Federal Poverty Level 2026: FPL Chart and Percent Calculator

“The following guideline figures represent annual income.”

“The guidelines in this 2026 notice reflect the 2.63 percent price increase between calendar years 2024 and 2025.”

“Because of the federal government shutdown in October 2025, the Bureau of Labor Statistics did not publish the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for that month. As a result, the calculation of the 2026 poverty guidelines compares the average CPI-U for the 11 available months of 2025 (excluding October) with the average CPI-U for all 12 months of 2024.”

“For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,680 for each additional person.”

“For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $7,100 for each additional person.”

“For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $6,530 for each additional person.”

“Separate poverty guideline figures for Alaska and Hawaii reflect Office of Economic Opportunity administrative practice beginning in the 1966-1970 period. (Note that the Census Bureau poverty thresholds--the version of the poverty measure used for statistical purposes--have never had separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii.)”

“The poverty guidelines are not defined for Puerto Rico or other outlying jurisdictions. In cases in which a Federal program using the poverty guidelines serves any of those jurisdictions, the Federal office that administers the program is generally responsible for deciding whether to use the contiguous-states-and-DC guidelines for those jurisdictions or to follow some other procedure.”

“Effective Date: January 13, 2026 unless an office administering a program using the guidelines specifies a different effective date for that particular program.”

“The guidelines in this 2025 notice reflect the 2.9 percent price increase between calendar years 2023 and 2024.”

“The poverty thresholds are the original version of the federal poverty measure. They are updated each year by the Census Bureau. The thresholds are used mainly for statistical purposes — for instance, preparing estimates of the number of Americans in poverty each year.”

“The poverty guidelines are the other version of the federal poverty measure. They are issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds for use for administrative purposes — for instance, determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs.”

“Poverty thresholds are used for calculating all official poverty population statistics — for instance, figures on the number of Americans in poverty each year.”

“The figures that the Census Bureau uses are the poverty thresholds.”

“The poverty guidelines are a simplified version of the federal poverty thresholds used for administrative purposes — for instance, determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs.”

“The poverty guidelines are sometimes loosely referred to as the “federal poverty level” (FPL), but that phrase is ambiguous and should be avoided, especially in situations (e.g., legislative or administrative) where precision is important.”

“The poverty guidelines (unlike the Census poverty thresholds) are designated by the year in which they are issued.”

“Be aware, however, that the rounding rules for these calculations, as well as procedures for calculating monthly income, are determined by the federal, state, and local program offices that use the poverty guidelines for eligibility purposes. Therefore, the numbers in these spreadsheets could differ somewhat from what is used by other federal, state, or other organizations.”

“Therefore, questions such as net or gross income, counted or excluded income, or household size should be directed to the entity that administers or funds the program.”

“Federal, state, and local program offices that use the poverty guidelines for eligibility purposes may define income in different ways.”

“The poverty guidelines are used by Medicaid and a number of other Federal programs as a criterion for some or all eligibility determinations.”

“Some federal programs use a percentage multiple of the guidelines (for example, 125 percent or 185 percent of the guidelines), as noted in relevant authorizing legislation or program regulations.”

“The HHS poverty guidelines, or percentage multiples of them (such as 125 percent, 150 percent, or 185 percent), are used as an eligibility criterion by a number of federal, state, and local government programs, as well as programs offered by non-profit organizations, hospitals, and other entities. Many means-tested programs do not use the poverty guidelines (see below for examples).”

“The poverty guidelines may be used as soon as they are posted on the ASPE website and the Federal Register each year — usually in late January — unless a program has chosen to make them effective at a later date.”

“To determine when the poverty guidelines are effective for a particular program, one must contact the office or organization that administers that program.”

“beginning January 1, 2014, who are under 65 years of age, not pregnant, not entitled to, or enrolled for, benefits under part A of subchapter XVIII, or enrolled for benefits under part B of subchapter XVIII, and are not described in a previous subclause of this clause, and whose income (as determined under subsection (e)(14)) does not exceed 133 percent of the poverty line (as defined in section 1397jj(c)(5) of this title) applicable to a family of the size involved, subject to subsection (k)”

“Section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII) of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1396a(a)(10)(A)(i)(VIII)) is amended by striking ``subject to subsection (k)'' and inserting ``subject to subsections (k) and (xx)''.”

“Requirement for States to establish Medicaid community engagement requirements for certain individuals.”

“For purposes of determining the income eligibility of an individual for medical assistance whose eligibility is determined based on the application of modified adjusted gross income under subparagraph (A), the State shall— (i) determine the dollar equivalent of the difference between the upper income limit on eligibility for such an individual (expressed as a percentage of the poverty line) and such upper income limit increased by 5 percentage points; and (ii) notwithstanding the requirement in subparagraph (A) with respect to use of modified adjusted gross income, utilize as the applicable income of such individual, in determining such income eligibility, an amount equal to the modified adjusted gross income applicable to such individual reduced by such dollar equivalent amount.”

“Income below 138% federal poverty level: If your state has expanded Medicaid, you may qualify for Medicaid.”

“2026 income is used to check if you're eligible for Medicaid and CHIP. Income from the previous year is used to calculate Marketplace savings for the next year.”

