Enter your household income, size, and state, and this screens you against the main federal safety-net programs at once — SNAP, Medicaid/CHIP, WIC, LIHEAP, school meals, and Medicare Extra Help — showing your income as a percentage of the poverty line and, for each program, the income cutoff and whether you may qualify. It's a fast starting point, not a determination: the actual decision (and asset tests, deductions, and state options) rests with each agency.
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Worked example
Household poverty line (2026, 48 states + DC): $27,320.00/yr · Your income vs poverty line: 109.809663% of FPG · SNAP (food stamps): May qualify — at/under 130% FPG (≈$35,516.00/yr cutoff) · gross limit; net limit is 100% FPG; states may allow more · SNAP — age 60+ or disabled: May qualify — at/under 165% FPG (≈$45,078.00/yr cutoff) · separate-household rule; skips the gross-income test · Medicaid (adults): May qualify — at/under 138% FPG (≈$37,701.60/yr cutoff) · expansion states only; ~9–10 states have not expanded · CHIP (children): May qualify — at/under 200% FPG (≈$54,640.00/yr cutoff) · federal floor; many states go higher (up to ~400%) · WIC (pregnant/postpartum, kids <5): May qualify — at/under 185% FPG (≈$50,542.00/yr cutoff) · plus categorical status; SNAP/Medicaid = automatic · LIHEAP (energy help): May qualify — at/under 150% FPG (≈$40,980.00/yr cutoff) · or 60% of state median income — states choose the higher · School meals — free: May qualify — at/under 130% FPG (≈$35,516.00/yr cutoff) · reduced-price up to 185% FPG · Medicare Extra Help (drug costs): May qualify — at/under 150% FPG (≈$40,980.00/yr cutoff) · also has an asset/resource limit · TANF (cash assistance): Varies by state — no single federal income %; check your state agency · Note: Estimates only, not a determination. Asset tests, deductions, and immigration status also apply. Verify with each program.
No. It compares your income to each program's published percentage-of-poverty threshold to show where you likely stand. Real eligibility depends on deductions, assets, immigration status, and state options — apply with the agency to know for sure.
Why do some programs say 'varies by state'?
TANF and, largely, CHIP set their own income limits by state, and SNAP states can raise limits via categorical eligibility. We show the federal baseline and flag where your state's number may differ.
Which year's poverty guideline should I use?
For most programs in 2026, use the 2026 guideline (the default). ACA Marketplace subsidies are the exception — they use the prior year — but those are handled by the ACA plan-cost tool, not this screener.