Last updated: July 28, 2026
Bottom line: The federal poverty level is an income benchmark, not a grant program. A program may compare your income with 100%, 125%, 150%, 200%, or another percentage of the federal poverty guidelines. However, many home repair programs use local HUD area median income instead. Being under an income limit does not guarantee approval because household rules, homeownership, repair type, funding, and other conditions also matter.
Income limits can be confusing because people often hear that a program is for households “below 200% of poverty” without being told which income counts, who belongs in the household, or which year’s table the office is using. This guide explains the 2026 federal poverty guidelines, shows how common percentages are calculated, and helps you ask the right questions before applying for home repair or other assistance.
What the Federal Poverty Level Means
“Federal poverty level,” often shortened to FPL, is a common name for the federal poverty guidelines issued each year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The guidelines are dollar amounts based on household size. Most states and Washington, D.C., use one table. Alaska and Hawaii have higher amounts.
The guidelines are used as an administrative tool. Government agencies and other organizations may use them to set income eligibility for benefits or services. The guidelines are different from the Census Bureau’s poverty thresholds, which are mainly used to measure poverty in statistics.
Important: There is no single federal definition of “income,” “family,” or “household” that every program must use. The office running the program decides what income it counts, which people count, and whether it looks at current monthly income, annual income, adjusted income, or another measure. The HHS poverty FAQ explains this difference.
For example, one program may limit help to 150% of the poverty guideline and count gross income before taxes. Another may use 200% and exclude certain benefits. A city home repair program may not use FPL at all. It may use 80% of the local area median income, which changes by county or metropolitan area.
2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines
The following table shows the 2026 guideline for the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., plus three commonly used percentages. These figures come from the official 2026 HHS poverty guidelines.
| Household size | 100% FPL | 125% FPL | 150% FPL | 200% FPL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $19,950 | $23,940 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $27,050 | $32,460 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $34,150 | $40,980 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $41,250 | $49,500 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $48,350 | $58,020 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $55,450 | $66,540 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $62,550 | $75,060 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $69,650 | $83,580 | $111,440 |
For households larger than eight people in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., add $5,680 for each additional person to find 100% of the guideline. Multiply that result by the program’s percentage.
Alaska and Hawaii amounts
| Household size | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $19,950 | $18,360 |
| 2 | $27,050 | $24,890 |
| 3 | $34,150 | $31,420 |
| 4 | $41,250 | $37,950 |
| 5 | $48,350 | $44,480 |
| 6 | $55,450 | $51,010 |
| 7 | $62,550 | $57,540 |
| 8 | $69,650 | $64,070 |
For households larger than eight, add $7,100 per additional person in Alaska or $6,530 per additional person in Hawaii. Federal programs operating in U.S. territories may use a method set by the administering agency rather than the Alaska or Hawaii table.
Do not assume the newest HHS table applies immediately. Programs adopt new guidelines on different dates. Some programs use a federal fiscal-year table or a state-issued schedule. For example, SNAP publishes income standards for its own fiscal year. Always ask the program which table and effective date it is using.
How to Calculate Your Percentage of FPL
- Find the household size the program uses. Do not assume it is everyone living at the address. Ask the office.
- Find the income the program counts. Use the same time period and income definition shown in the application.
- Choose the correct location table. Use the 48-state table, Alaska table, or Hawaii table as directed.
- Divide your counted annual income by the 100% guideline.
- Multiply the result by 100. The answer is your approximate percentage of FPL.
Example: A household of four in Ohio has $49,000 in annual income. The 2026 guideline for four people in the 48-state table is $33,000. Divide $49,000 by $33,000, then multiply by 100. The household is at about 148.5% of the 2026 guideline.
This is only a screening estimate. The program’s answer may be different if it excludes some income, includes income from another person, uses a prior year, averages irregular earnings, or applies deductions.
Monthly income check: If the office gives an annual limit, divide it by 12 for a rough monthly figure. If your income changes from month to month, ask whether the office averages recent pay, uses year-to-date income, or asks for a signed income projection.
Why Your Number May Not Match the Program’s Number
The math is usually the easy part. The hard part is knowing which people and which money the program counts. Before relying on an online calculator, ask for the written eligibility policy or the current income-limit chart.
- Gross or net income: Some programs use income before taxes and deductions. Others allow specific deductions or use adjusted income.
- Household members: A spouse, dependent child, co-owner, tenant, caregiver, or temporarily absent person may be treated differently by different programs.
- Income period: The office may use the last 30 days, several recent months, the prior tax year, or expected income for the next 12 months.
- Income sources: Wages, self-employment, Social Security, pensions, unemployment, rental income, child support, and cash contributions may be counted differently.
- Asset income: Some housing programs count actual or imputed income from assets even when the asset itself does not disqualify you.
