Every year the Department of Health and Human
Services (HHS) defines the annual income below which they consider
a person to be "impoverished." Because more often than not there
is more than one person living in a low-income family, the
government has defined a "Poverty Guideline" for families of
different sizes.
Many federal, state and local assistance programs use the
published federal poverty "threshold," or a multiple of that
number, in order to pre-qualify people for low income assistance
programs. Some programs require that the applicant have an annual
income no higher than the Poverty Guideline. Others are somewhat
more lenient, permitting an income up to a multiple of the
established poverty level, such as 125%, 150%, 200%, etc.
At federal, state and local levels, assistance programs that base
their eligibility requirements on the current poverty level are
called "Means Tested Programs." It can be very useful to have a
chart such as the one below to establish whether you or the person
you are assisting will meet the annual income limit for a
particular program.
Some of the best known "means tested" programs most often used by
seniors that utilize the HHS Poverty Guidelines in establishing
eligibility are:
Community Services Block Grants
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Program (LIHEAP)
Community Food and Nutrition Program
Certain parts of Medicaid
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Extra
Help program)
Community Health Centers
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program -
SNAP (formerly Food Stamps)
Weatherization Assistance
Senior Community Service Employment
Low-Income Taxpayer Clinics
Foster Grandparent Program
Senior Companion Program
Legal Services for the Poor
2010 Poverty Guidelines
Some months ago the 2009 Poverty Guidelines were
extended until "at least May 31, 2010." Although this date has
passed, HHS has not yet changed the poverty guidelines for
calendar year 2010.
For the 48 Continental
States and
the District of Columbia |
| Family Size |
100% of
Poverty |
150% of
Poverty |
200% of
Poverty |
| 1 |
$10,830 |
$16,245 |
$21,660 |
| 2 |
14,570 |
21,855 |
29,140 |
| 3 |
18,310 |
27,465 |
36,620 |
| 4 |
22,050 |
33,075 |
44,100 |
| 5 |
25,790 |
38,685 |
51,580 |
| 6 |
29,530 |
44,295 |
59,060 |
| 7 |
33,270 |
49,905 |
66,540 |
| 8 |
37,010 |
55,515 |
74,020 |
| Alaska |
| 1 |
$13,530 |
$20,295 |
27,060 |
| 2 |
18,210 |
27,315 |
36,420 |
| 3 |
22,890 |
34,335 |
45,780 |
| 4 |
27,570 |
41,355 |
55,140 |
| 5 |
32,250 |
48,375 |
64,500 |
| 6 |
36,930 |
55,395 |
73,860 |
| 7 |
41,610 |
62,415 |
83,220 |
| 8 |
46,290 |
69,435 |
92,580 |
| Hawaii |
| 1 |
$12,460 |
$18,690 |
$24,920 |
| 2 |
16,760 |
25,140 |
33,520 |
| 3 |
21,060 |
31,590 |
42,120 |
| 4 |
25,360 |
38,040 |
50,720 |
| 5 |
29,660 |
44,490 |
59,320 |
| 6 |
33,960 |
50,940 |
67,920 |
| 7 |
38,260 |
57,390 |
76,520 |
| 8 |
42,560 |
63,840 |
85,120 |
|
|
