Rex says
Money math without the spreadsheet headache. Plug in your numbers and I'll show you exactly where the dollars land.
Try a scenario
Click to load — tweak from there.Inputs
Result
Income as % of FPL
162.7%
100% FPL for this household size
$25,820
Room below 138% FPL (Medicaid expansion)
$0
Room below 400% FPL
$61,280
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How to use this
- 1Enter annual household income ($).
- 2Enter household size.
- 3Enter region.
- 4Read your income as % of fpl on the right — it updates as you type.
- 5Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone.
About this calculator
Dozens of federal and state benefit programs — Medicaid, CHIP, ACA marketplace subsidies, SNAP, LIHEAP, Head Start, and more — use your income as a percentage of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) to set eligibility rather than a flat dollar cutoff. The FPL itself is a household-size-adjusted baseline published annually by HHS, higher in Alaska and Hawaii than the other 48 states. Most programs set their eligibility threshold as a specific percentage of FPL: Medicaid expansion states typically cut off around 138% FPL, CHIP often extends to 200-300% depending on the state, and SNAP gross income limits are usually 130% FPL. This calculator takes your household size and annual income, applies the correct-year FPL guideline for your state group, and returns your exact percentage so you can quickly check it against whichever program's threshold you're evaluating.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Annual household income: 42000 $
- Household size: 3
- Region: 48 contiguous states + DC
Results
- Income as % of FPL: 162.7%
- 100% FPL for this household size: $25,820
- Room below 138% FPL (Medicaid expansion): $0
- Room below 400% FPL: $61,280
What each field means
Inputs
- Annual household income ($)
- The annual household income used in the calculation, measured in $. Starts at 42000 $ so you have a working example on load.
- Household size
- The household size used in the calculation. Starts at 3 so you have a working example on load. Accepted range: 1–12.
- Region
- Pick the option that matches your situation — the maths changes per option. Choices: 48 contiguous states + DC, Alaska, Hawaii.
Results
- Income as % of FPL
- Returned as a percentage and shown as the headline result. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- 100% FPL for this household size
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Room below 138% FPL (Medicaid expansion)
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
- Room below 400% FPL
- Returned as a money amount in US dollars. It recalculates instantly whenever you change an input, so you can compare scenarios without reloading.
FAQ
Why does the FPL differ for Alaska and Hawaii?
HHS publishes separate, higher poverty guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii to reflect their higher cost of living, roughly 25% and 15% above the base 48-state figure respectively. Using the wrong region's guideline can meaningfully misstate your eligibility percentage.
Which programs use 138% FPL as a cutoff?
States that expanded Medicaid under the ACA generally set adult eligibility at 138% FPL, which is actually 133% FPL with a built-in 5% income disregard baked into the calculation. Non-expansion states use much lower, state-specific thresholds instead.
Is FPL based on gross or net income?
Most programs use a form of gross income (before taxes), though the exact definition of countable income varies by program — some allow deductions for childcare, medical expenses, or earned income before calculating the percentage, so always check the specific program's income rules alongside this baseline calculation.
Does FPL update every year?
Yes, HHS releases updated guidelines each January, generally adjusted for inflation. Applying a prior year's poverty line to a new year's eligibility determination can shift your percentage by several points, so always confirm you're using the correct year's figures for the specific benefit year in question.
Accuracy and limitations
- Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.
- Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.
- This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant.
Related tools
Cite this calculator
Writing about this topic? Grab a citation — every link helps keep these tools free.
RevenueLab. (2026). Federal Poverty Level Percentage Calculator. Retrieved from https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/fpl-percentage-calculator
<p>Source: <a href="https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/fpl-percentage-calculator" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Federal Poverty Level Percentage Calculator — RevenueLab</a> (2026).</p>
Source: [Federal Poverty Level Percentage Calculator — RevenueLab](https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/fpl-percentage-calculator) (2026).