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Also see: Population in Poverty in Los Angeles County.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is required by law to set income limits that determine the eligibility of applicants for HUD's assisted housing programs.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) also issues updated Federal Poverty Guidelines each year. These numbers are a simplification of U.S. Census Bureau poverty thresholds that federal agencies may use for administrative purposes, such as determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs. The guidelines are the same for all 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia (with separate guidelines for Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories).
The following tables show both HUD and HHS guidelines for 2024/2025 and, for comparison, guidelines for 2014.
Also see guidelines for 2023 & 2013 | 2022 & 2012 | 2021 & 2011
2020 & 2010 | 2019 & 2009 | 2018 & 2008.
HUD guidelines here effective as of April 1, 2024.
HUD 2024 median family income for Los Angeles County determined to be $98,200.
HHS Federal Poverty Level guidelines (see note #4) were effective as of Jan. 17, 2024.
| Family Size (Persons in Family/Household) |
Annual Family Income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUD Low Income Level 1 | HUD Very Low Income Level 2 | HUD Extremely Low Income Level 3 | Federal Poverty Level* | ||
| 1 | $77,700 | $48,550 | $29,150 | $15,060 | |
| 2 | $88,800 | $55,450 | $33,300 | $20,440 | |
| 3 | $99,900 | $62,400 | $37,450 | $25,820 | |
| 4 | $110,950 | $69,350 | $41,600 | $31,200 | |
| 5 | $119,850 | $74,900 | $44,950 | $36,580 | |
| 6 | $128,750 | $80,450 | $48,300 | $41,960 | |
| 7 | $137,600 | $86,000 | $51,600 | $47,340 | |
| 8 | $146,500 | $91,550 | $54,950 | $52,720 | |
| For each additional person in family more than 8, Add: | --- | --- | --- | $5,380 | |
1) Low-Income Families are defined as families whose incomes do not exceed 80 percent of the median family income.
2) Very Low-Income families do not exceed 50 percent of the median family income.
3) In 2010, Extremely Low-Income families did not exceed 30 percent of the median family income. The FY 2014 Consolidated Appropriations Act, however, changed the definition of Extremely Low-Income to be the greater of 30/50ths (60 percent) of the Section 8 very low-income limit or the poverty guideline as established by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), provided that this amount is not greater than the Section 8 50% very low-income limit. Consequently, the extremely low income limits may equal the very low (50%) income limits.
4) For each person in excess of eight, the 4-person limit for this income category is multiplied by an additional 8 percent (rounded up to the nearest $50).
Source: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
For comparison, here are guidelines from a decade ago (notes for table above also apply to following table):
HUD guidelines here effective as of December 18, 2013 (revised for Extremely Low Income Limits, July 1, 2014).
HUD 2014 median family income for Los Angeles County determined to be $60,600.
HHS Federal Poverty Level guidelines (see note #4) were effective as of Jan. 22, 2014.
| Family Size (Persons in Family/Household) |
Annual Family Income | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HUD Low Income Level 1 | HUD Very Low Income Level 2 | HUD Extremely Low Income Level 3 | Federal Poverty Level* | ||
| 1 | $45,650 | $28,550 | $17,150 | $11,670 | |
| 2 | $52,200 | $32,600 | $19,600 | $15,730 | |
| 3 | $58,700 | $36,700 | $22,050 | $19,790 | |
| 4 | $65,200 | $40,750 | $24,450 | $23,850 | |
| 5 | $70,450 | $44,050 | $27,910 | $27,910 | |
| 6 | $75,650 | $47,300 | $31,970 | $31,970 | |
| 7 | $80,850 | $50,550 | $36,030 | $36,030 | |
| 8 | $86,100 | $53,800 | $40,090 | $40,090 | |
| For each additional person in family more than 8, Add: | --- | --- | --- | $4,060 | |
