The Federal Poverty Level in the US for 2026 is $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, as set by the Department of Health and Human Services and in effect since January 13, 2026. Each additional household member adds $5,680, and the latest Census data show an official poverty rate of 10.2%, covering 34.5 million people in 2025.
Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026 – Introduction
The Federal Poverty Level in the US is the income line that decides who qualifies for dozens of benefit programs, from school meals to Medicaid. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sets it every January. The 2026 figure took effect on January 13, 2026. A single adult in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. sits at the line with $15,960 a year. A family of four reaches it at $33,000.
Many people use the term loosely. HHS itself calls the phrase “federal poverty level” ambiguous, because two federal measures exist. The poverty guidelines drive program eligibility. The poverty thresholds, issued by the Census Bureau, count how many people live in poverty. This report covers both. It lists every household size, the Alaska and Hawaii figures, the percentage cutoffs that programs apply, the latest Census poverty rate of 10.2%, and the supplemental rate of 13.1%.
Interesting Facts about Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026
ONE-PERSON POVERTY GUIDELINE, 2026 (USD PER YEAR) 1 block = ~$665
48 States + DC | ████████████████████████ $15,960
Hawaii | ████████████████████████████ $18,360
Alaska | ██████████████████████████████ $19,950
| Fact | 2026 Data |
|---|---|
| Guidelines effective date | January 13, 2026 |
| Federal Register publication | January 15, 2026 |
| One-person guideline (48 states + DC) | $15,960 |
| Four-person guideline (48 states + DC) | $33,000 |
| Added for each person above eight | $5,680 |
| One-person guideline, Alaska | $19,950 |
| One-person guideline, Hawaii | $18,360 |
| 138% of the guideline, one person | $22,025 |
| Official poverty rate, 2025 | 10.2% |
| People in official poverty, 2025 | 34.5 million |
| Supplemental poverty rate, 2025 | 13.1% |
| Child poverty rate, 2025 | 13.4% |
| ACA subsidy cutoff for 2026 coverage | 400% of the 2025 guideline |
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines; U.S. Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States: 2025 (P60-290).
HHS published the 2026 guidelines in the Federal Register on January 15, 2026. The calculation starts with the Census Bureau’s 2024 poverty thresholds and adjusts them for 2025 price changes. The October 2025 federal shutdown stopped the Bureau of Labor Statistics from publishing that month’s Consumer Price Index. HHS therefore compared 11 available months of 2025 against all 12 months of 2024. Alaska and Hawaii carry higher figures. The 138% row is our own calculation of $15,960 times 1.38.
The Census rows come from a separate publication, released on September 15, 2026. They count people, not eligibility. The 10.2% rate covers 34.5 million people. Child poverty sits at 13.4%. The supplemental measure reads 13.1% because it counts taxes, benefits and medical costs. The last row confuses many households. Marketplace coverage for 2026 uses the 2025 guidelines, so the subsidy cutoff does not match the numbers in the rest of this table.
Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026 Chart by Household Size (48 States and DC)
2026 POVERTY GUIDELINE BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE 1 block = $2,000
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
| Household Size | Annual Income | Monthly Income | Hourly (2,080 hrs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $1,330 | $7.67 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $1,803 | $10.40 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $2,277 | $13.13 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $2,750 | $15.87 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $3,223 | $18.60 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $3,697 | $21.33 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $4,170 | $24.06 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $4,643 | $26.79 |
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines (Federal Register, Vol. 91, No. 10, January 15, 2026). Monthly and hourly columns are editorial calculations.
The Federal Poverty Level in the US for 2026 starts at $15,960 for one person. Two people sit at $21,640, three at $27,320 and four at $33,000. A household of eight reaches $55,720. For households with more than eight people, add $5,680 per person. The monthly column divides each annual figure by 12. The hourly column divides by 2,080 full-time hours. Both columns are our own math.
The steps are uniform. Each added person raises the guideline by $5,680, or 35.6% of the single-person figure. HHS standardizes the increments because the Census thresholds jump unevenly between family sizes. A single worker at $7.67 an hour for a full year sits at the line. A lone earner in a four-person home needs about $15.87 an hour to reach it. The guidelines do not vary by age, so a retired couple and a young couple share the same $21,640 line.
Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026 for Alaska and Hawaii
FOUR-PERSON GUIDELINE BY REGION, 2026 1 block = $1,500
48 States + DC | ██████████████████████ $33,000
Hawaii | █████████████████████████ $37,950
Alaska | ████████████████████████████ $41,250
| Household Size | 48 States + DC | Hawaii | Alaska |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $18,360 | $19,950 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $24,890 | $27,050 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $31,420 | $34,150 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $37,950 | $41,250 |
| 5 people | $38,680 | $44,480 | $48,350 |
| 6 people | $44,360 | $51,010 | $55,450 |
| 7 people | $50,040 | $57,540 | $62,550 |
| 8 people | $55,720 | $64,070 | $69,650 |
| Each additional person | $5,680 | $6,530 | $7,100 |
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines.
HHS publishes separate 2026 guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii. The Alaska line for one person is $19,950, and for four people it is $41,250. Hawaii’s lines are $18,360 and $37,950. Alaska adds $7,100 per person past eight. Hawaii adds $6,530. Against the 48-state base, Alaska runs 25% higher and Hawaii 15% higher. Those percentages are our calculation from the published figures.
The higher lines date to administrative practice from the 1966-1970 period. The Census poverty thresholds never carried separate Alaska or Hawaii figures. The guidelines are also not defined for Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and other outlying jurisdictions. The federal office that runs each program decides whether to use the contiguous-state figures there or follow another method. Residents of those places should check the rules of the specific program.
Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026: 100%, 138%, 150%, 200% and 400% Income Limits
ONE-PERSON INCOME LIMITS AT EACH FPL MULTIPLE, 2026 1 block = $2,000
100% | ████████ $15,960
138% | ███████████ $22,025
150% | ████████████ $23,940
185% | ███████████████ $29,526
200% | ████████████████ $31,920
400% | ████████████████████████████████ $63,840
| Household Size | 100% | 130% | 138% | 150% | 185% | 200% | 400% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,960 | $20,748 | $22,025 | $23,940 | $29,526 | $31,920 | $63,840 |
| 2 people | $21,640 | $28,132 | $29,863 | $32,460 | $40,034 | $43,280 | $86,560 |
| 3 people | $27,320 | $35,516 | $37,702 | $40,980 | $50,542 | $54,640 | $109,280 |
| 4 people | $33,000 | $42,900 | $45,540 | $49,500 | $61,050 | $66,000 | $132,000 |
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines. Multiples calculated by the editorial team and rounded to the nearest dollar.
Few programs use the 100% line alone. Most set eligibility at a multiple. For a single person, 130% equals $20,748, 138% equals $22,025, 150% equals $23,940, 185% equals $29,526 and 200% equals $31,920. The 400% mark equals $63,840. The four-person figures run from $42,900 at 130% to $132,000 at 400%. Every value is our multiplication of the HHS guidelines.
HHS notes that programs use multiples such as 125% or 185%, and that non-federal groups may pick their own. Read each program’s rules for how it defines income. Consider a two-person household earning $30,000. That sits at about 139% of the line. It is above the 130% mark of $28,132 and below the 150% mark of $32,460. Small income differences move a household across these lines, and each line unlocks different benefits.
Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026: Programs That Use the Poverty Guidelines
INCOME CUTOFF AS % OF THE FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL IN THE US
Head Start | ██████████ 100%
SNAP (gross) | █████████████ 130%
Free school meals | █████████████ 130%
Medicaid expansion | ██████████████ 138%
LIHEAP | ███████████████ 150%
Reduced-price meals | ██████████████████▌ 185%
WIC | ██████████████████▌ 185%
ACA premium credit | ████████████████████████████████████████ 400% (cap)
| Program | Income Cutoff | One Person | Four People |
|---|---|---|---|
| Head Start | 100% | $15,960 | $33,000 |
| SNAP (federal gross limit) | 130% | $20,748 | $42,900 |
| School meals, free | 130% | $20,748 | $42,900 |
| Medicaid, expansion adults | 138% | $22,025 | $45,540 |
| LIHEAP | 150% | $23,940 | $49,500 |
| School meals, reduced-price | 185% | $29,526 | $61,050 |
| WIC | 185% | $29,526 | $61,050 |
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE; U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service 2026-2027 Income Eligibility Guidelines; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Dollar columns are editorial calculations.
