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HHS Poverty Guidelines

The HHS poverty guidelines are used to determine eligibility for many means-tested programs, including Medicaid and CHIP. The guidelines are updated annually by HHS using CPI-U-based adjustments.

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Jan 14, 2026
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What federal programs use HHS poverty guidelines for eligibility and how have those thresholds changed over time?

The HHS poverty guidelines are the administrative “Federal Poverty Level” figures that agencies use to determine eligibility for many means-tested programs — most prominently Medicaid and the Children...