“In general, individuals and families may be eligible for the Premium Tax Credit if their household income for the year is at least 100 percent but no more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line for their family size.”

“For tax years 2021 through 2025, Congress temporarily expanded eligibility for the Premium Tax Credit by eliminating the requirement that a taxpayer’s household income may not be more than 400 percent of the federal poverty line.”

“For purposes of the Premium Tax Credit, eligibility for a certain year is based on the most recently published set of federal poverty guidelines on the first day of the annual open enrollment period. For example, the tax credit for 2025 is based on the 2024 FPL.”

“The Federal poverty line means the most recently published poverty guidelines (updated periodically in the Federal Register by the Secretary of Health and Human Services under the authority of 42 U.S.C. 9902(2)) as of the first day of the regular enrollment period for coverage by a qualified health plan offered through an Exchange for a calendar year.”

“Thus, the Federal poverty line for computing the premium tax credit for a taxable year is the Federal poverty line in effect on the first day of the initial or annual open enrollment period preceding that taxable year.”

“For benefit years beginning on January 1, 2022, through January 1, 2026— (i) Subject to paragraphs (e)(4)(ii) and (iii) of this section, the annual open enrollment period begins on November 1 of the calendar year preceding the benefit year and extends through January 15 of the benefit year.”

“For benefit years beginning on or after January 1, 2027— (i) The annual open enrollment period for all Exchanges must begin no later than November 1 and must end no later than December 31 of the calendar year preceding the benefit year. (ii) The annual open enrollment period must not exceed 9 weeks in duration.”

“The net and gross income eligibility standards shall be based on the Federal income poverty levels established as provided in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 U.S.C. 9902(2)).”

“The income eligibility standards for the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia, Guam and the Virgin Islands shall be 130 percent of the Federal income poverty levels for the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia.”

“The income eligibility standards for the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia, Guam and the Virgin Islands shall be the Federal income poverty levels for the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia.”

“The income eligibility limits, as described in this paragraph, are revised each October 1 to reflect the annual adjustment to the Federal income poverty guidelines for the 48 States and the District of Columbia, for Alaska, and for Hawaii.”

“Households which contain an elderly or disabled member shall meet the net income eligibility standards for SNAP. Households which do not contain an elderly or disabled member shall meet both the net income eligibility standards and the gross income eligibility standards for SNAP. Households which are categorically eligible as defined in § 273.2(j)(2) or 273.2(j)(4) do not have to meet either the gross or net income eligibility standards.”

“A few open-ended or “entitlement” programs that use the poverty guidelines for eligibility are the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (formerly Food Stamps), the National School Lunch Program, certain parts of Medicaid, and the subsidized portion of Medicare part D (Prescription Drug Coverage).”

“A subsidy eligible individual is a Part D eligible individual residing in a State who is enrolled in, or seeking to enroll in a Part D plan and meets the following requirements: (1) Has income below 150 percent of the FPL applicable to the individual's family size. (2) Has resources at or below the resource thresholds set forth in § 423.773(b)(2) or (d)(2).”

“Federal poverty line (FPL) has the meaning given that term in section 673(2) of the Community Services Block Grant Act (42 USC 9902(2)), including any revision required by that section.”

“The income level established under paragraph (1)(B) shall be at least the percent provided under subparagraph (B) (but not more than 100 percent) of the official poverty line (as defined by the Office of Management and Budget, and revised annually in accordance with section 9902(2) of this title) applicable to a family of the size involved. (B) Except as provided in subparagraph (C), the percent provided under this clause, with respect to eligibility for medical assistance on or after— (i) January 1, 1989, is 85 percent, (ii) January 1, 1990, is 90 percent, and (iii) January 1, 1991, is 100 percent. (C) In the case of a State which has elected treatment under section 1396a(f) of this title and which, as of January 1, 1987, used an income standard for individuals age 65 or older which was more restrictive than the income standard established under the supplemental security income program under subchapter XVI, the percent provided under subparagraph (B), with respect to eligibility for medical assistance on or after— (i) January 1, 1989, is 80 percent, (ii) January 1, 1990, is 85 percent, (iii) January 1, 1991, is 95 percent, and (iv) January 1, 1992, is 100 percent.”

“You may still qualify for these programs in your state even if your income or resources are higher than the federal limits listed.”

“Programs using the guidelines (or percentage multiples of the guidelines — for instance, 125 percent or 185 percent of the guidelines) in determining eligibility include Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.”

“The term "poverty line" has the meaning given such term in section 9902(2) of this title, including any revision required by such section.”

“Each state program has its own rules about who qualifies for CHIP.”

“Some state and local governments have chosen to use the federal poverty guidelines in some of their own programs and activities.”

“Note that in general, cash public assistance programs (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Security Income) do NOT use the poverty guidelines in determining eligibility. The Earned Income Tax Credit program also does NOT use the poverty guidelines to determine eligibility.”

“HHS typically issues poverty guidelines in late January of each year.”

“HHS publishes the guidelines in the Federal Register and on the ASPE website every January, after the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December of the previous year.”

“ASPE does not project price changes for the current year; instead, we issue guidelines based on price changes through the most recent completed year.”