The federal poverty level (FPL) is used to determine eligibility for various assistance programs. It is based on the size of a household and the state in which one resides. The FPL is the same in 48 of the 50 states, with the exceptions being Alaska and Hawaii, which have higher FPLs due to the higher cost of living. The FPL is updated annually. For example, in 2023, the FPL for a household of one in the 48 contiguous states was $12,880, and for a household of two, it was $17,420
. In the 48 contiguous states, the FPL for a household of one in 2023 was $12,880 annually, and for a household of two, it was $17,420 annually
