HHS Bumps Up Poverty Lines to Match Rising Costs
Published Date: 1/15/2026
Notice
Summary
The Department of Health and Human Services just updated the poverty guidelines to keep up with last year’s price increases. These new numbers help decide who qualifies for programs like health care and food assistance, starting January 13, 2026. If you or your family rely on these programs, this update could mean changes in eligibility or benefits.
Analyzed Economic Effects
4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.
2026 Poverty Guideline Numbers Updated
HHS updated the 2026 poverty guidelines effective January 13, 2026. Examples: a 1-person household is $15,960 and a 4-person household is $33,000 for the 48 contiguous States and DC; add $5,680 for each person over 8 in the contiguous States. Alaska and Hawaii have separate figures (Alaska 1-person $19,950; Hawaii 1-person $18,360) and their per-additional-person amounts ($7,100 for Alaska; $6,530 for Hawaii). These annual income thresholds are used to decide eligibility for programs such as Medicaid and other Federal programs.
Immigration Sponsor Income Uses New Levels
The updated guidelines change the dollar amounts used as the basis for percentage multiples on immigration forms such as USCIS Form I-864 (Affidavit of Support). Sponsors who must meet a multiple of the poverty guideline will use the new 2026 guideline figures when determining required income.
Hill-Burton Free/Reduced-Care Eligibility Tied to Update
The Hill-Burton Uncompensated Services Program uses the updated poverty guidelines to determine eligibility for free or reduced-fee health care at certain hospitals and facilities. The 2026 guideline figures (effective January 13, 2026) will be the reference for eligibility determinations under that program.
Protections Against Year-to-Year Reductions
HHS increased the guidelines based on a 2.63 percent CPI-U change and then applied rounding and standardizing; if that rounding would produce a year-to-year decrease for some household sizes, those affected sizes are fixed at the prior year's guideline instead of being reduced. This rule applies in 2026.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-20281, Global Benchmark for Efficient Drug Pricing (GLOBE) Model
Starting November 30, 2026, Medicare will use the new GLOBE Model to help lower the cost of certain drugs for people on Original Medicare. This model changes how drug price increases are calculated, aiming to save money for both patients and the Medicare program without cutting care quality. If you’re on Medicare Part B, expect smarter drug pricing that helps keep your healthcare affordable.
2026-20131, Medicare Program; Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility Prospective Payment System for Federal Fiscal Year 2027 and Updates to the IRF Quality Reporting Program; Correction
This correction fixes some technical mistakes in the Medicare payment rules for inpatient rehab facilities starting October 1, 2026. It mainly affects hospitals and rehab centers by clarifying how wage data and payments are calculated, ensuring fairer payment rates for fiscal year 2027. No big changes in money, but it keeps everything accurate and on track.
2026-20067, Medicare Program; FY 2027 Hospice Wage Index and Payment Rate Update and Hospice Quality Reporting Program Requirements; Correction
This correction fixes some technical mistakes in the FY 2027 hospice payment and wage index rules that were first published in August 2026. It mainly affects hospice providers by updating how their payments are calculated, making sure the numbers are accurate starting October 1, 2026. These changes help ensure hospices get the right payment amounts based on the latest hospital wage data.
2026-19959, Medicare Program; Prospective Payment System and Consolidated Billing for Skilled Nursing Facilities; Updates to the Quality Reporting Program for Federal Fiscal Year 2027; Correction
This correction fixes some technical mistakes in Medicare payment rules for skilled nursing facilities starting October 1, 2026. It mainly affects how hospital data is used to calculate payments, making sure no current hospitals are wrongly excluded. These tweaks help keep Medicare payments fair and accurate for providers and patients.
2026-19946, Medicare Program; Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment Systems for Acute Care Hospitals (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital Prospective Payment System and Policy Changes and Fiscal Year (FY) 2027 Rates; Requirements for Quality Programs; Other Policy Changes; and Adoption of Updated Versions of Certain Health Information Technology Standards; Correction
This update fixes some typos and technical mistakes in the Medicare payment rules for hospitals starting October 1, 2026. It affects hospitals getting paid for patient care, making sure the payment system and quality programs run smoothly. These corrections help hospitals get the right payments and follow updated health tech standards without delays or confusion.
2026-19493, Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act; Temporary Moratoria on Certain Agent and Broker Registration To Participate in the Exchanges
Starting now, new agents and brokers without a 2026 registration can’t sign up to help people enroll in health insurance through federal exchanges for 2027. This pause helps stop fraud and protect your info while CMS improves safety rules. If you’re already registered or working with state exchanges, this doesn’t affect you.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-00751, Change in Bank Control Notices; Acquisitions of Shares of a Bank or Bank Holding Company
Some folks want to buy shares in banks or bank companies, and the Federal Reserve is checking their applications to make sure everything’s fair and safe. If you want to share your thoughts, you’ve got until January 30, 2026, to speak up! This process helps keep banks strong and protects everyone’s money.
Next: 2026-00757, Agency Information Collection Activities; Comment Request; Segal Education Award-Related Information Collection Requests
AmeriCorps is renewing three forms tied to the Segal Education Award that help members and alumni manage their student loan payments, interest, and forbearance requests. If you use these forms, you can keep doing so without interruption, but AmeriCorps wants your feedback by March 16, 2026. This update won’t cost you extra time—each form takes about 5 minutes to fill out.