2026 poverty guidelines: what counts for pregnancy benefits
The federal poverty guidelines for 2026, at the percentages Medicaid, CHIP and WIC use, for every household size. If you're pregnant, your baby counts.
Effective January 13, 2026 · U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Skip the math
Pick your state, household size and income. The checker applies your state's pregnancy Medicaid percent and WIC's limit to these guidelines.
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2026 poverty guidelines chart
Yearly income for the 48 contiguous states and DC, at 100% and the multiples benefit programs use. On a phone, pick a percent above the table.
| SizeHousehold | 100% | 133% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $21,227 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $28,781 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $36,336 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $43,890 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $51,444 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $58,999 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $66,553 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $74,108 |
| Each extra person | +$5,680 | +$7,554 |
Monthly income
The annual guideline divided by 12, for comparing with a monthly paycheck.
| SizeHousehold | 100% | 133% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,330 | $1,769 |
| 2 | $1,803 | $2,398 |
| 3 | $2,277 | $3,028 |
| 4 | $2,750 | $3,658 |
| 5 | $3,223 | $4,287 |
| 6 | $3,697 | $4,917 |
| 7 | $4,170 | $5,546 |
| 8 | $4,643 | $6,176 |
| Each extra person | +$473 | +$630 |
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Federal Register). Data as of January 13, 2026.
Alaska and Hawaii
Both states have their own, higher guidelines. Medicaid, CHIP and WIC there use these tables.
| SizeHousehold | 100% | 133% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $19,950 | $26,534 |
| 2 | $27,050 | $35,977 |
| 3 | $34,150 | $45,420 |
| 4 | $41,250 | $54,863 |
| 5 | $48,350 | $64,306 |
| 6 | $55,450 | $73,749 |
| 7 | $62,550 | $83,192 |
| 8 | $69,650 | $92,635 |
| Each extra person | +$7,100 | +$9,443 |
| SizeHousehold | 100% | 133% |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $18,360 | $24,419 |
| 2 | $24,890 | $33,104 |
| 3 | $31,420 | $41,789 |
| 4 | $37,950 | $50,474 |
| 5 | $44,480 | $59,158 |
| 6 | $51,010 | $67,843 |
| 7 | $57,540 | $76,528 |
| 8 | $64,070 | $85,213 |
| Each extra person | +$6,530 | +$8,685 |
Alaska pregnancy Medicaid limitsHawaii pregnancy Medicaid limits
Who counts in your household when you're pregnant
For Medicaid, a pregnant woman's family size counts her plus the number of children she is expected to deliver (42 CFR 435.603(b)).
For WIC: if someone in your household is pregnant, you may increase your household size by one for each expected birth.
So a single pregnant woman expecting one baby is a household of two. Expecting twins, three.
Sources: eCFR (National Archives); USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
What the baby adds, at 200%
- Household of 1
- $31,920
- You + 1 baby
- $43,280
Counting the baby raises the limit by $11,360 a year in the 48 states and DC. 38 of 51 states set their pregnancy limit at 200% or higher.
What the percentages mean
The multiples in the chart, and what uses them for pregnant women and new parents.
| Percent | 1 person | What uses it |
|---|---|---|
| 100% | $15,960 | The guideline itself, and the income limit for Head Start and Early Head Start. Early Head Start serves pregnant women too. |
| 133% | $21,227 | The federal minimum for pregnancy Medicaid before the standard 5-point income disregard. With it, the floor is 138%. |
| 138% | $22,025 | The federal floor: every state covers pregnancy at least to here. Idaho and South Dakota stop there. |
| 185% | $29,526 | WIC's income limit, for pregnant and postpartum women, babies and children under 5. |
| 200% | $31,920 | 38 of 51 pregnancy Medicaid and CHIP programs reach at least this far. |
| 250% | $39,900 | 13 of 51 programs reach at least this far. |
Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Federal Register); eCFR / Code of Federal Regulations; KFF State Health Facts; KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families; USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register)
Your state's pregnancy Medicaid limit
Each state's upper limit as a percent of the guideline. Its page has the dollar limits for households of two to eight.
