In Michigan, low income is measured against the federal poverty guidelines, which for 2026 set the poverty line at $15,960 a year for one person and $33,000 for a family of four. What is considered low income in Michigan then depends on the program: food assistance reaches households up to 130% of that line, Medicaid up to 133%, heating help up to 110%, crisis energy aid up to 150%, and weatherization up to 200%. A household that earns too much for one benefit often still qualifies for another.
The 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines Michigan Uses
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes the poverty guidelines each January, and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) uses them to evaluate applications for Medicaid, food assistance, energy help, and cash benefits.1Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines For the 48 contiguous states, including Michigan, the 2026 figures are:
- 1 person: $15,960
- 2 people: $21,640
- 3 people: $27,320
- 4 people: $33,000
- 5 people: $38,680
- 6 people: $44,360
- 7 people: $50,040
- 8 people: $55,720
- Each additional person: add $5,680
Those numbers are 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL). Almost no Michigan program draws its line exactly there. Each benefit sets a multiplier, which is why one household can be “low income” for energy help but not for Medicaid, or the reverse.2HealthCare.gov. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) – Glossary
Income Limits by Program
The table below shows where each major Michigan benefit cuts off. Compare your household’s annual income against the figure for your household size at the listed percentage.
- Food Assistance Program (SNAP): 130% of FPL gross monthly income, 100% net. For a family of four, that is $3,483 gross and $2,680 net per month.
- Healthy Michigan Plan (Medicaid for adults 19–64): 133% of FPL. About $21,227 a year for one person, $43,890 for a family of four.
- LIHEAP heating assistance: 110% of FPL.
- LIHEAP crisis assistance: 150% of FPL.
- Weatherization Assistance Program: 200% of FPL.
- Court fee waiver (without cash assistance): 125% of FPL.
Income also matters differently depending on the source. MDHHS counts wages, self-employment income, Social Security, and most other taxable income, but Modified Adjusted Gross Income rules for Medicaid generally exclude things like child support received or Supplemental Security Income.
Food Assistance
Michigan’s Food Assistance Program (FAP) is the state version of SNAP. For October 2025 through September 2026, your household must pass two income tests: gross monthly income at or below 130% of FPL and net monthly income, after deductions for housing, child care, and other allowable expenses, at or below 100%. Households with an elderly or disabled member only have to meet the net test.3USDA Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Eligibility
Most FAP households have faced no asset limit at all since March 2024. The exception applies if someone in the household has been disqualified for an intentional program violation or certain other reasons; then the asset limit is $3,000, or $4,500 if the household includes someone age 60 or older or a person with a disability.4State of Michigan. Eligibility
One rule to watch if you are an adult without dependents: starting December 1, 2025, able-bodied adults ages 18 through 54 must work at least 20 hours per week, participate in a Michigan Works! training program, or perform community service to keep food assistance beyond three months. Several counties and cities, including Detroit, Flint, and a number of rural northern counties, are exempt. Adults who are pregnant, have a disability, or live with a child under 14 are also exempt.
Medicaid Through the Healthy Michigan Plan
The Healthy Michigan Plan covers adults ages 19 through 64 who earn at or below 133% of FPL. In 2026 that works out to roughly $21,227 a year for a single person and about $43,890 for a family of four.5State of Michigan. Who Is Eligible
If MDHHS denies your application or reduces your coverage, you have the right to appeal. The state must send written notice of any adverse action, continue your benefits during the appeal if you request a hearing promptly, and provide a fair hearing before an impartial decision-maker.6State of Michigan. Appeals and Grievances Technical Requirements
A federal Medicaid work requirement for expansion-population adults takes effect January 1, 2027. As of mid-2026, Michigan has not moved to implement it early.
Housing Vouchers
The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA) runs the Housing Choice Voucher Program, formerly Section 8, which helps very low-income families, elderly residents, and people with disabilities afford private-market rentals. MSHDA is the largest statewide public housing agency in the country and currently assists more than 29,000 families across all 83 counties.7State of Michigan. Housing Choice Voucher Program (HCV)
Demand far exceeds supply. Waitlists are common and sometimes closed. If you are on one, keep your contact information current with the local housing authority; losing touch is the most common way people lose their place.
