Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines, often referred to as Federal Poverty Level (FPL), is a measure of income used by some programs to determine your eligibility for certain benefits. The Poverty Guidelines are issued every year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). It represents the minimum income required for a household to meet its basic living expenses, such as food, housing, and healthcare. The FPL is set annually and varies based on factors like household size and location.

Government assistance programs, like Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and subsidies for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act, use the FPL to establish income thresholds for eligibility. Many other programs also use the FPL to determine income eligibility, but not all. Please check the “Eligibility” section for programs to see how they determine eligibility. Click here or use the link below to see the most recent FPL chart to determine your household’s level. Please keep in mind that most programs will require documentation of income to determine your household income and FPL. This chart is provided as a reference only.

Additional Resources:

General Information on the Federal Poverty Guidelines

Medicaid & Check Up (CHIP) Specific Federal Poverty Level Information