The Federal Poverty Level in the US feeds many programs. ASPE lists Head Start, SNAP, the National School Lunch Program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program among them. USDA’s school meal and WIC limits took effect on July 1, 2026 and run through June 30, 2027. USDA’s notice shows a 2.6% rise for a family of four over last year. For SNAP in federal fiscal year 2027, the three-person line is $2,277 a month, so 130% equals $2,960 a month.
Several large programs sit outside this system. ASPE states that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and Supplemental Security Income do not use the guidelines for eligibility. The Earned Income Tax Credit does not either. Medicaid agencies adopt updated figures on a state-set date, and state rules can differ from the federal baseline. The table shows federal baselines only. Always confirm the current limit with the agency that runs the benefit.
Official Poverty Rate in the US 2026 by Age and Hispanic Origin
OFFICIAL POVERTY RATE, 2025 (%) 1 block = 0.5 point
Hispanic (any race) | ████████████████████████████ 13.9
Children under 18 | ███████████████████████████ 13.4
All people | ████████████████████ 10.2
Age 65 and older | ████████████████████ 9.8
Age 18 to 64 | ██████████████████ 9.2
| Group | 2025 Rate | 2024 Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| All people | 10.2% | 10.7% | -0.5 points |
| Children under 18 | 13.4% | 14.4% | -1.0 point |
| Age 18 to 64 | 9.2% | 9.6% | -0.4 points |
| Age 65 and older | 9.8% | Not reported here | No significant change |
| Hispanic (any race) | 13.9% | 15.1% | -1.2 points |
| People in poverty | 34.5 million | 36.0 million | -1.5 million |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States: 2025 (P60-290), September 2026; Congressional Research Service, Poverty in 2025 (IN12737).
The Census Bureau reported on September 15, 2026 that the official poverty rate fell 0.5 points to 10.2% in 2025. That is the third straight annual decline. About 34.5 million people lived in poverty, down 1.5 million from 2024. The 2025 rate did not differ statistically from the 2019 rate of 10.5%. The margin of error on the national rate was 0.3 points.
Child poverty fell 1.0 point to 13.4%, a historic low. The rate for Hispanic people fell 1.2 points to 13.9%, also a historic low. Adults aged 18 to 64 reached 9.2%. The rate for people 65 and older was 9.8%. Census counts these people against its own thresholds, not the HHS guidelines, so 10.2% does not equal the share of people below the HHS line. The survey’s weighted response rate was 61.3%, below pre-pandemic levels, and Census flags that as a limit on accuracy.
Supplemental Poverty Measure vs Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026
OFFICIAL+ vs SUPPLEMENTAL POVERTY RATE, 2025 (%) 1 block = 0.5 point
All people O+ | ████████████████████ 10.2
SPM | ██████████████████████████ 13.1
Under 18 O+ | ███████████████████████████ 13.4
SPM | ███████████████████████████ 13.4
Age 18-64 O+ | ██████████████████ 9.2
SPM | ████████████████████████ 12.3
Age 65+ O+ | ████████████████████ 9.8
SPM | ███████████████████████████████ 15.4
| Group | Official+ Rate | SPM Rate | Gap (points) |
|---|---|---|---|
| All people | 10.2% | 13.1% | 2.9 |
| Under 18 | 13.4% | 13.4% | 0.0 |
| Age 18 to 64 | 9.2% | 12.3% | 3.1 |
| Age 65 and older | 9.8% | 15.4% | 5.6 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States: 2025 (P60-290). “Official+” adds unrelated children under 15 to the official universe so the two measures match.
The Supplemental Poverty Measure (SPM) stood at 13.1% in 2025, not statistically different from 2024. It runs 2.9 points above the official figure. The SPM counts noncash benefits, taxes, work expenses and medical costs. It adjusts thresholds for local housing costs. The Census Bureau says the SPM is not designed to set program eligibility, so it does not replace the Federal Poverty Level in the US for that job.