- AlabamaAlabama Medicaid317%
- AlaskaAlaska Medicaid (Denali KidCare)230%
- ArizonaAHCCCS161%
- ArkansasArkansas Medicaid214%
- CaliforniaMedi-Cal322%
- ColoradoHealth First Colorado265%
- ConnecticutHUSKY Health263%
- DelawareDelaware Medicaid217%
- District of ColumbiaDC Medicaid324%
- FloridaFlorida Medicaid196%
- GeorgiaGeorgia Medicaid225%
- HawaiiMed-QUEST196%
- IdahoIdaho Medicaid138%
- IllinoisIllinois Medicaid (Moms & Babies)213%
- IndianaIndiana Medicaid213%
- IowaIowa Medicaid220%
- KansasKanCare171%
- KentuckyKentucky Medicaid218%
- LouisianaLouisiana Medicaid (Healthy Louisiana)214%
- MaineMaineCare214%
- MarylandMaryland Medicaid264%
- MassachusettsMassHealth205%
- MichiganMichigan Medicaid200%
- MinnesotaMedical Assistance283%
- MississippiMississippi Medicaid199%
- MissouriMO HealthNet305%
- MontanaMontana Medicaid162%
- NebraskaNebraska Medicaid (Heritage Health)202%
- NevadaNevada Medicaid205%
- New HampshireNew Hampshire Medicaid201%
- New JerseyNJ FamilyCare205%
- New MexicoTurquoise Care (New Mexico Medicaid)255%
- New YorkNew York Medicaid223%
- North CarolinaNC Medicaid201%
- North DakotaNorth Dakota Medicaid175%
- OhioOhio Medicaid205%
- OklahomaSoonerCare210%
- OregonOregon Health Plan (OHP)190%
- PennsylvaniaMedical Assistance (Pennsylvania Medicaid)220%
- Rhode IslandRhode Island Medicaid258%
- South CarolinaHealthy Connections Medicaid199%
- South DakotaSouth Dakota Medicaid138%
- TennesseeTennCare255%
- TexasTexas Medicaid for Pregnant Women207%
- UtahUtah Medicaid144%
- VermontDr. Dynasaur (Vermont Medicaid)213%
- VirginiaCardinal Care (Virginia Medicaid)205%
- WashingtonApple Health215%
- West VirginiaWest Virginia Medicaid305%
- WisconsinBadgerCare Plus306%
- WyomingWyoming Medicaid159%
Also see WIC income limits at 185%, in effect since July 1, 2026, and Head Start and Early Head Start centers, free for families at or below 100%.
Questions about the 2026 poverty guidelines
What is the federal poverty level for 2026?
In the 48 contiguous states and DC, the 2026 HHS poverty guideline is $15,960 a year for one person, $21,640 for two and $33,000 for four, plus $5,680 for each person over eight. Alaska's is $41,250 and Hawaii's $37,950 for a family of four. The guidelines took effect January 13, 2026.
What is 138% of the poverty level in 2026?
$22,025 a year for one person, $29,863 for two and $45,540 for four, in the 48 states and DC. 138% is the federal floor for pregnancy Medicaid.
What is 200% of the poverty level for a family of four in 2026?
$66,000 a year, or about $5,500 a month, in the 48 states and DC. In Alaska it's $82,500 and in Hawaii $75,900.
Does an unborn baby count in household size?
For Medicaid, yes. For Medicaid, a pregnant woman's family size counts her plus the number of children she is expected to deliver (42 CFR 435.603(b)). WIC works the same way: if someone in your household is pregnant, you may increase your household size by one for each expected birth.
Who qualifies for Head Start in 2026?
Families at or below the poverty guideline: $27,320 a year for a family of three in the 48 states and DC, $34,150 in Alaska and $31,420 in Hawaii. Families who get TANF or SSI, are homeless, or have a child in foster care qualify at any income. Early Head Start also serves pregnant women on the same income rule (45 CFR 1302.12).
When do programs switch to the 2026 guidelines?
HHS published them in January 2026, effective January 13, 2026. Medicaid and CHIP limits are percentages of these figures; most programs update to new guidelines early each year. WIC uses its own table, which runs from July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027.
Sources
- 1.Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines (91 FR 1797, Jan. 15, 2026) U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 2.42 CFR 435.603(b), definition of family size eCFR (National Archives). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 3.Medicaid and CHIP Eligibility, Enrollment, and Renewal Policies as States Prepare for Major Medicaid Policy Changes (Table 2, January 2026) KFF and Georgetown University Center for Children and Families. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 4.Medicaid and CHIP Income Eligibility Limits for Pregnant Women as a Percent of the Federal Poverty Level (as of January 2026) KFF State Health Facts. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 5.WIC: 2026/2027 Income Eligibility Guidelines (91 FR 23050, Apr. 29, 2026) USDA Food and Nutrition Service (Federal Register). Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 6.WIC Eligibility USDA Food and Nutrition Administration. Accessed October 9, 2026.
- 7.45 CFR 1302.12, Determining, verifying, and documenting eligibility (Head Start Program Performance Standards) eCFR / Code of Federal Regulations.