- Program year: A benefit may still use a prior guideline until its new program year begins.
- Categorical eligibility: Some programs may accept participation in another benefit program as proof of income eligibility.
Prepare the same documents the office is likely to request. The home repair document checklist explains common proof of identity, ownership, occupancy, income, insurance, taxes, and repair need.
How Home Repair Programs Use FPL, AMI, and Other Limits
Most federal agencies do not send a general home repair grant directly to any household that falls below a poverty percentage. Repair help is usually delivered by a state, tribe, county, city, nonprofit, utility, or local agency. The assistance may be a service, grant, loan, deferred loan, forgivable loan, rebate, or volunteer repair. Read the agreement before work begins.
| Program or source | Type of help | Income rule | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weatherization Assistance Program | Energy-saving service | DOE eligibility generally includes households at or below 200% of the poverty guidelines or households receiving SSI; a state may use an allowed LIHEAP method | Apply through the state or local weatherization provider. It is not cash for general remodeling. See how to apply for WAP. |
| LIHEAP | Energy bill help, crisis help, weatherization, or limited energy-related repair, depending on the local program | State and tribal rules vary and may use FPL, state median income, or categorical eligibility | LIHEAP is a federal block grant administered locally, not an automatic federal check. Use the LIHEAP eligibility tool and ask what repair work is covered. |
| City or county CDBG/HOME repair program | Grant, deferred loan, forgivable loan, low-interest loan, or a mix | Usually a percentage of HUD area median income, not FPL | Limits vary by location and household size. Some awards create a lien or require repayment after sale, transfer, or early move-out. |
| USDA Section 504 | Loan for eligible very-low-income rural homeowners; grant for eligible homeowners age 62 or older who cannot repay a loan | USDA county-specific very-low-income limit | It is not based on the national HHS poverty table. Review the official Section 504 fact sheet and contact USDA Rural Development. |
| Nonprofit or volunteer repair | Free or reduced-cost labor, materials, safety repairs, accessibility work, or coordinated service | May use FPL, AMI, age, disability, veteran status, or the organization’s own hardship test | Help depends on volunteers, donations, geography, repair urgency, and project size. Waiting lists are common. |
Why many repair programs use AMI instead
HUD area median income, often called AMI, is tied to local income levels. A national poverty amount does not reflect the large difference in housing costs between counties. HUD publishes income limits by area and household size. A local repair program may serve households at or below 50%, 60%, or 80% of AMI.
Use the current HUD income limits only as a starting point. The local program’s published table controls because HUD adjustments, program rules, and effective dates can change the number. Our guide to CDBG and local repair programs explains why city and county terms differ.
Ask what kind of assistance it is. A “repair program” may be a grant that does not require repayment, a deferred loan due later, a forgivable loan that is reduced over time, or a regular loan with payments. Ask about liens, interest, forgiveness dates, owner-occupancy periods, sale or transfer rules, contractor selection, and what happens if the project costs more than the award.
Examples of Other Programs That Use Poverty Guidelines
FPL rules also appear in food, health, legal, and energy programs, but each program applies them differently. SNAP is a useful example. Federal SNAP rules generally compare households with gross and net income standards, but states may have different pathways through broad-based categorical eligibility. The current SNAP eligibility page shows the program’s own effective dates and standards.
Medicaid and CHIP rules vary by state, age, pregnancy status, disability pathway, and household tax relationships. Marketplace savings also use their own coverage-year rules. The HealthCare.gov FPL page explains which poverty year is used for major health coverage decisions. Do not use a home repair program’s household calculation to predict health coverage, or the reverse.
To screen for federal and state benefits beyond home repair, use the official USAGov benefit finder. A screening result is not a final eligibility decision.
How to Check Eligibility Before You Apply
- Identify the actual program. Start with the city, county, state, tribe, utility, or nonprofit that will accept and decide the application.
- Ask whether it uses FPL or AMI. Request the current table for your household size and location.
- Ask for the income definition. Confirm gross or adjusted income, the review period, excluded income, and household members.
- Confirm non-income rules. Many repair programs require ownership, primary residence, property-tax status, insurance, clear title, an eligible repair, and a home within the service area.
- Confirm the assistance type. Ask whether the help is a grant, loan, deferred loan, forgivable loan, service, rebate, or volunteer repair.
- Ask whether funds are available. A program can exist but have a closed intake, waiting list, seasonal opening, or exhausted budget.
- Submit a complete application. Keep copies and write down the date, staff name, application number, and missing items.
Use our home repair application guide for a step-by-step process. To locate the right office, see how to find local repair programs. You can also call 211 or use 211 online for local referrals.
