The poverty line in Massachusetts for 2026 is $15,960 a year for a single person and $33,000 for a family of four, using the federal poverty guidelines that apply across the 48 contiguous states. Massachusetts does not set its own poverty line, but most state assistance programs stretch eligibility well past the federal baseline, often to 133%, 200%, or even 300% of it, because the cost of living here outruns the national figure.
2026 Poverty Guidelines by Household Size
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes updated guidelines each January. For 2026, the annual income thresholds at 100% of the federal poverty level 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
For households larger than eight, add $5,680 for each additional person.1Federal Register. Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines Federal law requires HHS to revise the figures annually based on the percentage change in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers.2Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 9902 – Definitions
Common Multiples of the Poverty Line
Most Massachusetts programs set income cutoffs at a multiple of the baseline. Here is what the three most common thresholds look like in 2026 dollars:3ASPE – HHS.gov. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States
- 133% FPL: $21,227 for one person / $43,890 for a family of four
- 150% FPL: $23,940 for one person / $49,500 for a family of four
- 200% FPL: $31,920 for one person / $66,000 for a family of four
Income Limits for Major Massachusetts Programs
MassHealth
MassHealth, the state Medicaid program, uses different cutoffs depending on who is applying. Adults 21 to 64 qualify for MassHealth Standard at or below 133% FPL. Those who earn more can qualify for MassHealth CarePlus up to 200% FPL. Children up to age 19 qualify for MassHealth Standard at incomes up to 300% FPL, and pregnant women qualify at up to 200% FPL. For a family of four in 2026, the 200% threshold is $66,000 and the 300% threshold is $99,000.3ASPE – HHS.gov. 2026 Poverty Guidelines – 48 Contiguous States
SNAP
Massachusetts sets its SNAP gross income limit at 200% FPL, higher than the federal 130% standard. Households must also meet a net income test at 100% FPL after allowable deductions for housing, childcare, and other expenses. The federal asset limit for Fiscal Year 2026 is $3,000 for most households, or $4,500 if any member is 60 or older or has a disability.4USDA Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP FY 2026 COLA Memo
Fuel Assistance
The Massachusetts Home Energy Assistance Program uses a different benchmark entirely. Eligibility for the 2025–2026 heating season reaches 60% of the estimated state median income, which runs well above the federal poverty line. For a one-person household, that threshold is roughly $51,777; for a household of three, it is about $83,641.5Mass.gov. Fiscal Year 2026 Home Energy Assistance Program Income Eligibility
How Household Size Is Counted
The guidelines scale with household size, but “household” is defined differently by each program. For MassHealth and Marketplace insurance, the household is generally your tax household: the filer, a spouse if filing jointly, and anyone claimed as a dependent. A pregnant applicant’s household size increases by the number of children expected, and spouses who live together but file separately may still be counted together.6CMS. Job Aid – Income Eligibility Using MAGI Rules
SNAP uses a different rule: your household is whoever lives with you and purchases or prepares food together, which can include non-relatives. The same family may show one household size for MassHealth and a different one for SNAP, so use each program’s own definition when you apply.
What Counts as Income
The poverty guidelines measure gross income, meaning your total earnings before taxes, retirement contributions, and health premiums are taken out. Countable sources include wages and salaries, self-employment earnings, unemployment benefits, Social Security, alimony, workers’ compensation, interest, dividends, and pension distributions.
Because the measure is gross rather than take-home, some families land above the poverty line on paper while their actual spending power is much lower. For MassHealth and Marketplace coverage, eligibility uses Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), which starts from your adjusted gross income and adds back items like untaxed foreign income, non-taxable Social Security benefits, and tax-exempt interest.7HealthCare.gov. Federal Poverty Level (FPL) – Glossary
Several categories are excluded. Non-cash benefits like donated food, clothing, or free housing generally do not count. Federal regulations also exclude energy assistance payments such as LIHEAP, HUD housing subsidies paid directly to a landlord, medical vendor payments, and childcare assistance.8eCFR. 7 CFR 273.9 – Income and Deductions Supplemental Security Income payments are excluded from MAGI calculations.
Asset Limits
Some programs look beyond income to the value of your savings and resources. For Supplemental Security Income, the 2026 resource limits are $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple.9Social Security Administration. 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Fact Sheet Your home and one vehicle are typically excluded, but bank accounts, stocks, and additional property count. SNAP uses the $3,000 limit noted above, with a $4,500 cap for households including someone 60 or older or disabled. MassHealth does not impose an asset test for most applicants; income alone determines eligibility.
Tax Credits for Low-Income Households
Earned Income Tax Credit
The federal EITC is a refundable credit for low- and moderate-income workers. For tax year 2026, the maximum federal credit is $8,231 for a taxpayer with three or more qualifying children.10Internal Revenue Service. IRS Releases Tax Inflation Adjustments for Tax Year 2026 Massachusetts adds its own EITC equal to 40% of the federal amount, also refundable.11Mass.gov. Massachusetts Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) A resident who receives the maximum $8,231 federal credit would receive an additional $3,292 from the state, for a combined $11,523.
Child Tax Credit
The federal Child Tax Credit provides a per-child credit for families with qualifying children. The One, Big, Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law on July 4, 2025, changed several aspects of the credit beginning with the 2025 tax year. For 2025, the full credit was available to single filers earning up to $200,000 and joint filers earning up to $400,000, with a partial credit above those amounts.12Internal Revenue Service. Child Tax Credit Check irs.gov for the current 2026 credit amount and phase-out thresholds, as the new law introduced changes that may affect eligibility.
Minimum Wage in Context
The Massachusetts minimum wage is $15.00 per hour, with no further increases currently scheduled. A full-time worker at that rate earns $31,200 a year. That figure sits well above the 2026 poverty line for one person at roughly 195% FPL, but for a family of four it falls just under the $33,000 line, placing the household at about 95% FPL. A two-earner household at minimum wage would bring in $62,400, or about 189% FPL for a family of four, keeping it inside the eligibility range for programs like MassHealth CarePlus and SNAP.