Federal Poverty Level (FPL) Calculator (2024 Guidelines)
Use this calculator to estimate your household's Federal Poverty Level (FPL) status based on the 2024 guidelines for the contiguous 48 states and the District of Columbia. The FPL is a measure of income issued annually by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
.fpl-calculator-container {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
background-color: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #ddd;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 25px;
max-width: 600px;
margin: 20px auto;
box-shadow: 0 4px 12px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.08);
color: #333;
}
.fpl-calculator-container h2 {
text-align: center;
color: #2c3e50;
margin-bottom: 20px;
font-size: 1.8em;
}
.fpl-calculator-container p {
margin-bottom: 20px;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #555;
}
.fpl-input-group {
margin-bottom: 18px;
}
.fpl-input-group label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #34495e;
font-size: 1.1em;
}
.fpl-input-group input[type="number"] {
width: calc(100% – 20px);
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1em;
box-sizing: border-box;
transition: border-color 0.3s ease;
}
.fpl-input-group input[type="number"]:focus {
border-color: #007bff;
outline: none;
box-shadow: 0 0 5px rgba(0, 123, 255, 0.3);
}
.fpl-calculator-container button {
display: block;
width: 100%;
padding: 14px 20px;
background-color: #28a745;
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 5px;
font-size: 1.1em;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s ease, transform 0.2s ease;
margin-top: 20px;
}
.fpl-calculator-container button:hover {
background-color: #218838;
transform: translateY(-2px);
}
.fpl-calculator-container button:active {
transform: translateY(0);
}
.fpl-result {
margin-top: 25px;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #e9f7ef;
border: 1px solid #d4edda;
border-radius: 8px;
font-size: 1.1em;
color: #155724;
line-height: 1.6;
}
.fpl-result strong {
color: #004085;
}
.fpl-result .below-fpl {
color: #dc3545;
font-weight: bold;
}
.fpl-result .above-fpl {
color: #28a745;
font-weight: bold;
}
function calculateFPL() {
var householdSizeInput = document.getElementById("householdSize").value;
var annualIncomeInput = document.getElementById("annualIncome").value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("fplResult");
var householdSize = parseInt(householdSizeInput);
var annualIncome = parseFloat(annualIncomeInput);
if (isNaN(householdSize) || householdSize < 1) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid household size (a number greater than 0).";
return;
}
if (isNaN(annualIncome) || annualIncome < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter a valid annual income (a non-negative number).";
return;
}
var fplGuideline = 0;
// 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines for the 48 Contiguous States and D.C.
// Source: https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
switch (householdSize) {
case 1:
fplGuideline = 15060;
break;
case 2:
fplGuideline = 20440;
break;
case 3:
fplGuideline = 25820;
break;
case 4:
fplGuideline = 31200;
break;
case 5:
fplGuideline = 36580;
break;
case 6:
fplGuideline = 41960;
break;
case 7:
fplGuideline = 47340;
break;
case 8:
fplGuideline = 52720;
break;
default:
// For household sizes greater than 8, add $5,380 for each additional person
fplGuideline = 52720 + (householdSize – 8) * 5380;
break;
}
var fplPercentage = (annualIncome / fplGuideline) * 100;
var statusClass = "";
var statusText = "";
if (annualIncome < fplGuideline) {
statusClass = "below-fpl";
statusText = "below";
} else {
statusClass = "above-fpl";
statusText = "above";
}
resultDiv.innerHTML =
"For a household of " + householdSize + " people, the 2024 Federal Poverty Level (FPL) guideline is: $" + fplGuideline.toLocaleString() + "." +
"Your reported annual household income of $" + annualIncome.toLocaleString() + " is " + fplPercentage.toFixed(2) + "% of the FPL." +
"This means your household income is " + statusText + " the 2024 Federal Poverty Level.";
}
Understanding the Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is a set of income thresholds used by the U.S. government to determine eligibility for various federal programs and benefits. These guidelines are issued annually by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and vary based on household size.
How FPL is Determined
The FPL is calculated based on the number of people in a household and a corresponding income threshold. For example, a single individual has a lower poverty threshold than a family of four. The guidelines are updated each year to reflect changes in the cost of living.
Why FPL Matters
Many federal and state programs use the FPL as a benchmark for eligibility. These can include:
Medicaid and CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program)
Subsidies for health insurance purchased through the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Often, eligibility for these programs is not just at 100% of FPL, but at percentages like 138%, 150%, 200%, or even 400% of FPL, depending on the specific program and state.
Important Considerations
Geographic Variations: The FPL guidelines used in this calculator are for the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. Alaska and Hawaii have separate, higher poverty guidelines due to their higher cost of living.
Annual Updates: The FPL guidelines are updated every year, typically in January. The calculator uses the 2024 guidelines.
Income Definition: "Total Annual Household Income" generally refers to gross income (before taxes and deductions) for all members of the household. Specific programs may have their own definitions of countable income.
Not a Cost-of-Living Index: While related to income, the FPL is not a direct measure of the cost of living in a specific area. It's a national standard.
Examples of FPL Calculation (Using 2024 Guidelines)
Let's look at a few scenarios:
Single Individual:
Household Size: 1
2024 FPL Guideline: $15,060
If Annual Income is $14,000: This is 92.96% of FPL, meaning the individual is below FPL.
If Annual Income is $20,000: This is 132.80% of FPL, meaning the individual is above FPL.
Family of Four:
Household Size: 4
2024 FPL Guideline: $31,200
If Annual Income is $28,000: This is 89.74% of FPL, meaning the family is below FPL.
If Annual Income is $40,000: This is 128.21% of FPL, meaning the family is above FPL.