The poverty line in Utah by household size follows the federal poverty guidelines the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services publishes each January. For 2026, a single person in Utah is at the poverty line with annual income of $15,960, and a family of four reaches it at $33,000. Utah uses the same figures as the other 46 contiguous states; only Alaska and Hawaii get higher numbers.
2026 Poverty Guideline Amounts for Utah
These are the annual income thresholds that apply in Utah for 2026:
- 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.1U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 2026 Poverty Guidelines The same number applies in every Utah county, so a household in Sanpete County and a household in Salt Lake City are measured against identical thresholds.
How to Count Your Household
Which row applies to you depends on how many people are in your household, and that count is tied to your federal tax return. For most programs, a household includes the tax filer, their spouse, and anyone claimed as a tax dependent on the same return.2HealthCare.gov. Who to Include in Your Household Children under 19, and full-time students under 24, generally count as dependents when they rely on you for more than half their financial support.
Multi-generational homes raise the common question. An adult parent or grandparent living with you may not count toward your household size if they file their own return and are not listed as your dependent. If you do claim them, they are part of your household for poverty-level purposes. The test is always whether they appear on your tax return.
What Counts as Income
Most Utah assistance programs measure eligibility using modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). It closely tracks the adjusted gross income shown on your federal return. MAGI includes wages, salaries, self-employment earnings, tips, Social Security retirement and disability payments, unemployment compensation, rental income, and alimony received under divorce agreements finalized before January 1, 2019.3Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Job Aid – Income Eligibility Using MAGI Rules
Several income types are excluded. Child support payments, Supplemental Security Income, veterans’ benefits, workers’ compensation, and loan proceeds do not count toward MAGI.3Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Job Aid – Income Eligibility Using MAGI Rules Non-cash benefits like housing subsidies and food assistance are also left out.
If you are self-employed, the calculation starts with your gross business revenue but allows deductions for actual business costs such as supplies, equipment, and insurance premiums. The net figure is what gets added to your household total.
Which Programs Use the Poverty Line, and at What Level
Almost no Utah program cuts off eligibility at exactly 100% of the poverty line. Programs apply a multiplier, so households earning well above the base figures above can still qualify. Multiply your household’s threshold by the percentage below to see where you stand.
Medicaid
Utah expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, covering adults aged 19 to 64 with household income up to 138% of the federal poverty level.4Utah Department of Health and Human Services. Medicaid Expansion For a single adult in 2026, that works out to roughly $22,025 a year. Children have different thresholds by age: kids from birth through age 5 qualify with family income up to 200% of the poverty level, and children aged 6 through 18 qualify at up to 133%.5Utah Department of Workforce Services. Child 0 – 5 Medical Utahns who are blind or disabled may qualify at 100% of the poverty level through a separate Medicaid category.
SNAP (Food Assistance)
Utah’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program generally requires gross income at or below 130% of the federal poverty level and net income (after allowable deductions) at or below 100%.6USDA Food and Nutrition Service. SNAP Eligibility For a family of four, the 130% gross figure is about $42,900 a year in 2026. Utah uses broad-based categorical eligibility, which can raise the effective gross income limit in some cases.
HEAT (Home Energy Assistance)
Utah’s Home Energy Assistance Target program helps cover heating and cooling costs. Eligibility requires total household income at or below 150% of the federal poverty level.7Utah Department of Workforce Services. Home Energy Assistance Target For a family of four in 2026, that is $49,500 a year, or about $4,125 a month.8DWS Doorway. Utility Assistance Applicants need proof of all income received by every household member in the month before applying.
What the Poverty Line Does Not Measure
The guideline numbers don’t adjust for where in Utah you live. Housing costs vary sharply between the Wasatch Front, resort communities, and rural counties, and the poverty line treats them all the same. A $33,000 income for a family of four goes much further in Price than in Park City. The guidelines also don’t account for childcare, out-of-pocket healthcare costs, or transportation in parts of the state where public transit is limited. That gap is one reason most assistance programs set their cutoffs above 100% of poverty, and why checking your income against the specific program percentages above tells you more than comparing it to the base poverty number alone.