University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign

What Is "FPL"?

Federal poverty levels (FPLs) are often used to determine whether individuals or families are eligible for certain government programs. The federal poverty level is a measure of income issued every year by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).
What is "FPL"?

How FPL Works

Each January, the U.S. Census Bureau issues a set of preliminary poverty thresholds that vary by family size and composition to determine who lives in poverty.

table with poverty threshold data
Poverty thresholds by size of family and number of children

These thresholds are used mainly for statistical purposes such as preparing estimates of the number of Americans living in poverty each year.

Then, later in January, HHS issues poverty guidelines based on these thresholds. The poverty guidelines are often referred to as the federal poverty level (FPL).

Federal programs can use the guidelines (or percentage multiples of the guidelines — for instance, 130% or 185% of the federal poverty level) to determine eligibility for certain programs that support young children and their families.

In turn, the poverty guidelines are used to determine grant funds for these programs by federal administering agencies.

  • Poverty Guidelines

    U.S. Federal Poverty Guidelines Used to Determine Financial Eligibility for Certain Programs

FPL Data on IECAM

The Illinois Early Childhood Asset Map provides comprehensive early childhood data and maps to local and state agencies and other stakeholders in order to improve outcomes for Illinois children.

Users can find information about young children living in families at various federal poverty levels in Illinois with the push of a few buttons.

Using the Data Hub

On the Data Hub, select “Demographic Estimates” and then hit the “Details” button and choose a geography, such as Adams County, to get poverty data for that area. You can get poverty level by Census tract by clicking on the map. Below you can also see bar charts of poverty data for two age groups: age 2 and under and ages 3, 4, and 5.

  • Visit the Data Hub

    Our interactive data tool provides a variety of early childhood data in maps and charts. There you can find monthly enrollment data on the number of children participating in select early childhood programs. It also has eligibility estimates for CCAP and Head Start as well as demographic estimates for population, poverty status, and race/ethnicity.

  • Contact IECAM

    IECAM is always happy to assist you with finding the federal poverty level data you need.