100% and 400% of the poverty level.⁵ Cost-sharing reductions on Silver plans, which lower your deductibles and copays, are available up to 250% of the poverty level, with the largest reductions going to households below 150%.⁶

Food Assistance

SNAP sets its gross income limit at 130% of the guidelines, roughly $42,900 for a family of four in 2026.⁷ SNAP also applies a net income test and asset limits, so clearing the gross income bar alone isn’t enough.

School meal programs use 130% of the guidelines for free meals and 185% for reduced-price meals. The same limits apply to the School Breakfast Program, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, and the Summer Food Service Program.⁸

Energy Assistance

LIHEAP eligibility is capped at 150% of the guidelines or 60% of state median income, whichever is higher. States cannot set the floor below 110% of the guidelines.⁹

Immigration Sponsorship

If you are sponsoring a family member for a green card, the Affidavit of Support requires income at 125% of the poverty guidelines for your combined household size.¹⁰ Active-duty military members sponsoring a spouse or minor child need to meet only 100%.¹¹

Household size for the affidavit is easy to undercount. It covers everyone you claimed as a dependent on your last tax return, anyone you previously sponsored on an affidavit that remains enforceable, and the person you are currently sponsoring, on top of people who live in your home. Getting this wrong can sink the petition, so trace it carefully before filing.

Guidelines vs. Poverty Thresholds

You may see two different sets of poverty numbers floating around. The guidelines discussed here are what federal agencies use to run benefit programs. The Census Bureau separately publishes poverty thresholds, a more detailed set of figures used for statistical work like calculating the national poverty rate.¹² When you are filling out an application, the guidelines are the number that matters.

1
Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
2
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
3
HealthCare.gov. Medicaid Expansion and What It Means for You
4
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Federal Poverty Line (FPL)
5
Internal Revenue Service. Eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit
6
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 U.S. Code 18071 – Reduced Cost-Sharing for Individuals Enrolling in Qualified Health Plans
7
Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Eligibility
8
Food and Nutrition Service. Child Nutrition Programs Income Eligibility Guidelines 2025-2026
9
LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Income Eligibility for States and Territories
10
Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 8 U.S. Code 1183a – Requirements for Sponsors Affidavit of Support
11
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. Instructions for Form I-864 Affidavit of Support
12
U.S. Census Bureau. About Poverty in the U.S. Population