Food
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
Monthly food benefits delivered on an EBT card, the largest US anti-hunger program, formerly known as food stamps.
Read guide2026 guidelinesFederal Poverty Level
Federal Poverty Level
Calculator
See how your household income compares with the federal poverty guidelines.
- Free to use
- No email needed
- Source: HHS
Your estimated resultExample calculation
131.8%
of the Federal Poverty Level
For a household of 3 in Texas using 2026 guidelines.
Annual income
$36,000
100% FPL guideline
$27,320
Between 130% and 138% FPL
$36,000÷$27,320×100=131.8%
Rounded to one decimal place.
This comparison does not determine program eligibility.
Income levels for your household
2026 · 3 people · 48 contiguous states & D.C.
| FPL percentage | Annual income |
|---|---|
| 100% | $27,320 |
| 130% | $35,516 |
| 138%Under this level | $37,701.60 |
| 150% | $40,980 |
| 185% | $50,542 |
| 200% | $54,640 |
| 250% | $68,300 |
| 300% | $81,960 |
| 400% | $109,280 |
Reference multiples only. Program-specific rules and rounding may differ.
Understanding your result
The year matters
HHS updates the guidelines every January, and programs switch on their own schedules.
Location matters
Alaska and Hawaii have separate, higher figures.
Program rules matter
Income and household definitions can differ by program.
Need help finding a starting point?
Explore our program guides to learn more about assistance options.
Explore program guidesIncome is only one part of eligibility
Programs can also consider age, household circumstances, deductions, assets, and other requirements. Confirm the rules with the agency that runs the program.
What does FPL mean?
“Federal Poverty Level” is common shorthand for the poverty guidelines that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes each year. Many assistance programs use them, or a multiple of them such as 130% or 185%, as an income limit.
Your percentage compares the income you enter with the guideline for your household size, location, and selected year.
How the calculation works
Annual income ÷ Poverty guideline × 100
- 1
Annualize your income
Monthly income is multiplied by 12.
- 2
Select the matching guideline
Based on household size, location, and year.
- 3
Convert the ratio to a percentage
Divide your income by the guideline and multiply by 100.
Check which income definition and guideline year your program uses.
Put your result in context
Explore our guides for more information about common assistance programs.
Healthcare
Medicaid
Free or low-cost health coverage for eligible low-income Americans, funded jointly by federal government and states.
Read guide
Healthcare
Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)
Federal-state health coverage for children in families that earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance, covering doctor visits, hospital care, dental, vision, and prescriptions with low or zero copays.
Read guideFPL calculator questions
No. This tool compares income with a poverty guideline. The agency that runs a program decides eligibility using that program's full rules.
Either works. Choose Monthly or Annual next to the income box. Monthly amounts are multiplied by 12 before the comparison, because the guidelines are annual figures.
HHS publishes separate, higher guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii. The practice dates back to the Office of Economic Opportunity in the late 1960s.
HHS publishes new guidelines each January, but programs adopt them on their own schedules. For example, SNAP limits for October 2025 to September 2026 are based on the 2025 guidelines. Check the year your program uses.
No. HHS notes that cash assistance programs such as TANF and SSI, and the Earned Income Tax Credit, do not use the poverty guidelines to decide eligibility.
Guideline source
HHS Poverty Guidelines, 2026
Published in the Federal Register on January 15, 2026
View the official guidelinesThe 2026 guideline for three people in the 48 contiguous states and D.C. is $27,320.