What Is Considered Low Income in Massachusetts?

There is no single income figure that defines low income in Massachusetts. Each assistance program sets its own cutoff, and the same household can be “low income” for one program and over the limit for another. As a rough span, the cutoffs for a single person run from about $15,960 a year (the 2026 Federal Poverty Level) up to $92,650 (HUD’s “low income” line for the Boston metro area). For a family of four, the range runs from $33,000 to $132,300. Where you land depends on which benchmark the program uses and, for housing, where in the state you live.

The Two Benchmarks Behind Almost Every Cutoff

Most Massachusetts programs measure eligibility against one of two yardsticks.

The Federal Poverty Level is a national figure updated each year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For 2026, the FPL is $15,960 for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four.1HealthCare.gov. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) – Glossary Programs then set their line at a percentage of the FPL. SNAP uses 200%, WIC uses 185%, Emergency Assistance uses 115%, and MassHealth uses several tiers depending on the applicant category. The higher the percentage, the more people qualify.

The Area Median Income works differently. HUD calculates a median income for each metropolitan area or county based on local wages, then defines tiers as a percentage of that number: 30% of AMI is “extremely low income,” 50% is “very low income,” and 80% is “low income.”2eCFR. 24 CFR 93.2 – Definitions Because wages in the Boston area are much higher than in the Berkshires, the dollar amounts attached to each AMI tier differ sharply across the state. A family of four earning $130,000 counts as low income for HUD purposes in Boston. The same income in a lower-wage county would not.

One program uses a third benchmark. Fuel Assistance (HEAP) is tied to the State Median Income rather than the FPL or AMI, which is why its income ceilings sit well above those of SNAP or WIC.

2026 Income Limits by Program

Below are the approximate annual gross income ceilings for a single person and a family of four for the most common Massachusetts programs. HUD figures reflect the Boston-Cambridge-Quincy metro area for fiscal year 2025; limits are lower in other parts of the state.

These numbers surprise people who associate “low income” with near-poverty. In the Boston area, a four-person household earning well into six figures still qualifies as low income under HUD rules, because the local median is that high. The flip side: SNAP’s $66,000 ceiling for a family of four looks generous until you compare it to Boston rents.

Housing in Particular

Section 8 vouchers, public housing, and HOME-funded programs all use AMI tiers, but qualifying is not the same as getting help. Waiting lists usually prioritize households at the 30% AMI tier, so a family at 75% of AMI may technically qualify and still wait years. Massachusetts also runs state-aided public housing with its own limits published by the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, which do not always mirror the HUD figures. If you’re applying for housing assistance, check both.

MassHealth and ConnectorCare

MassHealth, the state’s Medicaid program, sets different FPL ceilings for different applicant groups. The state publishes a 2026 chart with thresholds at 100%, 133%, 150%, 190%, 200%, 225%, and 250% of the FPL depending on category.9Commonwealth of Massachusetts. 2026 MassHealth Income Standards and Federal Poverty Guidelines As a general pattern, adults without children qualify at lower FPL percentages, while children and pregnant individuals qualify at higher ones. If your income is above the MassHealth line, ConnectorCare offers subsidized private plans up to 400% of the FPL, with larger subsidies at the lower end of that range.

How Your Income Gets Counted

Most programs look at gross income, which means everything the household earns before taxes or deductions: wages, self-employment, Social Security, unemployment, disability, and pensions. A household generally means the people living together who function as one economic unit, though the exact definition varies by program.

Income that doesn’t feel like income still counts in most cases. Social Security benefits count. Unemployment counts. Regular cash gifts from family can count. Some payments are commonly excluded, though. For SNAP, legally obligated child support paid to someone outside the household is excluded, and foster care payments for a child treated as a boarder are also excluded.10eCFR. 7 CFR 273.9 – Income and Deductions SNAP also lets you deduct shelter costs, dependent care, and certain medical expenses for elderly or disabled household members from your gross income before comparing to the net income limit. Households that look over the gross line sometimes qualify once high rent or childcare is factored in.

Healthcare is the exception. MassHealth and ConnectorCare use Modified Adjusted Gross Income, which starts with your tax return’s adjusted gross income, subtracts items like student loan interest and IRA contributions, then adds back non-taxable Social Security benefits and tax-exempt interest.11Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Job Aid – Income Eligibility Using MAGI Rules Supplemental Security Income does not count toward MAGI, but Social Security Disability Insurance does. If your income is near the MassHealth cutoff, running the MAGI calculation carefully can make the difference.

Asset Limits That Can Disqualify You Even at Low Income

Income is only part of the picture. Supplemental Security Income caps countable resources at $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple as of 2026.12Centers for Medicaid & Medicaid Services. 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards Countable resources include bank balances, stocks, and bonds, but not your home, one vehicle, or personal belongings. That $2,000 cap hasn’t been adjusted for inflation in decades.

Federal housing programs take a different route. There’s no asset cap for eligibility, but income your assets generate (interest, dividends) gets added to your annual income.13HUD Occupancy Handbook. Exhibit 5-2 – Assets Furniture, clothing, and cars are excluded. Assets given away for less than fair market value within two years of applying can still be counted, which blocks the obvious workaround.

SNAP in Massachusetts applies no asset test for most categorically eligible households, so income alone usually determines whether you qualify.

Tax Credits When You’re Above the Assistance Lines

Earning too much for direct assistance doesn’t mean nothing is available. The federal Earned Income Tax Credit is worth up to $8,231 for tax year 2026 for workers with three or more qualifying children.14Internal Revenue Service. IRS Releases Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026 It’s refundable, meaning you receive it even if you owe no tax. Income limits vary by filing status and number of children. For tax year 2025, a single filer with one child could earn up to $50,434 and still claim the credit.15Internal Revenue Service. Earned Income and Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) Tables

The federal Child Tax Credit provides up to $2,200 per qualifying child for 2026, with a refundable portion of up to $1,700. The full credit is available with income below $200,000 ($400,000 married filing jointly).16Internal Revenue Service. Child Tax Credit Massachusetts offers its own state EITC pegged to the federal credit. These credits only reach you if you file a return and claim them, so filing is worth the effort even when your income is below the filing threshold.

The figures above are starting points. Deductions, household composition, asset rules, and program-specific definitions all affect the final answer. Updated income limits are published on Mass.gov by the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities whenever thresholds change.