Many U.S. assistance programs decide who can apply by comparing your household income with the federal poverty guidelines. This calculator shows where your income falls, as a percentage of the 2026 guidelines, and compares it with the levels that common programs use.
Federal Poverty Level Calculator (2026)
See what percent of the 2026 federal poverty guidelines your household income is. Many assistance programs use this number to decide who can apply.
Source: 2026 HHS poverty guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (aspe.hhs.gov). Each program sets its own limit and counts income in its own way, and some use other income measures, so this is only a starting point. The agency that runs the program makes the final decision. This tool does not save or send anything you type.
2026 federal poverty guidelines (100%)
These are the yearly amounts published by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for 2026. Alaska and Hawaii have their own, higher amounts.
| Household size | 48 states and D.C. | 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 | Add $5,680 | Add $7,100 | Add $6,530 |
Official source: HHS poverty guidelines (aspe.hhs.gov).
How to read your result
Example: a family of three in Texas earns $2,500 a month, or $30,000 a year. The 2026 guideline for three people is $27,320, so the family is at about 110% of the poverty guideline. That is under the 130% level that SNAP uses for its gross income test in most states, and under the 185% level used for WIC and reduced-price school meals. It does not mean the family is approved for those programs. It means they should check the rules and apply.
What counts as income
For a quick check, use your total household income before taxes: wages, tips, self-employment income, Social Security, unemployment benefits, child support and similar regular income. Each program has its own rules, though. Medicaid and Marketplace coverage use a tax-based measure called modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), SNAP subtracts several deductions, and some programs do not count certain kinds of income at all. The program office makes the final decision.
Poverty guidelines vs. poverty thresholds
You may also see the term “poverty threshold.” Thresholds are numbers the Census Bureau uses for statistics. Poverty guidelines are the simplified version that HHS publishes for deciding eligibility for programs. When a program says “percent of the federal poverty level,” it almost always means the HHS guidelines.
Frequently asked questions
When do the guidelines change?
HHS usually publishes new guidelines in January. Programs start using them on different dates. For example, SNAP updates its limits every October 1 and school meal programs every July 1.
Why is my program limit different from this table?
Many programs use a multiple of the guideline, such as 130%, 138% or 200%, and some states set their own limits. Some programs, like LIHEAP, can also use a percentage of state median income instead.
Is this calculator official?
No. US Assistance Guide is an independent website and is not connected to any government agency. The calculator uses the official HHS numbers, but only the agency that runs a program can decide if you qualify.