Check your income against benefit income limits
Enter your household size and income to see how it compares with the official income limits of SNAP, school meals, WIC, Lifeline and Medicaid. It takes a minute, and nothing you type leaves your device.
Income checker
Usually you, plus anyone you live with and share income or meals with.
Everyone's pay and other income added together, before taxes. For example 2,400.
Your results
“At or under” means your income is at or below the program’s published income line. It is not a decision about who qualifies: agencies also look at other things, and some count income in their own way. Check with the agency.
The income limits we use
Yearly or monthly income before taxes, by household size. Figures checked against the official sources on October 23, 2026.
48 states and D.C.
| Household size | Poverty guideline (yearly) | SNAP (food assistance) (monthly, 130%) |
Free school meals (yearly, 130%) |
Reduced-price school meals (yearly, 185%) |
WIC (food and support for women, infants and children) (yearly, 185%) |
Lifeline (phone or internet discount) (yearly, 135%) |
Medicaid for adults (in states that expanded Medicaid) (yearly, 138%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $1,729 | $20,748 | $29,526 | $29,526 | $21,546 | about $22,025 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $2,345 | $28,132 | $40,034 | $40,034 | $29,214 | about $29,863 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $2,960 | $35,516 | $50,542 | $50,542 | $36,882 | about $37,702 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $3,575 | $42,900 | $61,050 | $61,050 | $44,550 | about $45,540 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $4,191 | $50,284 | $71,558 | $71,558 | $52,218 | about $53,378 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $4,806 | $57,668 | $82,066 | $82,066 | $59,886 | about $61,217 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $5,421 | $65,052 | $92,574 | $92,574 | $67,554 | about $69,055 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $6,037 | $72,436 | $103,082 | $103,082 | $75,222 | about $76,894 |
| Each extra person | +$5,680 | +$616 | +$7,384 | +$10,508 | +$10,508 | +$7,668 | +about $7,838 |
Alaska
| Household size | Poverty guideline (yearly) | SNAP (food assistance) (monthly, 130%) |
Free school meals (yearly, 130%) |
Reduced-price school meals (yearly, 185%) |
WIC (food and support for women, infants and children) (yearly, 185%) |
Lifeline (phone or internet discount) (yearly, 135%) |
Medicaid for adults (in states that expanded Medicaid) (yearly, 138%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $19,950 | $2,162 | $25,935 | $36,908 | $36,908 | $26,933 | about $27,531 |
| 2 | $27,050 | $2,931 | $35,165 | $50,043 | $50,043 | $36,518 | about $37,329 |
| 3 | $34,150 | $3,700 | $44,395 | $63,178 | $63,178 | $46,103 | about $47,127 |
| 4 | $41,250 | $4,469 | $53,625 | $76,313 | $76,313 | $55,688 | about $56,925 |
| 5 | $48,350 | $5,238 | $62,855 | $89,448 | $89,448 | $65,273 | about $66,723 |
| 6 | $55,450 | $6,008 | $72,085 | $102,583 | $102,583 | $74,858 | about $76,521 |
| 7 | $62,550 | $6,777 | $81,315 | $115,718 | $115,718 | $84,443 | about $86,319 |
| 8 | $69,650 | $7,546 | $90,545 | $128,853 | $128,853 | $94,028 | about $96,117 |
| Each extra person | +$7,100 | +$770 | +$9,230 | +$13,135 | +$13,135 | +$9,585 | +about $9,798 |
Hawaii
| Household size | Poverty guideline (yearly) | SNAP (food assistance) (monthly, 130%) |
Free school meals (yearly, 130%) |
Reduced-price school meals (yearly, 185%) |
WIC (food and support for women, infants and children) (yearly, 185%) |
Lifeline (phone or internet discount) (yearly, 135%) |
Medicaid for adults (in states that expanded Medicaid) (yearly, 138%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18,360 | $1,989 | $23,868 | $33,966 | $33,966 | $24,786 | about $25,337 |
| 2 | $24,890 | $2,697 | $32,357 | $46,047 | $46,047 | $33,602 | about $34,348 |
| 3 | $31,420 | $3,404 | $40,846 | $58,127 | $58,127 | $42,417 | about $43,360 |
| 4 | $37,950 | $4,112 | $49,335 | $70,208 | $70,208 | $51,233 | about $52,371 |
| 5 | $44,480 | $4,819 | $57,824 | $82,288 | $82,288 | $60,048 | about $61,382 |
| 6 | $51,010 | $5,527 | $66,313 | $94,369 | $94,369 | $68,864 | about $70,394 |
| 7 | $57,540 | $6,234 | $74,802 | $106,449 | $106,449 | $77,679 | about $79,405 |
| 8 | $64,070 | $6,941 | $83,291 | $118,530 | $118,530 | $86,495 | about $88,417 |
| Each extra person | +$6,530 | +$708 | +$8,489 | +$12,081 | +$12,081 | +$8,816 | +about $9,011 |
Sources
- HHS (ASPE): Poverty guidelines: 2026 HHS poverty guidelines, published January 15, 2026.
- SNAP (food assistance): USDA: SNAP income eligibility standards, fiscal year 2027. In effect: Oct. 1, 2026 to Sept. 30, 2027.
- Free school meals: USDA: Child Nutrition Programs income eligibility guidelines (Federal Register, April 9, 2026). In effect: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
- Reduced-price school meals: USDA: Child Nutrition Programs income eligibility guidelines (Federal Register, April 9, 2026). In effect: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
- WIC (food and support for women, infants and children): USDA: WIC income eligibility guidelines 2026-2027 (Federal Register, April 29, 2026). In effect: July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
- Lifeline (phone or internet discount): USAC Lifeline: How to qualify. In effect: 2026 (uses the 2026 poverty guidelines).
- Medicaid for adults (in states that expanded Medicaid): HealthCare.gov: Medicaid expansion and what it means for you. In effect: 2026 (uses the 2026 poverty guidelines). We calculated this line as 138% of the poverty guideline.
Other places to look
- USA.gov Benefit Finder
- LIHEAP: help with energy bills (find your state's office)
- HealthCare.gov: health coverage and savings on Marketplace plans
Income limits for CHIP, LIHEAP and state programs differ by state; these official sites can point you to yours.