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The definition of "low income" can vary by household size, where you live and even the age of family or household members. It may not always be easy to put a specific number to the definition of low income, but that shouldn't keep you from getting the financial assistance you need.
Below, you'll find a long list of assistance programs specifically for low-income households. But first, we'll explain how low income is defined.
Defining low income
A commonly used definition of low income in the U.S. is the government-established federal poverty level.
The FPL is calculated each year by the Department of Health and Human Services, and it’s used to determine eligibility for a variety of assistance programs from nonprofit organizations, private companies and organizations, and specific federal programs. Examples include:
These guidelines are adjusted each year for inflation.
In 2023, the federal poverty level definition of low income for a single-person household is $14,580 annually. Each additional person in the household adds $5,140 to the total. For example, the poverty guideline is $30,000 per yearfor a family of four.
This standard applies in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia. There are separate guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii that reflect the higher cost of living in those states.
However, as you would expect with the myriad rules of many government policies and programs, defining “low income” can get more complicated.
The measure of low income can vary
Some federal programs will use the FPL guideline number with a multiplier, such as 125%, 150% or 185%, to set eligibility. Nonfederal programs may use an entirely different multiplier.
The threshold for low-income benefits can also depend on the federal, state or local government agency or advocacy organization.
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Programs that use the federal poverty level
Here are some of the federal programs that rely on the FPL definition of low income — or percentage multiples of it — to define qualification.
Head Start: This program provides early childhood education, health and nutrition services to low-income children and their families. To find a program in your area, use the Head Start Center Locator.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program: This program helps eligible low-income households with their heating and cooling bills.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: This program assists eligible low-income individuals and families with the purchase of food.
Health Professions Student Loans — Loans for Disadvantaged Students.
Job Opportunities for Low-Income Individuals.
Medicare – Prescription Drug Coverage (subsidized portion only).
Migrant Health Centers.
Scholarships for Health Professions Students from Disadvantaged Backgrounds.
Department of Agriculture
Child and Adult Care Food Program (for free and reduced-price meals only).
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program.
National School Lunch Program (for free and reduced-price meals only).
School Breakfast Program (for free and reduced-price meals only).
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children — or WIC.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (formerly Food Stamp Program).
Department of Energy
Weatherization Assistance for Low-Income Persons.
Department of Labor
Job Corps.
National Farmworker Jobs Program.
Senior Community Service Employment Program.
Workforce Investment Act Youth Activities.
Department of the Treasury
Low Income Taxpayer Clinics.
Corporation for National and Community Service
Foster Grandparent Program.
Senior Companion Program.
Legal Services Corporation
Legal services for low-income individuals and families.
Other low-income guidelines and programs to note
The Department of Housing and Urban Development determines the eligibility of applicants for assisted housing programs such as Section 8 by calculating a percentage of the median income for a particular area.
The tax credit for low- to moderate-income working individuals and families, known as the Earned Income Tax Credit, does not use the FPL guidelines. Instead, the IRS has an eligibility tool for the EITC.
The Department of Education's Federal TRIO Programs — which provide services for disadvantaged and low-income students, as well as first-generation college students and individuals with disabilities — have their own definition of household income to determine eligibility.
How to find local and state low-income assistance programs
There is even more help available to low-income households through some programs that are administered on the state and local level. To find assistance near you, search for your state's department of health and human services.
Another far-reaching resource is 211.org, where a phone call or visit to the website can connect you to resources on a broad range of matters.
If you’re struggling to cover essentials, see our guide to finding help with bills. And with recent drops in SNAP payments, along with high grocery prices, it's important to know how to stretch your food benefits.
These guidelines are adjusted each year for inflation. In 2023, the federal poverty level definition of low income for a single-person household is $14,580 annually. Each additional person in the household adds $5,140 to the total. For example, the poverty guideline is $30,000 per year for a family of four.
According to the most recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, the poverty threshold for a family of four is $29,960.For an individual, the poverty threshold is $14,891.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services uses the Census Bureau threshold to determine who is eligible for certain government assistance programs, like SNAP (food stamps). Under their guidelines, a family of four is considered impoverished if they earn $30,000 or less per year.
About 50 million Americans have household incomes below 125% of poverty, including more than 15 million children. In 2022, household incomes below 125% of poverty correspond to annual incomes below $34,500 for a family of four or $17,500 for an individual.
Families with incomes below 200% of the federal poverty threshold—$52,492 for two adults and two related children in 2020—are often classified as “low-income.” Families are classified as being in “deep poverty” if their income falls below 50% of the poverty guidelines ($13,123 for a family of four).
Think You Couldn't Live On $30,000 A Year? Yes, You can! You typically can get by on $30,000 in annual take-home pay. But you would probably live more comfortably on that money in Kansas than in New York City—given the much lower cost of living.
Well, it depends. A $40,000 salary may be sufficient for an individual in a low-cost area, but it may not be enough for a family to live comfortably in most parts of the US. Rising inflation has made it more challenging to live on a $40,000 salary, but it still exceeds the poverty threshold for families.
In 2023, the federal poverty level definition of low income for a single-person household is $14,580 annually. Each additional person in the household adds $5,140 to the total. For example, the poverty guideline is $30,000 per year for a family of four.
Middle-class income currently ranges from a little under $40,000 to a little over $119,000. The definition of middle class extends beyond income to factors like education, location and marital status.
The gap between high and low incomes is wider in California than in most other states. In 2022 (the most recent data available), families at the top of the income distribution—the 90th percentile—earned 11 times more than families at the 10th percentile ($305,000 vs. $29,000, respectively).
Updated on Sept. 13 with the latest U.S. Census Bureau data. The national median household income is $74,580, according to the most recent U.S. Census Bureau Current Population Survey data for 2022. It's a 2.3% decline from 2021 estimates of $76,330.
According to the most recent report issued in January 2023, the poverty threshold for a family of four is $29,960.For an individual, the poverty threshold is $14,891. The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issues its poverty guidelines based on the Census Bureau's poverty thresholds.
Where you rank by income. According to the Census Bureau's Income in the United States: 2022 report, the median household income is $74,580 (a 2.3% decline from 2021), while household income levels for each class level are as follows: Lower class: less than or equal to $30,000. Lower-middle class: $30,001 – $58,020.
Overall it's a good salary but it depends on the location. Many people who live in SF, NYC, LA, and other top tier cities would say it is not so high. In SF for instance the median 2016 household income was $84,160.
Is $30,000 a Good Salary for a Single Person? No, $30,000 is not a great salary for a single person, but it can be livable depending on the person's location and expenses. The average personal income in the United States is $63,214 per year, which is more than double the $30k mark.
Many have graduate degrees with educational attainment serving as the main distinguishing feature of this class. Household incomes commonly exceed $100,000, with some smaller one-income earners household having incomes in the high 5-figure range. "The upper middle class has grown...and its composition has changed.
Introduction: My name is Francesca Jacobs Ret, I am a innocent, super, beautiful, charming, lucky, gentle, clever person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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