Data study · income · updated for 2026
2026 federal poverty level guidelines
The federal poverty level, or FPL, is the income line the government uses to decide who qualifies for Medicaid, SNAP, marketplace health insurance help and dozens of other programs. Here are the 2026 HHS guidelines for every household size.
- 1 person $15,960 48 states and DC
- Family of 4 $33,000 48 states and DC
- Each extra person +$5,680 up from $5,500
- Change from 2025 +2.0% one-person guideline
What percent of the poverty level is your income?
Uses the 2026 HHS guidelines. Programs count income in different ways, so treat this as a first check.
2026 poverty guidelines by household size
| Household size | 48 states and DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $19,950 | $18,360 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $27,050 | $24,890 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $34,150 | $31,420 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $41,250 | $37,950 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $48,350 | $44,480 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $55,450 | $51,010 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $62,550 | $57,540 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $69,650 | $64,070 |
| Each additional person | +$5,680 | +$7,100 | +$6,530 |
Percent of the poverty level, 2026 (48 states and DC)
Many programs set their income limit as a percentage of the guideline. This table shows the common ones by household size:
| Size | 100% | 133% | 138% | 150% | 200% | 250% | 300% | 400% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $21,227 | $22,025 | $23,940 | $31,920 | $39,900 | $47,880 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $28,781 | $29,863 | $32,460 | $43,280 | $54,100 | $64,920 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $36,336 | $37,702 | $40,980 | $54,640 | $68,300 | $81,960 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $43,890 | $45,540 | $49,500 | $66,000 | $82,500 | $99,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $51,444 | $53,378 | $58,020 | $77,360 | $96,700 | $116,040 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $58,999 | $61,217 | $66,540 | $88,720 | $110,900 | $133,080 | $177,440 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $66,553 | $69,055 | $75,060 | $100,080 | $125,100 | $150,120 | $200,160 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $74,108 | $76,894 | $83,580 | $111,440 | $139,300 | $167,160 | $222,880 |
How programs use the poverty level
The guidelines themselves don’t give anyone benefits. Each program picks its own cutoff and its own definition of income. Adult Medicaid in expansion states is generally limited to 138% of the poverty level. SNAP’s gross income test is generally 130%. Children’s health coverage through CHIP and free school meals use their own percentages, and marketplace premium tax credits are figured as a share of the poverty level using the prior year’s guidelines. Check with the program or your state for the exact rule that applies to you.
Poverty guidelines versus poverty thresholds
There are two federal poverty measures, and they are easy to mix up. The poverty guidelines on this page are published by the Department of Health and Human Services and used to decide program eligibility. The poverty thresholds are published by the Census Bureau and used to count how many Americans are in poverty. The numbers are close but not the same.
Poverty guidelines by year, 2020–2026
| Year | 1 person | Family of 4 | Each additional person |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | $15,960 | $33,000 | +$5,680 |
| 2025 | $15,650 | $32,150 | +$5,500 |
| 2024 | $15,060 | $31,200 | +$5,380 |
| 2023 | $14,580 | $30,000 | +$5,140 |
| 2022 | $13,590 | $27,750 | +$4,720 |
| 2021 | $12,880 | $26,500 | +$4,540 |
| 2020 | $12,760 | $26,200 | +$4,480 |
48 contiguous states and DC. The guideline for one person has risen 25% since 2020, following consumer prices.
2026 federal poverty level — FAQ
What is the federal poverty level for 2026?
For 2026, the HHS poverty guideline in the 48 contiguous states and DC is $15,960 for a household of one, plus $5,680 for each additional person. A family of four is at $33,000.
What is 138% of the federal poverty level in 2026?
138% of the 2026 guideline is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for a family of four in the 48 states. 138% is the income limit for adults in states that expanded Medicaid.
What is 200% of the federal poverty level in 2026?
200% of the 2026 guideline is $31,920 for one person and $66,000 for a family of four in the 48 states.
Why are Alaska and Hawaii different?
Living costs are higher there, so HHS publishes separate, higher guidelines. In 2026 one person is at $19,950 in Alaska and $18,360 in Hawaii.
When do the poverty guidelines change?
HHS updates them every January, based on inflation over the prior year. The 2026 guidelines were published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2026. Programs switch to the new figures on their own schedules, so some keep using last year’s numbers for part of the year.
Which guidelines does health insurance marketplace help use?
Premium tax credits for marketplace coverage use the guidelines from the year before the coverage year. Coverage for 2026 is based on the 2025 guidelines, and coverage for 2027 will use the 2026 guidelines on this page.
Other yearly money numbers
Source & method
2026 and 2025 guidelines are from HHS’s annual update in the Federal Register. Earlier years are from the HHS poverty guidelines archive. Percentage tables and the calculator multiply the guideline for your household size and round to the dollar; programs may round differently.
Data: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Our tables, charts and text are licensed CC BY-NC 4.0: share and adapt them for non-commercial use as long as you credit us. For commercial use or bulk data, use the APIVerve API. See the data terms. Cite as: Digest Your Finances, “Federal Poverty Guidelines”, https://digestyourfinances.com/studies/federal-poverty-level/ — based on U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. CC BY-NC 4.0.
