The federal poverty level (FPL) is an income threshold set annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to determine financial eligibility for certain federal and state assistance programs. It represents the minimum annual income a family or individual needs to cover basic necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, and shelter. The FPL is adjusted each year for inflation and varies by household size and location (contiguous states, Alaska, Hawaii)

2025 Federal Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and D.C.

Household Size| Poverty Guideline (Annual Income)
---|---
1| $15,650
2| $21,150
3| $26,650
4| $32,150
5| $37,650
6| $43,150
7| $48,650
8| $54,150
Each additional person over 8| Add $5,500

For Alaska and Hawaii, the poverty guidelines are higher due to cost of living differences. For example, for a single person in Alaska, the 2025 guideline is $19,550, and in Hawaii, it is $17,990

. The FPL is used to determine eligibility for programs like Medicaid, CHIP, SNAP, and housing assistance. Many programs use percentages of the FPL (e.g., 133%, 150%, 200%) to set eligibility thresholds

. In summary, the federal poverty level is a key economic measure defining the income below which individuals or families qualify for various public assistance programs, with the 2025 base guideline for a single person in the contiguous U.S. set at $15,650 annually