Free tool · no signup
FPL calculator — federal poverty level
The federal poverty level (FPL) is the income line most assistance programs use to decide who qualifies. Enter your household size and annual income to see exactly where you stand.
2025 federal poverty level for a household of 4: $32,150 a year
Your income is 100% of the federal poverty level.
Below 200% FPL — your household likely qualifies for several assistance programs.
What each threshold means for you:
100% FPL — $32,150
The baseline poverty line. Net-income test for SNAP; full Medicaid in many states.
130% FPL — $41,795✓ you're under this
Gross-income limit for SNAP (food assistance) for most households.
138% FPL — $44,367✓ you're under this
Medicaid expansion limit in states that expanded Medicaid under the ACA.
185% FPL — $59,478✓ you're under this
WIC (women, infants, children) and free/reduced school meals.
200% FPL — $64,300✓ you're under this
LIHEAP energy assistance and many state and local relief programs.
400% FPL — $128,600✓ you're under this
Upper boundary for enhanced ACA marketplace premium tax credits.
How the federal poverty level works
One line, many programs. The Department of Health and Human Services publishes poverty guidelines each year. Programs then set their own cutoff as a percentage of that line — 130% for SNAP, 138% for expanded Medicaid, 185% for WIC, and so on.
Household size matters most. The line rises with each additional person, so the same income can qualify a family of five but not a single adult.
Gross vs. net income. Some programs test your income before deductions (gross) and others after deductions for housing, childcare and medical costs (net) — so being slightly over a gross limit doesn't always mean you're out.
Want the food-assistance answer specifically? Try our SNAP eligibility calculator for a focused estimate.
See your pay-in-order plan and every program you may qualify for.
This is an educational estimate based on 2025 federal poverty guidelines, not an official determination. Each program's agency makes the final decision.