The Federal Poverty Level (FPL), also known as the "federal poverty guidelines," is a critical measure used to determine who is eligible for a wide range of federal programs and benefits. Issued annually by the Department of Health and Human Services, these income thresholds help ensure that assistance goes to those who need it most. Our FPL Calculator provides a quick and easy way to see where your income falls in relation to these guidelines, helping you understand your potential eligibility for programs like Medicaid, marketplace health insurance subsidies, SNAP, and more.
How to Use the FPL Calculator
Checking your income against the federal guidelines is simple:
- Enter Household Size: Input the total number of people in your tax household. This typically includes yourself, your spouse, and any dependents you claim.
- Select Your State: Choose your state of residence. Alaska and Hawaii have separate, higher poverty guidelines to account for their higher cost of living.
- Calculate and View Levels: Click the "Calculate" button to see the 100% FPL for your household size, along with other key percentages used for program eligibility.
Understanding the Federal Poverty Level
The FPL is an economic measure used to decide who is considered "poor." It's important not to confuse the FPL (the guidelines) with the "poverty thresholds," which are a separate statistical measure used by the Census Bureau to calculate the number of people in poverty each year. The FPL guidelines are a simplified version of the thresholds used for administrative purposes.
How is "Household Income" Determined?
For most federal programs, eligibility is based on your Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI). MAGI starts with your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) from your tax return and adds back a few specific deductions. For most people, their AGI and MAGI are very similar or identical. This figure is then compared to the FPL guideline for their household size.
Key FPL Percentages and Associated Programs
Different programs use different percentages of the FPL as their eligibility cutoff. Here are some of the most important ones:
- 100% FPL: This is the baseline poverty guideline. It's the primary threshold for many programs, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), often known as food stamps.
- 138% FPL: This is a critical threshold for health insurance. In states that have expanded Medicaid, adults with incomes up to 138% of the FPL are typically eligible for free or very low-cost health coverage through Medicaid.
- 100% - 400% FPL: This is the income range for receiving premium tax credits (subsidies) to help purchase health insurance on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) Marketplace. The lower your income within this range, the larger your subsidy.
- 200% FPL: This threshold is often used for programs like the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), which provides low-cost health coverage for children in families who earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but cannot afford private insurance.
Why Alaska and Hawaii Are Different
You'll notice in our calculator that Alaska and Hawaii have their own separate poverty guidelines. This is because the cost of living—especially for necessities like food, housing, and energy—is significantly higher in these states than in the 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C. The separate, higher FPLs for Alaska and Hawaii ensure that residents there have fair access to federal programs, accounting for their unique economic conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is included in my "household"?
For most health care programs, your household includes the tax filer, their spouse if filing jointly, and anyone claimed as a dependent on the tax return. It's the group of individuals you expect to file taxes together.
How often do the Federal Poverty Level guidelines change?
The Department of Health and Human Services updates the FPL guidelines annually, usually in late January. The new guidelines reflect the previous year's inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
What if my income is just above an eligibility threshold?
Being just over a threshold can be challenging and is sometimes referred to as the "cliff effect." For example, in states that haven't expanded Medicaid, someone earning 99% of the FPL may not qualify for Medicaid, while someone at 101% of the FPL qualifies for large ACA subsidies. However, for ACA subsidies, recent legislation has removed the hard "subsidy cliff" at 400% FPL, capping insurance premiums at 8.5% of household income for everyone, which helps to smooth out this transition.
Is my eligibility based on last year's income or this year's?
It depends on the program. For tax-related benefits like the ACA premium tax credit, eligibility for the *upcoming* year is based on your *projected* income for that year. When you file your taxes, this is reconciled against your *actual* income. For programs like SNAP or Medicaid, eligibility is often based on your *current* monthly income.