The 2023 federal poverty guidelines set the baseline income thresholds that determine eligibility for dozens of government assistance programs. Published by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in January 2023, the guidelines reflect an 8.0 percent inflation adjustment over 2022 levels. For the 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C., the poverty guideline for a single-person household is $14,580 per year. Programs like Medicaid, SNAP, the ACA Marketplace, WIC, and CHIP all reference these numbers to determine who qualifies for assistance.
2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines: Full Chart
The table below shows the official 2023 poverty guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C. Each additional household member beyond 8 adds $5,140 to the annual threshold.
| Household Size | Annual Income (100% FPL) | Monthly Income |
|---|
| 1 | $14,580 | $1,215 |
| 2 | $19,720 | $1,643 |
| 3 | $24,860 | $2,072 |
| 4 | $30,000 | $2,500 |
| 5 | $35,140 | $2,928 |
| 6 | $40,280 | $3,357 |
| 7 | $45,420 | $3,785 |
| 8 | $50,560 | $4,213 |
For each additional person beyond 8, add $5,140 to the annual amount.
Alaska and Hawaii
Alaska and Hawaii have higher poverty guidelines due to the elevated cost of living in those states.
Alaska 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines
| Household Size | Annual Income (100% FPL) |
|---|
| 1 | $18,210 |
| 2 | $24,640 |
| 3 | $31,070 |
| 4 | $37,500 |
| 5 | $43,930 |
| 6 | $50,360 |
| 7 | $56,790 |
| 8 | $63,220 |
Hawaii 2023 Federal Poverty Guidelines
| Household Size | Annual Income (100% FPL) |
|---|
| 1 | $16,770 |
| 2 | $22,680 |
| 3 | $28,590 |
| 4 | $34,500 |
| 5 | $40,410 |
| 6 | $46,320 |
| 7 | $52,230 |
| 8 | $58,140 |
How Programs Use the Federal Poverty Level
Most government assistance programs do not use 100% of the FPL as their cutoff. Instead, they set eligibility at a percentage of the FPL, and that percentage varies by program and sometimes by state. Understanding which percentage applies to each program helps you figure out whether your income qualifies.
Medicaid
Medicaid eligibility depends on whether your state expanded coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
- ACA expansion states: Adults qualify at up to 138% of the FPL. For a single person in 2023, that is approximately $20,120. For a family of four, it is approximately $41,400.
- Non-expansion states: Eligibility rules vary significantly. Adults without dependent children often do not qualify regardless of income. Pregnant women and children generally have higher thresholds.
As of 2023, 39 states plus D.C. had adopted Medicaid expansion. States that had not expanded include Texas, Florida, Georgia, and several others in the South and Midwest.
SNAP (Food Stamps)
SNAP uses two income tests for most households:
- Gross income limit: 130% of FPL. For a household of 1 in 2023, that is approximately $18,954 per year ($1,579/month). For a family of 4, it is approximately $39,000 per year.
- Net income limit: 100% of FPL after deductions for housing, childcare, and medical expenses.
Households with an elderly or disabled member only need to pass the net income test.
| Household Size | 130% FPL (Gross SNAP Limit) | 100% FPL (Net SNAP Limit) |
|---|
| 1 | $18,954 | $14,580 |
| 2 | $25,636 | $19,720 |
| 3 | $32,318 | $24,860 |
| 4 | $39,000 | $30,000 |
| 5 | $45,682 | $35,140 |
| 6 | $52,364 | $40,280 |
ACA Marketplace Subsidies
The Affordable Care Act uses FPL thresholds to determine both premium tax credits and cost-sharing reductions. The ACA uses the prior year's poverty guidelines to calculate subsidies for the current plan year, so 2023 marketplace plans relied on the 2022 FPL for subsidy calculations. However, 2023 FPL numbers were used for 2024 plan year eligibility.
Key ACA thresholds based on 2023 guidelines:
| FPL Percentage | Purpose | 1 Person | Family of 4 |
|---|
| 100% | Minimum for Marketplace subsidies (expansion states) | $14,580 | $30,000 |
| 138% | Upper Medicaid limit (expansion states) | $20,120 | $41,400 |
| 150% | Enhanced Silver plan savings | $21,870 | $45,000 |
| 200% | Silver 73% actuarial value CSR | $29,160 | $60,000 |
| 250% | Silver 87% actuarial value CSR | $36,450 | $75,000 |
| 400% | Standard upper limit for premium tax credits | $58,320 | $120,000 |
Note: The American Rescue Plan Act eliminated the 400% FPL cap on premium tax credits through 2025. The Inflation Reduction Act extended this through 2025. As of this writing, the extension status for plan years after 2025 is subject to congressional action.
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
WIC serves pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age 5. The income limit is 185% of the federal poverty level.
| Household Size | 185% FPL (WIC Limit) |
|---|
| 1 | $26,973 |
| 2 | $36,482 |
| 3 | $45,991 |
| 4 | $55,500 |
| 5 | $65,009 |
| 6 | $74,518 |
If a household member already receives Medicaid, SNAP, or TANF, they are automatically income-eligible for WIC without a separate income test.
CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program)
CHIP covers children in families that earn too much for Medicaid but cannot afford private coverage. Income limits vary by state and typically range from 200% to 300% of FPL, with some states reaching as high as 400%.
- At 200% FPL: a family of 4 earning up to approximately $60,000 qualifies
- At 300% FPL: a family of 4 earning up to approximately $90,000 qualifies
LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
LIHEAP helps households pay for heating and cooling costs. States set their own income limits, but federal rules cap eligibility at the higher of 150% FPL or 60% of state median income.