Energy and Utility Help
LIHEAP Heating and Crisis Payments
The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program pays toward heating bills for households at or below 110% of FPL. For fiscal year 2026, the maximum heating benefit is estimated at $2,205, though the actual amount depends on household size, income, and a statewide proration factor.8State of Michigan MDHHS. Proposed LIHEAP State Plan FY26
Crisis assistance has a higher ceiling, 150% of FPL, and covers emergencies like shutoff notices or broken furnaces. Year-round crisis payments can reach $900, with higher amounts for households using deliverable fuels like oil or propane.8State of Michigan MDHHS. Proposed LIHEAP State Plan FY26
Weatherization
The Weatherization Assistance Program provides free home improvements: insulation, air sealing, ventilation upgrades, and smoke detectors meant to permanently reduce energy bills. Homeowners and renters at or below 200% of FPL qualify. If you already receive cash assistance or Supplemental Security Income, you qualify automatically. Local Community Action Agencies administer the program.9State of Michigan MDHHS. Energy and Weatherization
State Emergency Relief
State Emergency Relief (SER) handles one-time crises that threaten health or safety, including utility shutoffs. You need low income and no more than $15,000 in countable savings; your home, car, and household items do not count. SER is not meant for ongoing hardship. You must show the emergency is unlikely to recur and that you have been paying at least part of your bills.
Tax Credits and the Minimum Wage
Michigan’s Earned Income Tax Credit equals 30% of whatever federal EITC you qualify for, an expansion from the previous 6% rate that took effect under Public Act 4 of 2023. The credit is refundable, so you receive it even if you owe no state income tax. A household getting a $4,000 federal EITC would receive an additional $1,200 from Michigan. Many eligible workers never claim it because they do not know it exists or assume they earn too little to file.10Michigan Department of Treasury. Michigan Earned Income Tax Credit for Working Families
Effective January 1, 2026, Michigan’s minimum wage is $13.73 per hour, up from $12.48. Tipped employees must be paid at least $5.49 per hour, 40% of the full rate, with tips making up the difference. Workers ages 16 and 17 can be paid $11.67 per hour. A training wage of $4.25 per hour applies to newly hired employees under 20 for their first 90 calendar days.11Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Michigan’s Minimum Wage Set to Increase on Jan. 1, 2026 The wage is scheduled to rise again in 2027 and will be adjusted annually for inflation after 2028.12Michigan Legislature. S.B. 8 Minimum Wage Increase
Court Fee Waivers and Free Legal Help
Filing fees can block access to the courts. Michigan Court Rule 2.002 gives you two paths to waiving or suspending them. If you receive cash public assistance (TANF, Family Independence Program payments, or Supplemental Security Income), the court must suspend fees automatically once you show proof of benefits. Food assistance and Medicaid alone do not trigger the automatic suspension.13Michigan Courts. Waiver/Suspension of Fees/Costs for Indigent Person
Without cash assistance, you can still qualify by showing household income below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines, representation by a federally recognized legal services organization, or that paying the fees would prevent you from covering basic necessities.13Michigan Courts. Waiver/Suspension of Fees/Costs for Indigent Person
Organizations like Legal Aid of Western Michigan offer free representation to low-income residents in housing, public benefits, consumer, and family law matters. The Michigan Legal Help website provides self-help tools for people handling simpler matters alone.
Keep Your Benefits: Report Changes Within 10 Days
Once you are approved for any MDHHS-administered benefit, you must report household changes within 10 days. That covers starting or losing a job, changes in pay rate or hours, someone moving in or out, and address changes. For income, the clock starts when you receive your first paycheck at the new amount.14State of Michigan MDHHS. Reporting Changes – When, How, and What to Report
You can report through MI Bridges, by phone, in writing, or in person at a local MDHHS office. If you receive Family Independence Program cash assistance, the timeline for reporting a child leaving your home is shorter: five days from when you know the child will be gone 30 or more days.14State of Michigan MDHHS. Reporting Changes – When, How, and What to Report
Late reporting can lead to benefit reductions or case closure. If the state later determines you received benefits you were not entitled to because of unreported changes, it will seek repayment. Michigan law also preserves the right to criminally prosecute people who receive overpayments through fraud.15Michigan Legislature. Michigan Code 400.43a – Recovery of Overpayments