The 2026 HHS poverty guideline for one person is $15,960 in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C. For a four-person household it is $33,000. Alaska and Hawaii have separate amounts. These are annual baseline figures; each benefit or assistance program decides how it uses them. [1]
2026 guideline amounts
| People in household | 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 |
For each person beyond eight, add $5,680 in the contiguous states and D.C., $7,100 in Alaska, or $6,530 in Hawaii. HHS does not define a separate guideline for Puerto Rico or other outlying jurisdictions; the administering program determines its approach there. [1]
Apply the program’s percentage
A program using 125%, 150%, or another percentage multiplies the applicable baseline by that percentage. For example, 125% of the 2026 four-person contiguous-state guideline is $41,250: $33,000 × 1.25. This calculation does not establish that a particular program uses 125% or that a household qualifies.
Check the program’s rounding and monthly-income procedures. HHS explains that program offices determine those details. Avoid assuming that dividing an annual figure by 12 produces the exact eligibility number published by every agency. [2]
Use the right household and income definition
The guidelines do not provide one universal definition of income or family. A program may use gross income, net income, or another measure, with its own included people, exclusions, and deductions. Ask the administering agency which documentation and income period it requires. [1][2]
The notice makes these guidelines effective January 13, 2026, unless a program specifies a different effective date. Programs can also use a particular prior-year guideline, so check the applicable coverage or application year. [1]
HHS guidelines serve administrative eligibility purposes. Census poverty thresholds serve statistical measurement and use different classifications. The terms should not be substituted when completing an application. [2]
For immigration sponsorship, review the separate sponsor income and household-size rules. For food assistance, distinguish eligibility calculations from SNAP funding and state cost sharing; the poverty table alone does not describe either program’s complete rules.
Primary sources
- HHS Annual Update of the Poverty Guidelines, Federal Register notice 2026-00755
- HHS ASPE, Frequently Asked Questions Related to the Poverty Guidelines and Poverty
Sources checked: October 31, 2026.