1. What is the Federal Poverty Level?

The Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is a measure of income issued annually by the Department of Health and Human Services used to determine eligibility for certain programs and benefits. The 2024 values are used for calculating financial assistance.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the poverty level formula:

Where:

• \( Base \) — Base amount for a single person household ($15,720 for 2024)
• \( Increment \) — Additional amount per extra family member ($5,580 for 2024)
• \( Family\ Size \) — Number of people in the household

Explanation: The formula accounts for the base amount needed for one person plus additional amounts for each additional family member.

3. Importance of Poverty Level Calculation

Details: Accurate poverty level calculation is crucial for determining eligibility for Medicaid, CHIP, Marketplace insurance subsidies, SNAP, and other assistance programs.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the base amount (pre-filled with 2024 value), increment amount (pre-filled with 2024 value), and family size. All values must be positive numbers.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What are the 2024 Federal Poverty Level amounts?
A: For contiguous US: $15,720 for 1 person, $21,300 for 2, $26,880 for 3, $32,460 for 4, adding $5,580 per additional person.

Q2: How is poverty level different for Alaska and Hawaii?
A: Alaska uses higher amounts (base $19,680), Hawaii slightly higher (base $18,090). Our calculator uses contiguous US values by default.

Q3: What percentage of FPL is used for program eligibility?
A: Programs use percentages of FPL (e.g., 138% for Medicaid expansion, 400% for ACA subsidies).

Q4: How often are FPL guidelines updated?
A: Annually, typically in January, based on Consumer Price Index changes.

Q5: Does FPL account for cost of living differences?
A: Only through separate Alaska/Hawaii amounts. Otherwise, it's a national standard not adjusted for local costs.