For a single person in Virginia, “low-income” is not one number. It depends on which program you’re asking about. Most start from the 2026 Federal Poverty Level of $15,960 per year and apply their own multiplier: free civil legal aid cuts off around $19,950, Medicaid expansion at $22,025, SNAP at roughly $25,824 gross per year, and HUD housing assistance anywhere from $27,550 in rural counties to $57,400 in Northern Virginia. What is considered low-income for a single person in Virginia therefore depends on what you’re trying to qualify for and, for housing, where you live.
The Federal Poverty Level Baseline
Nearly every means-tested program in Virginia starts from the Federal Poverty Guidelines published each year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For 2026, the guideline for a one-person household in the contiguous 48 states is $15,960 per year.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States Programs then multiply that number — 138 percent for Medicaid, 165 percent for SNAP, 125 percent for legal aid — to set their own ceiling. Knowing the base figure lets you estimate several programs at once.
Medicaid: $22,025 for a Single Adult
Virginia’s Medicaid expansion covers adults ages 19 through 64 whose income falls at or below 138 percent of the Federal Poverty Level. For a single person in 2026, that’s $22,025 per year, or $1,836 per month.2Department of Medical Assistance Services. Adults 19-64 Years Old The statutory cap is actually 133 percent, but a 5 percent income disregard is applied automatically, so applicants between 133 and 138 percent still qualify.
Eligibility uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income, which counts earnings before most deductions but includes no asset or resource test.3Medicaid.gov. Eligibility Policy Savings, a car, or modest investments won’t disqualify you. The dollar threshold is the same statewide, whether you live in Arlington or Wise County.
If You’re 65 or Older, Blind, or Disabled
A separate and much stricter pathway applies to single adults who qualify through age (65 and older), blindness, or disability. The 2026 monthly income limit for this group is $1,084, roughly $13,008 per year.4CoverVA – Department of Medical Assistance Services. Medicaid for Persons Who Are Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) This pathway also includes a resource limit, and the income calculation uses SSI methodology rather than MAGI. The two tests are not interchangeable: a person who narrowly misses expansion may still qualify under ABD if they meet the age or disability criteria.
SNAP: $2,152 Per Month for Food Assistance
Virginia uses Broad-Based Categorical Eligibility to raise the SNAP gross income limit above the standard federal 130 percent of poverty. Under the fiscal year 2026 guidelines, a single-person household can have gross monthly income up to $2,152, which equals 165 percent of the Federal Poverty Level.5Virginia Department of Social Services. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Exceed that and you’re out, regardless of expenses. Pass the gross income test and you still have to clear a net income test after deductions for housing, utilities, and certain other costs.
The maximum monthly SNAP benefit for one person in fiscal year 2026 is $298.6Food and Nutrition Service. Fiscal Year 2026 D-SNAP Income Eligibility Standards Your actual benefit drops as your countable income rises, because SNAP assumes about 30 percent of net income goes toward food. Someone with very little net income after deductions receives close to the full $298; someone near the ceiling may receive only the minimum.
The Work Requirement That Catches Single Adults
Single adults 18 through 54 without dependents face an extra condition. Under the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents rules, you must work or participate in a qualifying work program for at least 80 hours per month. Fail to meet that, and benefits stop after three months.7Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Work Requirements Paid employment, unpaid labor, and volunteer hours all count. Meeting the income test alone is not enough to keep benefits.
HUD Housing: It Depends on Where You Live
Federal housing programs don’t use the Federal Poverty Level at all. They use Area Median Income for your specific locality. HUD publishes income limits each year for every Virginia metro area and county, divided into tiers.8HUD USER. Income Limits For a single person, the two tiers that matter most are very low-income (50 percent of AMI) and extremely low-income (30 percent of AMI).
Because local wages differ so much across Virginia, the dollar cutoffs look very different depending on where you live. FY 2025 limits for a one-person household in selected areas:9HUD USER. FY2025 Adjusted HOME Income Limits – Virginia
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria metro: $57,400 (very low-income); $34,450 (extremely low-income)
- Richmond metro: $39,750 (very low-income); $23,850 (extremely low-income)
- Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News metro: $37,300 (very low-income); $22,400 (extremely low-income)
- Charlottesville metro: $44,050 (very low-income); $26,450 (extremely low-income)
- Accomack County: $27,550 (very low-income); $16,550 (extremely low-income)
A single person in Northern Virginia can earn $57,400 and still count as very low-income for HUD purposes. A single person in Accomack County hits that same classification at $27,550. The gap reflects local cost of living.
Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) primarily serve the very low-income tier. HUD directs local housing authorities to prioritize extremely low-income applicants, so single adults at or below 30 percent of AMI generally move up waitlists faster. Preference categories including veteran status, disability, and homelessness also affect placement.10U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Housing Choice Voucher Tenants
Energy, Phone, and Legal Aid Thresholds
Virginia’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program covers single adults at or below 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.11The LIHEAP Clearinghouse. LIHEAP Income Eligibility for States and Territories For one person in 2026, that’s about $23,940 per year, higher than the Medicaid cutoff. Some people who earn too much for Medicaid still qualify for help with heating and cooling. Benefits are seasonal; Virginia typically opens applications before the heating and cooling months.
The federal Lifeline program subsidizes phone and internet for single adults at or below 135 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines, about $21,546 per year for one person.12Universal Service Administrative Company. Consumer Eligibility Participation in Medicaid, SNAP, or other qualifying programs makes you automatically eligible regardless of income.
Organizations funded by the Legal Services Corporation, which supplies most free civil legal aid in Virginia, can serve individuals earning up to 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.13eCFR. 45 CFR Part 1611 – Financial Eligibility For a single person in 2026, that’s $19,950. This matters if you face an eviction, a benefits denial, or a family law case without the money to hire counsel. Some Virginia legal aid providers use non-LSC funding to serve people at higher income levels, so apply even if you’re slightly above the cutoff.
Low-wage workers also have the Earned Income Tax Credit, though for single adults without children it’s modest. For tax year 2025, a childless single filer can receive a maximum credit of $649, phasing out entirely once adjusted gross income exceeds $19,104.14Internal Revenue Service. Earned Income and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Tables You must be at least 25 and no older than 64, and you need earned income from work. The IRS had not published 2026 figures at the time of writing; they typically rise slightly each year for inflation.
The Thresholds Side by Side
Putting the 2026 numbers for a single person in order makes it easier to see where you fall:
- Free legal aid (LSC-funded): $19,950/year (125% FPL)
- Lifeline phone and internet: about $21,546/year (135% FPL)
- Medicaid expansion: $22,025/year (138% FPL)
- LIHEAP energy assistance: about $23,940/year (150% FPL)
- SNAP food assistance: about $25,824/year gross (165% FPL)
- HUD very low-income: $27,550 to $57,400/year, depending on locality (50% AMI)
Many single adults in Virginia qualify for some programs but not others. Someone earning $23,000 per year exceeds the Medicaid cap but can still apply for SNAP, LIHEAP, and HUD housing assistance. The programs don’t share a definition of “low-income,” so check each one on its own terms.