Updated October 1, 2026. Quick answer: The 2026 federal poverty guideline is $15,960 for a one-person household in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, $21,640 for two people and $33,000 for four. Alaska and Hawaii have higher guidelines. HHS publishes them, and programs such as SNAP and Head Start use them or a percentage of them.
Form 8962 (premium tax credit) for 2025, read line by line: Form 8962 line 1, Form 8962 lines 3 to 6 and Form 8962 lines 7 to 8b.
The ACA affordability percentage for 2026: the 2026 ACA affordability percentage.
2026 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and DC
| Persons in family or household | Poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 |
| 2 | $21,640 |
| 3 | $27,320 |
| 4 | $33,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 |
| 6 | $44,360 |
| 7 | $50,040 |
| 8 | $55,720 |
HHS adds: “For families/households with more than 8 persons, add $5,680 for each additional person.”
Alaska
| Persons in family or household | Poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| 1 | $19,950 |
| 2 | $27,050 |
| 3 | $34,150 |
| 4 | $41,250 |
| 5 | $48,350 |
| 6 | $55,450 |
| 7 | $62,550 |
| 8 | $69,650 |
For households with more than eight persons, add $7,100 for each additional person.
Hawaii
| Persons in family or household | Poverty guideline |
|---|---|
| 1 | $18,360 |
| 2 | $24,890 |
| 3 | $31,420 |
| 4 | $37,950 |
| 5 | $44,480 |
| 6 | $51,010 |
| 7 | $57,540 |
| 8 | $64,070 |
For households with more than eight persons, add $6,530 for each additional person.
150%, 200% and 400% of the 2026 guideline
| Household size | 100% | 150% | 200% | 400% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person (computed multiples) | $15,960 | $23,940 | $31,920 | $63,840 |
| 2 persons (computed multiples) | $21,640 | $32,460 | $43,280 | $86,560 |
| 3 persons (computed multiples) | $27,320 | $40,980 | $54,640 | $109,280 |
| 4 persons (computed multiples) | $33,000 | $49,500 | $66,000 | $132,000 |
These multiples are computed here from the contiguous-state guideline and are not an HHS table. Programs set their own cutoffs, so check the percentage your program uses. For how multiples of the guideline matter for ACA subsidies, see the ACA subsidy cliff page.
How the guidelines are set
HHS explains the schedule: “HHS publishes the guidelines in the Federal Register and on the ASPE website every January, after the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for December of the previous year.” On geography it says “Guidelines vary by family size. In addition, there is one set of figures for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.; one set for Alaska; and one set for Hawaii.”
Who uses the guidelines
HHS names Head Start, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the National School Lunch Program, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program as programs that use the guidelines, or percentage multiples of them, in determining eligibility. The guidelines are different from the Census poverty thresholds, which HHS says are used for statistical purposes.
Common mistakes
- Using the contiguous-state table for Alaska or Hawaii. Both have higher guidelines.
- Mixing the HHS guideline with the Census poverty threshold. They are defined differently.
- Assuming every program uses 100%. Many use a multiple of the guideline.
Related: the 2026 ACA subsidy cliff, managing MAGI for ACA subsidies, and hospital charity care.
Sources
- HHS ASPE, Poverty Guidelines (2026): https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
- HHS ASPE, Frequently Asked Questions Related to the Poverty Guidelines and Poverty: https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines/frequently-asked-questions-related-poverty-guidelines-poverty
Sources: the primary documents linked above, read on October 1, 2026. General information, not tax advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and a preparer, the plan administrator or the agency itself is the right place to confirm anything consequential.