Use this calculator to determine your household's Federal Poverty Level (FPL) based on your household size, annual income, and the relevant year's guidelines.
2024
2023
2022
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function calculateFPL() {
var householdSize = parseFloat(document.getElementById('householdSize').value);
var annualIncome = parseFloat(document.getElementById('annualIncome').value);
var fplYear = document.getElementById('fplYear').value;
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('fplResult');
// FPL Guidelines (48 Contiguous States and D.C.)
// Data from https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines
var fplGuidelines = {
"2024": {
base: 15060, // 1 person
increment: 5380, // for each additional person over 1
thresholds: {
1: 15060,
2: 20440,
3: 25820,
4: 31200,
5: 36580,
6: 41960,
7: 47340,
8: 52720
}
},
"2023": {
base: 14580, // 1 person
increment: 5140, // for each additional person over 1
thresholds: {
1: 14580,
2: 19720,
3: 24860,
4: 30000,
5: 35140,
6: 40280,
7: 45420,
8: 50560
}
},
"2022": {
base: 13590, // 1 person
increment: 4730, // for each additional person over 1
thresholds: {
1: 13590,
2: 18320,
3: 23050,
4: 27780,
5: 32510,
6: 37240,
7: 41970,
8: 46700
}
}
};
// Input validation
if (isNaN(householdSize) || householdSize < 1) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid number for household size (must be 1 or more).';
return;
}
if (isNaN(annualIncome) || annualIncome < 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter a valid annual income (cannot be negative).';
return;
}
var selectedYearData = fplGuidelines[fplYear];
if (!selectedYearData) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Poverty guidelines for the selected year are not available.';
return;
}
var calculatedFPL;
if (householdSize <= 8) {
calculatedFPL = selectedYearData.thresholds[householdSize];
} else {
// For household sizes greater than 8, calculate based on the 8-person threshold + increment
calculatedFPL = selectedYearData.thresholds[8] + (householdSize – 8) * selectedYearData.increment;
}
if (isNaN(calculatedFPL)) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Could not calculate FPL for the given household size and year. Please check inputs.';
return;
}
var percentageOfFPL = (annualIncome / calculatedFPL) * 100;
var statusMessage = '';
var statusClass = '';
if (annualIncome < calculatedFPL) {
statusMessage = 'Your household income is below the Federal Poverty Level.';
statusClass = 'status-low';
} else {
statusMessage = 'Your household income is above the Federal Poverty Level.';
statusClass = 'status-high';
}
resultDiv.innerHTML =
'For a household of ' + householdSize + ' people in ' + fplYear + ', the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is: $' + calculatedFPL.toLocaleString('en-US', { minimumFractionDigits: 0, maximumFractionDigits: 0 }) + '.' +
'Your annual household income of $' + annualIncome.toLocaleString('en-US', { minimumFractionDigits: 0, maximumFractionDigits: 0 }) + ' is ' + percentageOfFPL.toFixed(2) + '% of the FPL.' +
" + statusMessage + ";
}
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 who is eligible 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 and the specific year.
What is the FPL?
The FPL represents the minimum annual income a household needs to afford basic necessities like food, shelter, and clothing. It's not a single number but rather a series of income thresholds that increase with each additional person in a household. For instance, the poverty guideline for a single individual is lower than that for a family of four.
Why is the FPL Important?
The FPL serves as a critical benchmark for:
Eligibility for Federal Programs: Many federal assistance programs, such as Medicaid, CHIP (Children's Health Insurance Program), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), and housing assistance, use the FPL to determine who qualifies for aid. Eligibility is often set at a certain percentage of the FPL (e.g., 138% of FPL for Medicaid expansion).
Statistical Analysis: It helps researchers and policymakers understand the prevalence of poverty in the U.S. and track changes over time.
State and Local Programs: Many state and local programs also adopt or adapt the federal guidelines for their own eligibility criteria.
How is the FPL Calculated?
The FPL is primarily determined by two factors:
Household Size: The more people in a household, the higher the poverty threshold.
Year: The guidelines are updated annually to account for inflation and changes in the cost of living.
For the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the guidelines are uniform. However, Alaska and Hawaii have separate, higher poverty guidelines due to their significantly higher cost of living. This calculator uses the guidelines for the 48 contiguous states and D.C.
Using the Federal Poverty Level Calculator
Our calculator simplifies the process of finding your household's FPL status. Here's how to use it:
Number of People in Household: Enter the total number of individuals living in your household, including yourself.
Total Annual Household Income ($): Input your household's combined gross annual income before taxes.
Poverty Guideline Year: Select the year for which you want to calculate the FPL. It's important to choose the correct year as the guidelines change annually.
Calculate FPL: Click the button to see your results.
The calculator will display the official FPL for your household size and selected year, compare your income to that level, and show you what percentage of the FPL your income represents. This information can be crucial for understanding your eligibility for various support programs.
Example Calculation:
Let's say you have a household of 3 people and an annual income of $28,000, and you want to check the FPL for 2024:
Household Size: 3
Annual Income: $28,000
Poverty Guideline Year: 2024
According to the 2024 guidelines, the FPL for a 3-person household is $25,820. Your income of $28,000 is approximately 108.44% of the FPL, meaning your income is above the Federal Poverty Level for that household size and year.
If your income was $20,000, it would be approximately 77.46% of the FPL, indicating your income is below the Federal Poverty Level.