Poverty thresholds are the income dollar amounts used by the U.S. Census Bureau solely as a statistical yardstick to determine a household’s poverty status. They are issued each year in September and are the basis for determining the national poverty rate.
The Census Bureau assigns each person or family in their sample of U.S. households one out of 48 possible poverty thresholds. Thresholds vary according to the size of the house and the ages of its members.
These thresholds do not vary from state to state, and they are updated annually for inflation using the Consumer Price Index U.S. City Average.
What are the current poverty thresholds?
Some 2021poverty thresholds were:
- $13,788for a single individual under age 65
- $16,400a household of two people with a householder 65 years or older with no children
- $27,479fora family of four with two children under age 18
What are poverty guidelines?
The poverty guidelines are issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that determine whether an individual is eligible for federal safety net programs. The guidelines are a simplified version of the Census Bureau poverty thresholds, and are updated each year in January.
To determine who qualifies for government programs, agenciescompare an individual’s household income before taxes, excluding the value of non-cash benefits, to a dollar amount guideline. Like the Census Bureau thresholds, guidelines vary according to the number of people in the household.
The poverty guidelines and the Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds differ in other ways. One set of poverty guidelines covers the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, with additional separate guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii. Also, income levels in the poverty guidelines are based on the number of persons in a household without considering age.
Updated 12/14/22
For more information:
U.S. Census Bureau, 2022(updated). “How the Census Bureau Measures Poverty.”
U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 (updated). “Poverty Thresholds by Size of Family and Number of Children.”
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2022 (updated). “Poverty Guidelines.”
FAQs
Some 2021 poverty thresholds were: $13,788 for a single individual under age 65. $16,400 a household of two people with a householder 65 years or older with no children. $27,479 for a family of four with two children under age 18.
What is the current threshold for poverty? ›
2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines
| Persons in Family Household | Poverty Guideline | MAGI* Medi-Cal <138% Federal Poverty Level (FPL) |
|---|
| 1 | $15,060 | $20,783 |
| 2 | $20,440 | $28,208 |
| 3 | $25,820 | $35,632 |
| 4 | $31,200 | $43,056 |
4 more rowsMar 29, 2024
Poverty thresholds and poverty guidelines are dollar amounts set by the U.S. government to indicate the least amount of income a person or family needs to meet their basic needs. People whose income falls below the specified amount are considered poor.
What is the poverty threshold for 2024? ›
HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2024
| 2024 POVERTY GUIDELINES FOR THE 48 CONTIGUOUS STATES AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |
|---|
| Persons in family/household | Poverty guideline |
|---|
| 1 | $15,060 |
| 2 | $20,440 |
| 3 | $25,820 |
6 more rowsOfficial Poverty Measure
The official poverty rate in 2022 was 11.5 percent, with 37.9 million people in poverty.
What is the absolute poverty threshold in the US? ›
The threshold in the United States is updated and used for statistical purposes. In 2020, in the United States, the poverty threshold for a single person under 65 was an annual income of US$12,760, or about $35 per day. The threshold for a family group of four, including two children, was US$26,200, about $72 per day.
Is 30k a year poverty for a single person? ›
In 2023, the federal poverty level definition of low income for a single-person household is $14,580 annually. Each additional person in the household adds $5,140 to the total. For example, the poverty guideline is $30,000 per year for a family of four.
Who currently sets the threshold or poverty line? ›
The Census Bureau assigns each person or family one out of 48 possible poverty thresholds. Thresholds vary by the size of the family and age of the members. The same thresholds are used throughout the United States (they do not vary geographically).
What is the federal government's poverty level? ›
48 Contiguous States
| Household/ Family Size | 2024 Federal Poverty Level for the 48 Contiguous States (Annual Income) |
|---|
| 100% | 400% |
| 1 | $15,060 | $60,240 |
| 2 | $20,440 | $81,760 |
| 3 | $25,820 | $103,280 |
6 more rowsMar 6, 2024
The poverty level is based on the size of the household and the ages of family members.
Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
| Family size | 2023 income numbers | 2024 income numbers |
|---|
| For individuals | $14,580 | $15,060 |
| For a family of 2 | $19,720 | $20,440 |
| For a family of 3 | $24,860 | $25,820 |
| For a family of 4 | $30,000 | $31,200 |
5 more rowsPew Research considers middle class to be $56,000 to $156,000 for families of three. Thus, a family of three on $20,000 is not middle-class; it's actually below the poverty level. While an individual on $20,000 a year is not below the poverty line, they are still not considered middle-class.
What qualifies as poverty? ›
Poverty is measured in the United States by comparing a person's or family's income to a set poverty threshold or minimum amount of income needed to cover basic needs. People whose income falls under their threshold are considered poor. The U.S. Census Bureau is the government agency in charge of measuring poverty.
What is the poverty threshold? ›
A poverty threshold is a specified dollar amount considered to be the minimum level of resources necessary to meet the basic needs of a family unit1. Thresholds vary by the number and age of adults and the number of children under age 18 in the family unit, but they are the same for all states.
What is the difference between poor and poverty? ›
The Oxford dictionary gives the definition of poverty as “the state of being extremely poor” and the definition for poor as “lacking sufficient money to live at a standard considered comfortable or normal in a society”.
Where is poverty the worst in America? ›
Poverty in U.S. states
Among U.S. states, Mississippi had the highest poverty rate in 2018 (19.7% poverty rate), followed by Louisiana (18.65%), New Mexico (18.55%) and West Virginia (17.10%).
What is the threshold for low income in the US? ›
About 50 million Americans have household incomes below 125% of poverty, including more than 15 million children. In 2022, household incomes below 125% of poverty correspond to annual incomes below $34,500 for a family of four or $17,500 for an individual.
Is 35k a year poverty? ›
The Poverty Threshold in 2024
Under their guidelines, a family of four is considered impoverished if they earn $30,000 or less per year. That number is slightly higher in Alaska and Hawaii, which tend to have higher living expenses.
How do I figure out my federal poverty level? ›
The FPL is typically issued annually in January by HHS and is determined by household income and size. Within its annual report, the HHS shows the total cost needed by the average person per year to cover basic necessities such as food, utilities, and accommodation.
