Labor Dept. Updates Low-Income Thresholds for Job Training Aid
Published Date: 4/22/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Labor just updated the 2026 Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL), which helps decide who qualifies as low-income for workforce programs under WIOA. This change affects youth and adults seeking job training and support, starting April 22, 2026. It’s all about making sure help goes to those who need it most, based on the latest income and poverty guidelines.
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Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.
Updated LLSIL Changes WIOA Eligibility
The Department of Labor published updated 2026 Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) figures effective April 22, 2026. You use these updated LLSIL values when deciding who qualifies as a "low-income individual" or a "disadvantaged youth" or "disadvantaged adult" for WIOA job training and support programs.
70% and 100% LLSIL Thresholds Defined
WIOA uses 70 percent of the LLSIL to help define "low-income" for eligibility and shows 100 percent of LLSIL to determine "self-sufficiency." The 2026 tables published April 22, 2026 include both 70% of LLSIL and 100% of LLSIL for family sizes one to six.
Regional and Metro LLSIL Breakouts
The 2026 LLSIL tables provide figures by region (Northeast, Midwest, South, West), by metropolitan vs non-metropolitan areas, and include selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) plus separate figures for Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam. Governors may choose which LLSIL figure applies when a workforce area spans multiple geographies.
Family-Size Rules For Larger Families
The 2026 LLSIL tables list income levels for family sizes of one to six persons. For families larger than six, you add an amount equal to the difference between the six-person and five-person levels for each additional person.
2025 CPI-U Used To Update 2026 LLSIL
The 2026 LLSIL was updated by calculating the percent change in the 2025 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) versus the 2024 CPI-U and applying that change to prior LLSIL figures. The updated 2026 LLSIL tables are published April 22, 2026 on ETA's LLSIL website.
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