The 2026 federal poverty guideline is $15,960 a year for one person and $33,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and DC, with $5,680 added for each person beyond eight. Alaska is higher ($19,950 for one person) and so is Hawaii ($18,360). The guidelines took effect January 13, 2026. Programs usually apply a percentage of them: 138% of the guideline is $22,025 for one person and $45,540 for four.
Key facts
- The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issues the guidelines every year; they are a simplified version of the Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds and are used to decide eligibility for programs.
- For a household of 10, add two more people to the 8-person figure: $55,720 + 2 × $5,680 = $67,080 in the 48 states and DC.
- 138% of the guideline is the usual income limit for Medicaid for adults in states that expanded the program; some states use a different limit.
- The 2026 guidelines reflect a 2.63% price increase between 2024 and 2025.
2026 poverty guidelines by household size
These are annual income amounts. They apply to households, families and individuals of any age.
| Persons in household | 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 |
Common percentages of the poverty level
Most programs set their limit as a percentage of the guideline for your household size. This table multiplies the 48 states and DC guideline and rounds to the nearest dollar; programs may round differently, define income their own way and count the household differently. For Alaska or Hawaii, multiply that region’s guideline above by the same percentage.
| Persons | 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 |
| Each additional person | +$5,680 | +$7,554 | +$7,838 | +$8,520 | +$11,360 | +$14,200 | +$17,040 | +$22,720 |
The same limits by month
Many applications ask for monthly income. Dividing the annual figures by 12 and rounding gives:
| Persons | 100% per month | 138% per month | 200% per month | 400% per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,330 | $1,835 | $2,660 | $5,320 |
| 2 | $1,803 | $2,489 | $3,607 | $7,213 |
| 3 | $2,277 | $3,142 | $4,553 | $9,107 |
| 4 | $2,750 | $3,795 | $5,500 | $11,000 |
| 5 | $3,223 | $4,448 | $6,447 | $12,893 |
| 6 | $3,697 | $5,101 | $7,393 | $14,787 |
| 7 | $4,170 | $5,755 | $8,340 | $16,680 |
| 8 | $4,643 | $6,408 | $9,287 | $18,573 |
Which programs use which percentage
The guidelines do not decide eligibility on their own; each program picks its own percentage, income definition and household rules. Where an official program page states the percentage, it is listed here:
- Medicaid for adults in expansion states: HealthCare.gov says household income below 133% of the poverty level qualifies, which works out to 138%, and that a few states use a different limit.
- Marketplace premium tax credit: HealthCare.gov describes the credit as available for income between 100% and 400% of the poverty level. The credit’s rules are set by law and can change, so confirm the current rules for your coverage year at HealthCare.gov before relying on this range.
- SNAP: in most cases a household must meet both a gross income limit of 130% of the poverty level and a net income limit of 100%. USDA’s table for October 1, 2025 through September 30, 2026 shows $1,696 a month for a one-person household, slightly less than 130% of the 2026 guideline ($1,729 a month), so programs do not all switch to new amounts at the same time.
- Others: HHS lists Head Start, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), National School Lunch Program, Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and Children's Health Insurance Program among the programs that use the guidelines or a percentage of them. It says cash assistance programs such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Security Income generally do not use them to decide eligibility, and that the Earned Income Tax Credit does not use them.
Poverty guidelines vs. poverty thresholds
“Federal poverty level” is often used as shorthand, but there are two versions of the measure. The poverty thresholds are the Census Bureau’s statistical yardstick: 48 thresholds that depend on family size and the ages of the members, the same everywhere in the country, and used to count how many Americans are in poverty. The poverty guidelines are what HHS publishes for administrative use, such as deciding who qualifies for a program. HHS builds them by updating the latest Census thresholds for inflation (a 2.63% increase for 2026) and then rounding and standardizing so each extra person adds the same amount. Unlike the thresholds, the guidelines have separate higher figures for Alaska and Hawaii.
When the 2026 guidelines take effect
The notice was published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2026. Its effective date is January 13, 2026, unless the office that runs a program specifies a different effective date for that program, so ask the agency handling your application which year’s guidelines it uses.
2026 compared with 2025
| Persons | 2025 guideline | 2026 guideline | Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,650 | $15,960 | +$310 |
| 2 | $21,150 | $21,640 | +$490 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $27,320 | +$670 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $33,000 | +$850 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $38,680 | +$1,030 |
| 6 | $43,150 | $44,360 | +$1,210 |
| 7 | $48,650 | $50,040 | +$1,390 |
| 8 | $54,150 | $55,720 | +$1,570 |
| Each additional person | $5,500 | $5,680 | +$180 |
To see how a guideline-based limit fits your finances, try the budget calculator, estimate your take-home pay with the paycheck calculator or see where your income lands in the 2026 tax brackets.
Frequently asked questions
What is the federal poverty level for 2026?
In 2026 the HHS poverty guideline is $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and DC, and each additional person adds $5,680. Alaska ($19,950 for one person) and Hawaii ($18,360) have higher guidelines. Most programs apply a percentage of these amounts.
What is 138% of the federal poverty level in 2026?
For one person in the 48 states and DC, 138% is $22,025 a year, about $1,835 a month. For a family of four it is $45,540 a year, about $3,795 a month. Medicaid expansion uses this level, but a few states use a different limit, so check with your state agency.
What is the difference between poverty guidelines and poverty thresholds?
Poverty guidelines are HHS’s simplified measure, used to decide who is eligible for programs. Poverty thresholds are the Census Bureau’s statistical measure, used to count how many people are in poverty. The guidelines are derived from the thresholds but use the same step between household sizes and have separate figures for Alaska and Hawaii, which the thresholds lack.
When do the 2026 poverty guidelines take effect?
HHS set January 13, 2026 as the effective date and published the notice in the Federal Register on January 15, 2026. A program office can specify a different date for its own program. HealthCare.gov, for example, says the 2026 amounts are used to check Medicaid and CHIP eligibility, while the previous year’s amounts are used to calculate Marketplace savings for the next year.
Are the guidelines different in Alaska and Hawaii?
Yes. A family of four is $41,250 in Alaska and $37,950 in Hawaii, compared with $33,000 in the 48 contiguous states and DC. The guidelines are not defined for Puerto Rico or other territories; the federal office that runs a program decides which figures to use there.
How do I find the poverty level for a household of more than 8 people?
Start with the 8-person guideline and add the per-person amount for each extra person. In the 48 states and DC, a household of 10 is $55,720 + 2 × $5,680 = $67,080. Add $7,100 per extra person in Alaska or $6,530 in Hawaii, then multiply by the percentage your program uses.
Calculators that use these figures
- Budget Calculator: Monthly budget planner with the 50/30/20 rule and national spending benchmarks.
- Income Tax Calculator: 2026 federal and state income tax, effective rate and refund estimate.
- Paycheck Calculator: Take-home pay per paycheck after 2026 federal, state and FICA taxes.