United States · Federal poverty guidelines · 2026
Federal poverty level chart 2026.
HHS's 2026 poverty guidelines for every household size, in the 48 states and DC, Alaska and Hawaii, with the common percentage multiples.
Short answer: The 2026 federal poverty guideline is $15,960 a year for one person and $33,000 for a family of four in the 48 states and DC, plus $5,680 for each additional person. Alaska is $19,950 for one and $41,250 for four, and Hawaii is $18,360 and $37,950. Programs use multiples of these amounts, such as 130% for SNAP gross income and 133% (138% in practice) for adult Medicaid.
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The 2026 poverty guidelines
The poverty guidelines are the version of the federal poverty measure issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services, used to determine financial eligibility for certain federal programs. They are a simplification of the Census Bureau's poverty thresholds, which are used mainly for statistics. The January 2026 guidelines start from the 2024 Census thresholds adjusted by the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) between 2024 and 2025.
| 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 |
HHS notes a data gap in the 2026 calculation: because of the federal government shutdown in October 2025 the Bureau of Labor Statistics did not publish the October CPI-U, so the 2026 guidelines compare the average of the 11 available months of 2025 with all 12 months of 2024.
Common multiples, 48 states and DC (annual)
| Household size | 100% | 133% | 138% | 150% | 185% | 200% | 250% | 300% | 400% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $21,227 | $22,025 | $23,940 | $29,526 | $31,920 | $39,900 | $47,880 | $63,840 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $28,781 | $29,863 | $32,460 | $40,034 | $43,280 | $54,100 | $64,920 | $86,560 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $36,336 | $37,702 | $40,980 | $50,542 | $54,640 | $68,300 | $81,960 | $109,280 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $43,890 | $45,540 | $49,500 | $61,050 | $66,000 | $82,500 | $99,000 | $132,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $51,444 | $53,378 | $58,020 | $71,558 | $77,360 | $96,700 | $116,040 | $154,720 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $58,999 | $61,217 | $66,540 | $82,066 | $88,720 | $110,900 | $133,080 | $177,440 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $66,553 | $69,055 | $75,060 | $92,574 | $100,080 | $125,100 | $150,120 | $200,160 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $74,108 | $76,894 | $83,580 | $103,082 | $111,440 | $139,300 | $167,160 | $222,880 |
Each program chooses its own percentage and its own date for switching to new guidelines. SNAP's gross limit is 130% and its net limit 100% of the guideline, according to USDA FNS, and the federal Medicaid rule for adults under 65 is written at 133%, which is 138% in practice because of a 5-percentage-point income disregard (see the 138% page). Other programs set their own lines.
Worked example
A family of three in Alaska has a guideline of $34,150 a year, so 200% of it is $68,300. The same family in Hawaii has $31,420 and in the 48 states $27,320. A household of 5 in the 48 states with $60,000 of income is at 155.1% of the guideline, because $60,000 ÷ $38,680 = 1.551.
Common mix-ups
- The guideline is not the poverty threshold. The thresholds are the Census Bureau's statistical measure; the guidelines are the simplified version for program eligibility.
- The 2026 guideline is not applied everywhere on January 1. Programs switch at different dates; the SNAP FY2027 limits, for example, use the 2026 guidelines from October 1, 2026.
- Alaska and Hawaii are higher. Use the region where you live.
- Household size is not just people in the home. Each program defines the household, so a Medicaid household can differ from a SNAP household.
- There is no 2027 guideline yet. HHS publishes the next one in January.
Method
The guideline for a household of n is the one-person amount plus the "each additional person" amount times n − 1, which reproduces every row in the HHS table. Multiples are the guideline times the percentage, rounded to a whole dollar; monthly is the annual figure divided by 12.
What this does not cover
- Any program's own household definition, income counting or percentage.
- Guidelines for 2025 and earlier years (see the ASPE page).
- Whether you are eligible for a program.
- 2027 guidelines, which are not published yet.
Figures read from the sources below on November 9, 2026. Last updated November 9, 2026.
Sources
- HHS ASPE: 2026 Poverty Guidelines (retrieved November 9, 2026)
- USDA FNS: SNAP FY 2027 Cost-of-Living Adjustments (retrieved November 9, 2026)
Frequently asked questions
What is the federal poverty level for 2026?
$15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four in the 48 states and DC, with $5,680 for each additional person.
What is the poverty level in Alaska and Hawaii for 2026?
Alaska is $19,950 for one person and $41,250 for four; Hawaii is $18,360 and $37,950.
What is 138% of the federal poverty level for a family of four?
$45,540 a year in the 48 states and DC ($33,000 × 1.38).
What is 200% of the poverty level for one person?
$31,920 a year in the 48 states and DC.
Why are the poverty guidelines different from the poverty thresholds?
The thresholds are the Census Bureau's statistical measure; the guidelines are a simplified version issued by HHS for administrative eligibility use.
When do the 2027 guidelines come out?
HHS publishes new guidelines in the Federal Register each January; the 2026 ones are current as of November 2026.
Is the guideline monthly or yearly?
The HHS table is annual. Divide by 12 for a monthly figure, as SNAP does for its limits.
Not legal or tax advice
This page is general information from an unofficial guide, not legal or tax advice, and it is not an eligibility decision. Programs and thresholds change and the figures here are estimates. Confirm with the agency that runs the program before you apply or file. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.