Under the 2026 federal poverty level income limits published by the Department of Health and Human Services, a single person in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia is at the poverty line at $15,960 a year, and a family of four is at $33,000.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines Those base figures matter less than you might think, because most federal assistance programs set their income ceilings at a multiple of the poverty level, so households earning well above the base numbers often still qualify.
2026 Poverty Guidelines by Household Size
For the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the 2026 guidelines are:1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- 1 person: $15,960
- 2 people: $21,640
- 3 people: $27,320
- 4 people: $33,000
- 5 people: $38,680
- 6 people: $44,360
- 7 people: $50,040
- 8 people: $55,720
- Each additional person: add $5,680
Alaska and Hawaii have their own, higher guidelines that reflect higher costs of living. In Alaska, a single person is at $19,950 and a family of four at $41,250, with $7,100 added for each additional person. In Hawaii, a single person is at $18,360 and a family of four at $37,950, with $6,530 per additional person.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
Why the Percentage Matters More Than the Base Number
Federal programs rarely cut off at exactly 100% of the poverty guidelines. Each one sets an eligibility ceiling as a percentage of the guideline for your household size. For a family of four in the contiguous states in 2026, common percentages translate to:1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
- 100% FPL: $33,000
- 125% FPL: $41,250
- 130% FPL: $42,900
- 138% FPL: $45,540
- 150% FPL: $49,500
- 200% FPL: $66,000
- 400% FPL: $132,000
The practical question is which percentage applies to the program you need.
Income Limits for Major Federal Programs
SNAP
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program uses a gross income limit of 130% of the poverty guidelines, plus a net income test at 100% after deductions for shelter, dependent care, and earned income.2Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Eligibility For a family of four in 2026, the gross ceiling works out to roughly $3,575 a month, or $42,900 a year. Many states have adopted broad-based categorical eligibility, which can raise or eliminate the gross income test, though the net income test still applies.
Medicaid and CHIP
In states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, adults qualify with household income up to 138% of the poverty level.3HealthCare.gov. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) – Glossary For a single person in 2026, that ceiling is $22,025. Children generally qualify at higher income levels than adults, often at 200% of poverty or above, through a combination of Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. Exact thresholds vary by state.4Medicaid. Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program Eligibility Levels
ACA Premium Tax Credits
For 2026, premium tax credits for marketplace insurance are available to households with income between 100% and 400% of the poverty level.5Internal Revenue Service. Eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit For a family of four, that is $33,000 to $132,000. The enhanced subsidies that had temporarily removed the 400% cap expired at the end of 2025, so households above that line no longer receive any premium subsidy for 2026.
LIHEAP
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program pays part of heating and cooling bills. Federal law caps state eligibility at 150% of the poverty guidelines or 60% of state median income, whichever is higher, and bars states from setting the floor below 110% of poverty.6LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Income Eligibility for States and Territories Your state’s number will fall somewhere in that band.
Lifeline
The FCC’s Lifeline program offers a monthly discount on phone or internet service to households at or below 135% of the poverty guidelines.7Federal Communications Commission. Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications Enrollment in SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, federal public housing assistance, or a Veterans pension also qualifies a household regardless of income.
Legal Aid
Free civil legal help through Legal Services Corporation-funded organizations is available up to 125% of the poverty guidelines.8eCFR. 45 CFR Part 1611 – Financial Eligibility That is $19,950 for a single person in 2026 and $41,250 for a family of four. Many people who qualify for SNAP or Medicaid also qualify for legal aid and never think to ask.
Head Start
Head Start targets families at or below 100% of poverty for early childhood education. Programs can enroll a limited share of children from families up to 130% of poverty, and children who are homeless or in foster care qualify automatically.
How Your Income Is Counted
Eligibility starts with gross income before taxes: wages, salaries, unemployment, Social Security, interest, dividends, and rental income all count. Non-cash benefits like SNAP or housing subsidies do not.
Self-employment is treated differently under programs that use Modified Adjusted Gross Income, including Medicaid and marketplace insurance. Those programs count net profit after business expenses rather than gross revenue.9Medicaid.gov. Building MAGI Knowledge Part 2 – Income Counting A freelancer who brings in $60,000 but has $30,000 in legitimate expenses has $30,000 in countable income, which may put a single filer under a threshold their top-line revenue would seem to block.
How Your Household Is Counted
For most poverty-based programs, a household is people related by birth, marriage, or adoption living together, plus legal dependents. Roommates without financial ties are generally excluded. If you share an apartment with unrelated housemates, you usually count as a household of one, and only your own income is measured against the single-person guideline. Miscounting in either direction can produce a denial or a demand to repay benefits.
Asset and Resource Limits
Some programs look at what you own on top of what you earn.
Supplemental Security Income sets resource limits of $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple in 2026.10Social Security Administration. 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet Your primary home and one vehicle are generally excluded, but money in checking or savings counts.
SNAP has a federal asset limit of $3,000 for most households and $4,500 if a member is 60 or older or has a disability.2Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Eligibility Retirement accounts, your home, and personal belongings generally do not count, and many states have eliminated the asset test entirely through broad-based categorical eligibility.
Medicaid programs that use MAGI apply no asset test at all. If your income qualifies, your savings balance is irrelevant. Medicaid programs for people who are aged, blind, or disabled may still apply asset limits similar to SSI’s.
Guidelines Are Not the Same as Thresholds
If you are researching poverty rates or reading Census data, you may run across a different set of numbers called the poverty thresholds. Those are maintained by the Census Bureau for statistical purposes, vary by family composition rather than just size, and are used to calculate the official poverty rate.11U.S. Census Bureau. How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty For any question about qualifying for a benefit, the HHS poverty guidelines are the number that applies.