Phone script: Ask about the income rule
“I am checking eligibility before I apply. Does your program use the federal poverty guidelines or HUD area median income? What is the current limit for a household of [number]? Which people and income sources do you count, and what date did this income table take effect?”
Phone script: Ask about repair terms
“I need help with [repair]. Is your assistance a grant, loan, deferred loan, forgivable loan, rebate, or direct repair service? Is there a lien or owner-occupancy period? Is intake open now, and what documents should I bring?”
Documents That Help Prove Income
The exact list varies, but an office may ask for recent pay stubs, Social Security or pension award letters, unemployment statements, benefit letters, bank statements, tax returns, self-employment records, child support records, or a zero-income statement. It may also request documents from every adult in the household.
If your current income is much lower than your last tax return, tell the office. Ask whether it accepts a current-income calculation, employer separation letter, year-to-date earnings, or written explanation. If income is irregular, ask how many months the office averages.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Using the 48-state table for Alaska or Hawaii.
- Multiplying monthly income by 12 when income is seasonal without asking how the program calculates it.
- Assuming tax-household rules apply to every assistance program.
- Leaving out income because another program did not count it.
- Applying to a closed program without asking for the next intake date or waiting-list policy.
- Signing a repair agreement without understanding repayment, lien, insurance, and occupancy terms.
What to Do If You Are Over the Limit or Denied
If the office says you are over income, ask for the calculation in writing. Check the household size, income period, counted sources, deductions, and table year. A simple data-entry error or old income document can change the result.
Ask whether the program has a different emergency category, accessibility program, senior program, disaster fund, energy program, or loan option. A household that is over one FPL-based limit may still fit a local AMI-based program. Also ask whether the program keeps a waiting list or expects a new funding round.
If the decision appears wrong, follow the written appeal or reconsideration process before the deadline. Our guide to a home repair assistance denial explains how to request the rule, correct documents, and build a clear review request.
If no repair program is open, consider energy assistance, utility programs, housing counseling, disability or aging agencies, veteran programs, disaster assistance, nonprofit repairs, and safe financing. The national home repair assistance guide organizes these options by type.
Scams and Misleading “Free Grant” Claims
There is no general federal program that sends free home repair money to everyone below the poverty level. Be careful with ads that promise guaranteed government grants, ask for a fee to unlock a grant, demand gift cards or cryptocurrency, or request banking passwords. Start with an official government or established nonprofit office. USAGov explains legitimate home repair assistance sources, and the Federal Trade Commission warns about government grant scams.
Never pay someone merely to place your name on a public program waiting list. Before sharing sensitive documents, verify the organization’s official website, office address, and phone number. Ask how your information will be stored and whether the application is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is 100% of the federal poverty level for one person in 2026?
For one person in 2026, the guideline is $15,960 in the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., $19,950 in Alaska, and $18,360 in Hawaii. A program may use a different percentage or may not have adopted the 2026 table yet.
Is the federal poverty level based on gross or net income?
The poverty guideline is a dollar benchmark, but it does not create one income definition for every program. The program decides whether it uses gross income, adjusted income, net income, deductions, exclusions, or another method.
Who counts as a household member?
Household rules depend on the program. People who live together, spouses, dependents, co-owners, tenants, caregivers, or temporarily absent family members may be treated differently. Ask for the program’s written household definition.
Does income below 200% of FPL guarantee weatherization help?
No. Income below the limit may satisfy one eligibility rule, but the local weatherization agency may also consider priority, dwelling type, landlord permission, past weatherization, available measures, and funding. Eligible households can still face a waiting list.
Why does my local repair program use AMI instead of FPL?
Many housing and home repair programs use HUD area median income because it reflects local income and housing conditions. The limit changes by area and household size, so the local program’s current table controls.
What can I do if my income is just over the limit?
Ask the office to review the calculation and explain counted income, deductions, household size, and the table year. Then ask about programs with a higher limit, AMI-based programs, loans, rebates, emergency help, utility programs, or nonprofit repair services.
About This Guide
How we researched this page: We checked official federal, state, local, tribal, utility, and trusted nonprofit sources linked in this article. We reviewed program names, service areas, eligibility rules, application routes, contact details, and whether each option is a grant, loan, rebate, service, or referral.
Our role: HomeRepairGrants.org is an independent information website. We do not run these programs, accept applications, choose recipients, or guarantee funding or approval.
Local changes: Funding, waitlists, service areas, income limits, and application periods can change. Confirm current details with the organization that runs the program before you apply, sign papers, pay money, or start repair work.
Corrections: See something outdated or incorrect? Email info@homerepairgrants.org and include the page URL and a reliable source when possible.
Disclaimer: This guide provides general information. It is not legal, financial, tax, insurance, medical, disability-rights, contractor, or government-agency advice.
Last verified: July 28, 2026 | Next review: October 28, 2026