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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).
Also see guidelines for 2022 & 2012 | 2021 & 2011 | 2020 & 2010 | 2019 & 2009 | 2018 & 2008.
The following tables show both HUD and HHS guidelines for 2023/2024 and, for comparison, guidelines for 2013.
HUD guidelines here effective May 15, 2023. 2023 median family income for Los Angeles County was 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 | HHS Federal Poverty Levels | ||
| 1 | $70,650 | $44,150 | $26,500 | $15,060 | |
| 2 | $80,750 | $50,450 | $30,300 | $20,440 | |
| 3 | $90,850 | $56,750 | $34,100 | $25,820 | |
| 4 | $100,900 | $63,050 | $37,850 | $31,200 | |
| 5 | $109,000 | $68,100 | $40,900 | $36,580 | |
| 6 | $117,050 | $73,150 | $43,950 | $41,960 | |
| 7 | $125,150 | $78,200 | $46,950 | $47,340 | |
| 8 | $133,200 | $83,250 | $50,560 | $52,720 | |
| For each additional person in families of more than 8, add: | ---4 | ---4 | ---4 | $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 determined 2013 median family income for Los Angeles County to be $61,900.
| 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 | HHS Federal Poverty Levels | ||
| 1 | $47,250 | $29,550 | $17,750 | $11,170 | |
| 2 | $54,000 | $33,750 | $20,250 | $15,130 | |
| 3 | $60,750 | $37,950 | $22,800 | $19,090 | |
| 4 | $67,450 | $42,150 | $25,300 | $23,050 | |
| 5 | $72,850 | $45,550 | $27,350 | $27,010 | |
| 6 | $78,250 | $48,900 | $29,350 | $30,970 | |
| 7 | $83,650 | $52,300 | $31,400 | $34,930 | |
| 8 | $89,050 | $55,650 | $33,400 | $38,890 | |
| For each additional person in families of more than 8, add: | ---4 | ---4 | ---4 | $3,960 | |