The gap is widest for people 65 and older, at 5.6 points. The SPM reads 15.4% for that group against 9.8% officially. Census attributes most of the gap to medical expenses, which the SPM subtracts from resources. For children, both measures read 13.4%. The SPM rate for people without a high school diploma rose 2.0 points to 32.4%. Census also revised SPM figures for 2019 to 2024 after BLS corrected threshold code errors on July 17, 2026.
Census Poverty Thresholds vs Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026 Guidelines
2026 GUIDELINE MINUS 2025 CENSUS AVERAGE THRESHOLD (USD)
1 person | ▓▓ -370
2 people | ░░░░░░░░░░ +910
3 people | ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ +1,730
4 people | ░ +30
5 people | ▓▓▓▓ -430
6 people | ░░ +180
7 people | ▓▓▓▓▓ -480
8 people | ▓ -130
(░ guideline higher, ▓ threshold higher; 1 mark = ~$100)
| Household Size | 2025 Avg. Threshold | 2026 Guideline | Guideline Minus Threshold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $16,330 | $15,960 | -$370 |
| 2 people | $20,730 | $21,640 | +$910 |
| 3 people | $25,590 | $27,320 | +$1,730 |
| 4 people | $32,970 | $33,000 | +$30 |
| 5 people | $39,110 | $38,680 | -$430 |
| 6 people | $44,180 | $44,360 | +$180 |
| 7 people | $50,520 | $50,040 | -$480 |
| 8 people | $55,850 | $55,720 | -$130 |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States: 2025 (P60-290), weighted average thresholds; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE 2026 Poverty Guidelines. Differences are editorial calculations.
The guidelines come from the 2024 Census thresholds, adjusted for 2025 inflation, then rounded and standardized. The Census weighted averages for 2025 differ from the guidelines by small amounts. The one-person guideline sits $370 below the Census average of $16,330. The four-person guideline sits $30 above $32,970. The largest gap appears at three people, where the guideline runs $1,730 higher.
The thresholds also vary by family makeup, while the guidelines do not. The 2025 threshold for one person under 65 is $16,749. For one person aged 65 or older it is $15,440. A two-adult, two-child family has a threshold of $32,649. Thresholds do not vary by geography. The weighted averages above summarize the full grid of 48 thresholds and play no role in computing official poverty estimates.
Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026 vs 2025: Increase and ACA Subsidy Cliff
CHANGE IN GUIDELINE, 2025 TO 2026 (%) 1 block = 0.1 point
1 person | ████████████████████ 2.0
2 people | ███████████████████████ 2.3
3 people | █████████████████████████ 2.5
4 people | ██████████████████████████ 2.6
8 people | █████████████████████████████ 2.9
| Household Size | 2025 Guideline | 2026 Guideline | Increase | 400% of 2025 (2026 ACA coverage) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | $15,650 | $15,960 | $310 (2.0%) | $62,600 |
| 2 people | $21,150 | $21,640 | $490 (2.3%) | $84,600 |
| 3 people | $26,650 | $27,320 | $670 (2.5%) | $106,600 |
| 4 people | $32,150 | $33,000 | $850 (2.6%) | $128,600 |
| 8 people | $54,150 | $55,720 | $1,570 (2.9%) | $216,600 |
| Each additional person | $5,500 | $5,680 | $180 (3.3%) | Not applicable |
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, ASPE Prior HHS Poverty Guidelines; USAFacts, ACA subsidy analysis (January 2026). Percentages and 400% values are editorial calculations.
The 2026 guidelines rose between 2.0% and 2.9% across household sizes. A family of four gained $850, or 2.6%. A single person gained $310. The percentages differ because every size rises by a flat $5,680 step while the base values vary. HHS built the change from 11 months of 2025 price data, a result of the October shutdown. All percentages here are our calculations.
The Affordable Care Act subsidy rules complicate the picture. The enhanced premium tax credits expired on December 31, 2025, so the 400% cliff returned. Above that line, households get no premium tax credit. Coverage for 2026 uses the 2025 guidelines, which puts the cliff at $62,600 for one person and $128,600 for four. The same one-year lag points to the 2026 guidelines for the 2027 plan year. Medicaid work requirements are also set to begin next year.