At 150% FPL for 2023:
| Household Size | 150% FPL |
|---|
| 1 | $21,870 |
| 2 | $29,580 |
| 3 | $37,290 |
| 4 | $45,000 |
| 5 | $52,710 |
FPL Percentage Quick Reference Table
The table below shows dollar amounts at common FPL percentages for a household of 1 and a family of 4 using 2023 guidelines.
| FPL % | 1 Person | 2 People | 4 People |
|---|
| 100% | $14,580 | $19,720 | $30,000 |
| 130% | $18,954 | $25,636 | $39,000 |
| 133% | $19,391 | $26,228 | $39,900 |
| 138% | $20,120 | $27,214 | $41,400 |
| 150% | $21,870 | $29,580 | $45,000 |
| 185% | $26,973 | $36,482 | $55,500 |
| 200% | $29,160 | $39,440 | $60,000 |
| 250% | $36,450 | $49,300 | $75,000 |
| 300% | $43,740 | $59,160 | $90,000 |
| 400% | $58,320 | $78,880 | $120,000 |
How FPL Guidelines Are Set Each Year
HHS updates the federal poverty guidelines annually, typically publishing them in the Federal Register in January. The update follows the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) to adjust for inflation from the prior year. The 2023 guidelines reflect an 8.0% increase over 2022, which tracked the high inflation environment of 2021 to 2022.
The guidelines are distinct from the Census Bureau's "poverty thresholds," which are used for statistical reporting and research. The poverty thresholds vary by age and family composition in more detail. The HHS guidelines are simpler by design, intended for administrative use in determining program eligibility.
What Counts as Income?
Most programs count gross income before taxes, but the definition of countable income varies:
- Wages and salaries: Counted by all programs
- Self-employment income: Counted, usually net of business expenses
- Social Security benefits: Counted for most programs, but SSI payments are excluded from SNAP calculations
- Child support received: Counted
- Unemployment compensation: Counted
- TANF cash assistance: Counted by some programs, excluded by others
- SNAP benefits: Not counted as income for other programs
- Housing assistance: Not counted as income
Always check the specific rules for the program you are applying to, because the definition of income and which deductions are allowed can significantly affect whether you qualify.
How to Check Your Eligibility
Because programs use different percentages of the FPL and apply different deduction rules, your eligibility for one program does not automatically predict your eligibility for another. A family of four earning $35,000 might qualify for SNAP and CHIP but not Medicaid in a non-expansion state.
To see which programs you may qualify for based on your income, household size, and state, use the free screening tool at Benefits Navigator. The tool checks eligibility across more than 11 programs at once and provides personalized results in a few minutes.
2023 vs. Other Years: FPL Comparison
| Year | 1 Person | Family of 4 | Annual Increase |
|---|
| 2020 | $12,760 | $26,200 | 2.5% |
| 2021 | $12,880 | $26,500 | 0.9% |
| 2022 | $13,590 | $27,750 | 5.5% |
| 2023 | $14,580 | $30,000 | 8.0% |
| 2024 | $15,060 | $31,200 | 3.3% |
| 2025 | $15,650 | $32,150 | 3.9% |
The 8.0% increase from 2022 to 2023 was the largest single-year jump since at least 2000, driven by the inflation spike of 2021 to 2022. This meant that programs tied to FPL automatically raised their income limits, allowing more households to qualify in 2023 and 2024 than in previous years.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2023 federal poverty level for a single person?
The 2023 federal poverty guideline for a single person is $14,580 per year in the 48 contiguous states and Washington D.C. In Alaska it is $18,210, and in Hawaii it is $16,770.
What percentage of FPL do you need to be under to get Medicaid?
In states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA, adults qualify at up to 138% of FPL. For 2023, that means a single person earning up to approximately $20,120 per year may qualify. In non-expansion states, the cutoffs are lower and vary by category (children, pregnant women, disabled individuals, etc.).
How does the 2023 FPL affect SNAP eligibility?
SNAP uses a gross income limit of 130% of the FPL and a net income limit of 100% of the FPL. For a single person in 2023, the gross limit is approximately $18,954 per year ($1,579 per month). Deductions for housing costs, dependent care, and other expenses can reduce countable income toward the net limit.
Are the 2023 guidelines still used for any programs?
Yes. The 2023 guidelines are used to calculate eligibility for programs that base their thresholds on the guidelines published in January 2023. For the ACA Marketplace, 2023 guidelines were used to determine eligibility for 2024 plan year subsidies. Some programs run on a federal fiscal year calendar and used the 2023 guidelines through September 2023.
What is the difference between federal poverty guidelines and poverty thresholds?
The HHS poverty guidelines are simplified figures used to determine program eligibility. The Census Bureau's poverty thresholds are more detailed, vary by age and family composition, and are used for statistical research and reporting. The two are related but not identical. Programs use the HHS guidelines, not the Census thresholds.
Does household size include everyone living in the home?
Not always. The definition of "household" varies by program. SNAP uses a household definition based on who buys and prepares food together. Medicaid uses a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) household definition tied to tax filing relationships. When in doubt, check the specific rules for the program you are applying for.
How do I know if I make too much to qualify?
Divide your total gross household income by the poverty guideline for your household size. The result is your FPL percentage. If you earn $20,000 and live alone, $20,000 divided by $14,580 equals approximately 137% of the FPL, meaning you would be just under the 138% Medicaid expansion threshold in most expansion states.
Where can I check my eligibility for multiple programs at once?
The Benefits Navigator screener checks eligibility across Medicaid, SNAP, ACA subsidies, WIC, LIHEAP, and other programs simultaneously. You enter your ZIP code, income, and household size, and the tool returns a personalized list of programs you may qualify for.
