What Is Poverty Level Income: Thresholds and Program Eligibility

Poverty level income is the annual earnings figure the federal government uses to decide who qualifies for assistance programs. For 2026, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) set that figure 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. Alaska and Hawaii use higher numbers because their cost of living runs higher.

2026 Poverty Guidelines by Household Size

These are the figures HHS uses across federal assistance programs for 2026.¹

48 Contiguous States and D.C.

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

1 person: $19,950
2 people: $27,050
3 people: $34,150
4 people: $41,250
5 people: $48,350
6 people: $55,450
7 people: $62,550
8 people: $69,650
Each additional person: add $7,100

Hawaii

1 person: $18,360
2 people: $24,890
3 people: $31,420
4 people: $37,950
5 people: $44,480
6 people: $51,010
7 people: $57,540
8 people: $64,070
Each additional person: add $6,530

These figures come from HHS’s Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation.²

Guidelines vs. Thresholds: Which Number Applies to You

Two different federal poverty figures exist, and only one is used to decide benefits. The poverty guidelines above, published by HHS, are what agencies actually apply when you fill out an application. The Census Bureau also publishes something called poverty thresholds, but those are a statistical tool used to count how many people live in poverty each year. They vary by age and family composition and are more detailed, but no program uses them for eligibility.³

If you are checking whether you qualify for a benefit, work from the HHS guidelines.

What Income Counts

Here is the catch: the HHS poverty guidelines themselves do not define what “income” means. Each program sets its own definition through its own rules.¹ That means you could be over the limit for one program and under the limit for another using the same paycheck.

A few examples of how definitions differ:

SNAP measures both gross income (before deductions) and net income (after allowed deductions for housing, dependent care, and similar expenses).⁴
Medicaid and the ACA marketplace use Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), which follows tax rules.⁵
The Census Bureau, for statistical purposes, counts “money income” before taxes: wages, Social Security, SSI, unemployment, workers’ compensation, veterans’ payments, pensions, retirement distributions, interest, dividends, rents, alimony, and child support. It excludes capital gains, noncash benefits like SNAP or housing subsidies, and tax credits.³

Before assuming you’re over or under a limit, check the specific program’s income rules.

How Household Size Is Counted

The poverty guideline rises with each person in your household, so who counts matters. Generally a household is people related by birth, marriage, or adoption living together, and their incomes are combined. Roommates who are not family and pay their own way are evaluated on their own income and are not part of your household.³

Individual programs can define it differently. Some count unmarried children under 21 living at home, and full-time students under 24 who live with you outside of school. If a non-household member gives you money, only the portion you actually spend on household expenses may be counted.

Percentages of the Poverty Level and Who Qualifies

Most programs do not cut off help at exactly 100 percent of the poverty guideline. They set eligibility at a percentage above it — often 130, 138, 185, or 200 percent. To find your number, take the guideline for your household size and multiply.

For a single person in 2026, 200 percent of the poverty level is $31,920. For a family of four, it’s $66,000. A family of four earning $45,000 sits above the $33,000 baseline but still under 138 percent ($45,540), and well under 185 percent ($61,050).

Here is where those common percentages actually apply:

SNAP (Food Stamps)

Gross monthly income generally must be at or below 130 percent of the poverty guidelines, and net income at or below 100 percent.⁴

WIC

Income eligibility is set at 185 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.⁶ For a family of four in 2026, that’s roughly $61,050.

Medicaid and CHIP

In states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, adults qualify with income up to 133 percent of the poverty level, and a built-in 5-percent income disregard pushes the effective threshold to 138 percent.⁷ CHIP starts at 200 percent for children, with many states extending coverage to 300 or 400 percent.⁸

ACA Marketplace Premium Tax Credits

The general rule: household income between 100 and 400 percent of the poverty level qualifies for premium tax credits. A temporary expansion that removed the 400-percent cap ran from 2021 through 2025 and expired at the end of 2025, so for the 2026 coverage year the 400-percent ceiling applies unless Congress extends it again.⁹ For a family of four, 400 percent works out to $132,000.

Energy Assistance

LIHEAP eligibility is capped at 150 percent of the poverty guidelines or 60 percent of state median income, whichever is higher, with a floor no lower than 110 percent.¹⁰ The Weatherization Assistance Program uses 200 percent.¹¹

Other Programs

Head Start: children whose family income is at or below 100 percent of the poverty level are eligible.¹²
Lifeline (phone and internet discount): income at or below 135 percent of the poverty guidelines, or participation in certain other assistance programs.¹³
Civil legal aid: most providers set limits between 125 and 200 percent of the poverty guidelines, with the exact figure varying by organization.

Compare your income to the relevant percentage for each program, not just the baseline poverty figure. Earning above $33,000 as a family of four does not disqualify you from most benefits; it just moves you up the multiplier scale.

1
Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
2
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation. 2026 Poverty Guidelines
3
United States Census Bureau. How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty
4
Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Eligibility
5
Medicaid.gov. Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, and Basic Health Program Eligibility Levels
6
Food and Nutrition Service. WIC 2025/2026 Income Eligibility Guidelines
7
HealthCare.gov. Medicaid Expansion and What It Means for You
8
Medicaid.gov. CHIP Eligibility and Enrollment
9
Internal Revenue Service. Questions and Answers on the Premium Tax Credit
10
The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Income Eligibility for States and Territories
11
Department of Energy. How to Apply for Weatherization Assistance
12
Head Start. 1302.12 Determining, Verifying, and Documenting Eligibility
13
Federal Communications Commission. Lifeline Support for Affordable Communications