How to Use the Federal Poverty Level Percent Checker
Instead of Korea's "median income percent" system, U.S. federal assistance programs typically measure eligibility against the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), a set of income thresholds published annually by the Department of Health and Human Services based on household size. Enter your household size and annual income to see what percent of the FPL you fall at — a figure used directly by programs like Medicaid, SNAP, CHIP, and premium tax credits under the ACA marketplace to determine eligibility.
Different programs draw the eligibility line at different percentages: many states expanded Medicaid to cover adults up to 138% of FPL, while other programs like LIHEAP or CHIP often extend up to 150-200% depending on the state. This tool gives a general orientation only — exact program rules, state variations, and what counts as "income" differ, so confirm your actual eligibility through your state Medicaid office, healthcare.gov, or benefits.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
In states that adopted Medicaid expansion, adults with income at or below 138% of the Federal Poverty Level generally qualify for Medicaid. States that did not expand Medicaid may use a much lower threshold.
Many programs, including CHIP in several states, LIHEAP, and some SNAP state options, extend eligibility up to around 130-200% of FPL. The exact cutoff differs by program and state.