In 2026, the Indiana poverty level is $15,960 a year for a single person, and it climbs by $5,680 for each additional person in the household.1Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines Indiana uses the federal poverty guidelines published each January by the Department of Health and Human Services, the same figures that apply across the 48 contiguous states. Whether that number means you qualify for help depends on the program: most Indiana assistance programs set their cutoffs at a percentage of the poverty level, and that percentage ranges from 35% for cash assistance to 185% for WIC.
2026 Poverty Guidelines by Household Size
The 2026 guidelines for Indiana are:1Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines
- 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
These are gross annual amounts, meaning total earnings before taxes, insurance premiums, or other paycheck deductions. HHS updates the figures each year based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 9902 – Definitions
What Counts as Income
Indiana agencies compare your household’s gross income against the guidelines. That includes wages, salaries, tips, commissions, and overtime, plus recurring payments like Social Security benefits, pensions, alimony, and child support.3HUD. Exhibit 5-1 – Income Inclusions and Exclusions
If you work for yourself, programs generally count net profit — business revenue minus allowable business expenses — rather than gross receipts.4CMS. Job Aid – Income Eligibility Using MAGI Rules The exact deductions depend on the program.
Some income is left out. Non-cash help like SNAP benefits does not count. One-time money such as an inheritance, an insurance settlement, or capital gains from selling property or stocks is generally excluded too.3HUD. Exhibit 5-1 – Income Inclusions and Exclusions The focus is on steady cash you can spend on everyday needs.
Who Counts in Your Household
Household size decides which row of the guidelines applies to you. A household usually starts with the tax filer and includes a spouse living in the same home, plus dependents — generally children under 19 or older children enrolled full-time in college.5United States Census Bureau. Subject Definitions
Agencies look for people who share finances and live together as one economic unit. Roommates who split rent but keep their money and taxes separate are each counted as a household of one.
Indiana Program Income Limits
Few Indiana programs cut off eligibility at exactly 100% of the poverty level. Each program sets its own percentage, and some use a different measure entirely. The figures below reflect the most recently published limits for each program, since the agencies update their tables on different schedules.
SNAP Food Assistance
SNAP, administered by the Indiana Family and Social Services Administration, generally requires gross monthly income at or below 130% of the poverty level. Through September 30, 2026, the gross monthly limits are:6IN.gov. Income
- 1 person: $1,696/month ($20,352/year)
- 2 people: $2,292/month ($27,504/year)
- 3 people: $2,888/month ($34,656/year)
- 4 people: $3,483/month ($41,796/year)
- Each additional person: add $596/month
SNAP also applies a net income test at 100% of the poverty level after deductions such as housing costs and dependent care are subtracted. Most households must meet both the gross and net tests. If every member of your household already receives SSI or TANF, the income limits do not apply.6IN.gov. Income
Healthy Indiana Plan
The Healthy Indiana Plan (HIP) covers adults 19 to 64 with household income up to 138% of the federal poverty level.7Family and Social Services Administration. Am I Eligible The 138% comes from the Medicaid expansion formula: 133% plus a 5% income disregard.8Family and Social Services Administration. Federal Poverty Level Income Chart Against the 2026 guidelines, that works out to roughly $22,025 a year for one person and about $45,540 for a family of four. Members with income between 101% and 138% of the poverty level pay a monthly contribution of up to $20 for an individual.
TANF Cash Assistance
Indiana sets the TANF cutoff at just 35% of the federal poverty level, one of the lowest thresholds of any program. For a family of three, the gross income limit is roughly $778 per month.9IN.gov. About TANF
Child Care Vouchers (CCDF)
Families earning up to 135% of the poverty level, or about $44,550 a year for a family of four, can apply for subsidized child care if they need it for work, a job search, or an education program.10IN.gov. Child Care Vouchers
WIC
Pregnant women, new mothers, and children under five can qualify for WIC with household income up to 185% of the poverty level, about $29,526 a year for a single person.
Energy Assistance Program
Indiana’s Energy Assistance Program does not use the poverty level at all. Eligibility is based on 60% of the state median income, which produces higher dollar limits than most poverty-based programs. A household of four can earn up to $64,533 a year and still qualify.11IN.gov. Energy Assistance Program (EAP)
Asset Limits
Income is not always the only test. Federal SNAP sets asset limits of $3,000 for most households and $4,500 for households with a member 60 or older or with a disability, though many states waive the SNAP asset test in some circumstances, leaving income as the main barrier.12USDA Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP COLA FY26 Memo – Maximum Asset Limits
Supplemental Security Income has much tighter resource limits: $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple in 2026.13Social Security Administration. 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet HIP, by contrast, uses income-based eligibility through the modified adjusted gross income method and does not impose a separate asset limit on most applicants.
Applying and Reporting Changes
You can apply for SNAP, HIP, TANF, and other FSSA programs through the FSSA Benefits Portal at fssabenefits.in.gov. The same portal is where you report changes later.
Eligibility is reviewed on a schedule, and you must report changes in income or household size that could affect your benefits. For Medicaid-based programs like HIP, the state tries to renew you automatically using data it already has, but if it cannot verify your information it must give you at least 30 days to respond. Miss that window and coverage can be terminated. SNAP recipients report changes under the rules given at approval. A new job, a raise, a lost paycheck, or a new household member can move you across the limit, and reporting promptly keeps the state from later recovering benefits as overpayments.