Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
Published Date: 1/17/2025
Notice
Summary
The Department of Health and Human Services just updated the poverty guidelines to keep up with last year’s price increases. This change affects anyone applying for programs that use these guidelines to decide who qualifies for help, like health care or food assistance. The new numbers kick in starting January 15, 2025, so get ready for a little more wiggle room in income limits!
Analyzed Economic Effects
6 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
2025 Poverty Guidelines Increased
HHS raised the poverty guidelines to reflect a 2.9% price increase (CPI-U) between 2023 and 2024. These updated annual income limits take effect January 15, 2025 and apply for eligibility determinations in Medicaid and other Federal programs that use the guidelines.
Guidelines for Contiguous States & DC
For the 48 contiguous States and the District of Columbia, the 2025 annual poverty guidelines are: 1 person $15,650; 2 people $21,150; 3 people $26,650; 4 people $32,150; 5 people $37,650; 6 people $43,150; 7 people $48,650; 8 people $54,150. For families larger than 8, add $5,500 for each additional person.
Alaska 2025 Poverty Guidelines
For Alaska, the 2025 annual poverty guidelines are: 1 person $19,550; 2 people $26,430; 3 people $33,310; 4 people $40,190; 5 people $47,070; 6 people $53,950; 7 people $60,830; 8 people $67,710. For families larger than 8, add $6,880 for each additional person.
Hawaii 2025 Poverty Guidelines
For Hawaii, the 2025 annual poverty guidelines are: 1 person $17,990; 2 people $24,320; 3 people $30,650; 4 people $36,980; 5 people $43,310; 6 people $49,640; 7 people $55,970; 8 people $62,300. For families larger than 8, add $6,330 for each additional person.
Rounding Rule Prevents Yearly Cuts
HHS increased thresholds by the CPI-U change (2.9%) then applied rounding and standardization. If that rounding would have reduced a guideline for some household sizes despite non-negative inflation, HHS fixes those affected sizes at the prior year's guidelines so they do not fall.
Programs May Use Percentage Multiples
Some Federal programs apply a percentage multiple of the poverty guidelines (for example, 125% or 185%) when setting eligibility limits. That means a program's income cutoff could be 125% or 185% of the dollar amounts listed above, depending on the program's law or rules.
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