What Lowers or Raises Poverty in the US 2026: Social Security, Tax Credits and Medical Costs
EFFECT ON PEOPLE IN SPM POVERTY, 2025 (MILLIONS) 1 block = 1 million
Social Security (lifts out) | █████████████████████████████ 28.8
Refundable credits (lifts) | ██████ 6.1
Medical expenses (pushes in)| ████████ 7.7
| Element | People Affected | Rate Effect | Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Social Security | 28.8 million lifted out | -8.5 points | 20.9 million were age 65 or older |
| Refundable tax credits | 6.1 million lifted out | -1.8 points | Includes 3.3 million children |
| Medical expenses | 7.7 million pushed in | +2.3 points | +3.8 points for age 65 and older |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Poverty in the United States: 2025 (P60-290), Figures 6 and 7.
Social Security remains the largest antipoverty program. It moved 28.8 million people out of SPM poverty in 2025 and lowered the rate by 8.5 points. More than 70% of those people, 20.9 million, were 65 or older. Refundable tax credits ranked second. The Earned Income Tax Credit and the refundable part of the Child Tax Credit lifted 6.1 million people, including 3.3 million children, and cut the rate by 1.8 points.
Medical expenses pushed the other way. Subtracting them from resources pushed 7.7 million people into poverty and raised the rate by 2.3 points. The effect reached 3.8 points for people 65 and older, 1.9 points for adults 18 to 64 and 2.0 points for children. NPR reported that analysts expect future Census tallies to show the effect of safety net changes in last year’s tax law, the lapse of enhanced ACA subsidies and the Medicaid rules due next year.
Federal Poverty Level in the US 2026 – Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Federal Poverty Level in 2026?
The Federal Poverty Level in the US for 2026 is $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for four people in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. Each additional person adds $5,680. The guidelines took effect on January 13, 2026.
What Is the Federal Poverty Level for a Family of 4 in 2026?
A family of four sits at $33,000 in the 48 states and D.C., $37,950 in Hawaii and $41,250 in Alaska. At 138%, the 48-state figure is $45,540. At 200%, it is $66,000.
What Is 138% of the Federal Poverty Level in 2026?
For the 48 states and D.C., 138% equals $22,025 for one person, $29,863 for two, $37,702 for three and $45,540 for four. These are our calculations from the HHS guidelines, rounded to the dollar.
What Is 200% of the Federal Poverty Level in 2026?
200% equals $31,920 for one person, $43,280 for two, $54,640 for three and $66,000 for four. These figures apply to the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
What Is 400% of the Federal Poverty Level in 2026 for ACA Subsidies?
Coverage for 2026 uses the 2025 guidelines, so 400% equals $62,600 for one person and $128,600 for four. Households above that line receive no premium tax credit because the subsidy cliff returned.
What Is the Poverty Rate in the US in 2026?
The latest official Census figure covers 2025. The official poverty rate was 10.2%, with 34.5 million people in poverty. The Supplemental Poverty Measure was 13.1%. Census publishes the annual poverty report each September.
Who Sets the Federal Poverty Level in 2026?
HHS issues the guidelines under 42 U.S.C. 9902(2). The Office of Management and Budget does not issue them, despite confusing legislative language from 1972 that led many people to call them “OMB” guidelines.
How Does HHS Update the Federal Poverty Level Each Year?
HHS takes the prior-year Census poverty thresholds and adjusts them for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). The 2026 update used 11 months of 2025 data because of the shutdown.
Does the Federal Poverty Level in 2026 Change by Age?
No. The guidelines apply to households, families and individuals regardless of age. The Census thresholds do differ for people 65 and older, with a one-person threshold of $15,440 against $16,749 for under 65.
Which Programs Do Not Use the Federal Poverty Level in 2026?
ASPE states that Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Supplemental Security Income and the Earned Income Tax Credit do not use the poverty guidelines to set eligibility.
Disclaimer: The data research report we present here is based on information found from various sources. We are not liable for any financial loss, errors, or damages of any kind that may result from the use of the information herein. We acknowledge that though we try to report accurately, we cannot verify the absolute facts of everything that has been represented.
