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  • HHS Poverty Guidelines for 2023

    The 2023 Health & Human Services Poverty Guidelines

    The following figures are the 2023 Health & Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines published in the Federal Register on January 19, 2023.

    Persons in Family or Household 48 Contiguous States and Washington, D.C. Alaska Hawaii
    1 $14,580 $18,210 $16,770
    2 $19,720 $24,640 $22,680
    3 $24,860 $31,070 $28,590
    4 $30,000 $37,500 $34,500
    5 $35,140 $43,930 $40,410
    6 $40,280 $50,360 $46,320
    7 $45,420 $56,790 $52,230
    8 $50,560 $63,220 $58,140
    For each additional person add  $5,140 $6,430  $5,910

    The following figures are the 2022 Health & Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines published in the Federal Register on January 21, 2022.

    Persons in Family or Household 48 Contiguous States and Washington, D.C. Alaska Hawaii
    1 $13,590 $16,990 $15,630
    2 $18,310 $22,890 $21,060
    3 $23,030 $28,790 $26,490
    4 $27,750 $34,690 $31,920
    5 $32,470 $40,590 $37,350
    6 $37,190 $46,490 $42,780
    7 $41,910 $52,390 $48,210
    8 $46,630 $58,290 $53,640
    For each additional person add $4,720 $5,900 $5,430

    Complete details on Poverty Guidelines from 1996 to the present can be found at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) Web page for Poverty Guidelines.

    Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Poverty Guidelines

    Why am I receiving a Poverty Guideline letter?

    This is for your information only and no further action is needed on your part. On an annual basis, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services updates the Poverty Guidelines. This letter serves as your annual notification of the changes to the Poverty Guideline amounts. In a previous letter, we notified you that the U.S. Department of Education had approved your total and permanent disability (TPD) discharge request and that you had entered into a three-year post-discharge monitoring period. This letter also explained how the Poverty Guidelines are used to determine your continued eligibility for your TPD discharge throughout the three-year post-discharge monitoring period.

    What if my family size is less/greater than 2?

    For purposes of monitoring your continued TPD discharge eligibility throughout the three-year post-discharge monitoring period, we use the Poverty Guideline amount for a family of two in your state, regardless of your actual family size.

    What forms of income are used to determine if I am exceeding the Poverty Guidelines or not?

    The only income used to determine if you are exceeding the Poverty Guideline amount is income from employment.

    Type of Income Counts Toward Poverty Guideline Amount?
    Earnings from wages, tips or other taxable employee pay Yes
    Earnings from self-employment Yes
    Supplemental Security Income (SSI) No
    Child Support No
    Federal or state assistance No
    Retirement Plan Income No
    Unemployment Benefits No
    Your spouse's income (from any source) No
US Department of Education and Nelnet
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