Your income as a percentage of the 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, and the program cutoffs
Updated October 2026
Find the guideline for your household size and location, divide your income by it, and multiply by 100. Example from the 2026 Federal Register table: a household of four in the 48 states has a guideline of $33,000. Income of $45,000 gives $45,000 ÷ $33,000 = 1.3636, or 136% of the poverty level (programs usually drop the fraction). A program that uses 200% of the poverty level would set the line for this family at 2 × $33,000 = $66,000.
Published by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Federal Register on January 15, 2026, effective January 13, 2026.
| 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 |
For each person beyond eight, add $5,680 (48 states), $7,100 (Alaska) or $6,530 (Hawaii). Alaska and Hawaii have separate figures under an administrative practice dating to the late 1960s.
| % of FPL | 1 person | 3 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100% | $15,960 | $27,320 | $33,000 |
| 130% | $20,748 | $35,516 | $42,900 |
| 138% | $22,025 | $37,702 | $45,540 |
| 150% | $23,940 | $40,980 | $49,500 |
| 185% | $29,526 | $50,542 | $61,050 |
| 200% | $31,920 | $54,640 | $66,000 |
| 250% | $39,900 | $68,300 | $82,500 |
| 400% | $63,840 | $109,280 | $132,000 |
Medicaid (expansion states): adults up to 138%. SNAP: gross income generally at or below 130%, with net income at or below 100%. School meals: free at or below 130%, reduced price at or below 185%. WIC: up to 185%. ACA premium tax credits: 100% to 400%, using the prior year’s guidelines, so 2027 marketplace coverage uses these 2026 figures and 2026 coverage used the 2025 figures; since the enhanced credits expired after 2025, income above 400% gets no credit. Each program sets its own rules for who is in the household and which income counts, and many adopt the new guidelines on their own dates (SNAP each October 1, school meals each July 1).
Household size is usually the people who live together and share income, but programs define it differently: Medicaid and the ACA follow your tax household (you, a spouse, and dependents you claim), SNAP counts people who buy and prepare food together. Income for the ACA and Medicaid is modified adjusted gross income; SNAP uses gross monthly income before deductions. Enter yearly income; for a monthly figure, multiply by 12.
| Household | 2026 guideline | % of FPL |
|---|---|---|
| Family of 4, $45,000, 48 states | $33,000 | 136% |
| Single adult, $21,000, 48 states | $15,960 | 131% |
| Household of 2, $40,000, Hawaii | $24,890 | 160% |
| Family of 6, $70,000, 48 states | $44,360 | 157% |
| Couple, $30,000, Alaska | $27,050 | 110% |
| Family of 9, $60,000, 48 states | $61,400 | 97% |
The single adult at $21,000 is at 131%, under the 138% Medicaid line (about $22,025) but over 130% for SNAP’s gross test. The Hawaii couple measures against $24,890, not $21,640.
There are two federal poverty measures. The poverty thresholds come from the Census Bureau and are used to count how many people are poor; they vary by family makeup and age. The poverty guidelines are a simplified version issued by HHS each January for deciding eligibility. “Federal poverty level” in program rules almost always means the HHS guidelines, which this calculator uses.
HHS publishes new guidelines each January, adjusted for the previous year’s price change. The 2027 guidelines are expected in January 2027. Because programs switch on different dates, the same family can be measured against two different years’ figures in the same month.
It does not determine eligibility for any program. Medicaid limits for children, pregnant people and older adults are often higher than 138% and vary by state; non-expansion states cover few adults; SNAP and other programs add asset tests, deductions and work rules. Use your state’s Medicaid or benefits agency, HealthCare.gov for marketplace coverage, or a local benefits counselor for a decision.
Using last year’s table for a program that has already switched, or the new table for one that has not. Counting the wrong household: an adult child you do not claim is not in your tax household for the ACA. Using take-home pay instead of the gross or MAGI figure the program asks for. Applying 48-state figures in Alaska or Hawaii.