2025 HHS poverty guidelines
The public-domain table behind income-driven student loan payments.
The 2025 HHS Poverty Guidelines set the income line used by income-driven student loan plans. For the 48 contiguous states and DC, the guideline is $15,650 for one person, plus $5,500 for each additional person (a family of four is $32,150). Alaska and Hawaii are higher. IBR protects 150% of this guideline and charges a percentage of the rest. RAP, the new plan, uses total AGI instead. General information, not advice.
Source: HHS / ASPE 2025 Poverty Guidelines. Data as of June 2026.
General information, not financial or legal advice. Federal student loan rules are changing in 2025-2026 under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act - figures here are estimates from public sources and the final program rules are still being implemented. Always verify with your loan servicer and studentaid.gov. See our disclaimer.
2025 poverty guideline by family size
| Household size | 48 states & DC | Alaska | Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,650 | $19,550 | $17,990 |
| 2 | $21,150 | $26,430 | $24,320 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $33,310 | $30,650 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $40,190 | $36,980 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $47,070 | $43,310 |
| 6 | $43,150 | $53,950 | $49,640 |
| 7 | $48,650 | $60,830 | $55,970 |
| 8 | $54,150 | $67,710 | $62,300 |
Source: HHS / ASPE 2025 Poverty Guidelines (Federal Register, Jan 17 2025). Data as of June 2026.
For households over 8 people, add per additional person: $5,500 (48 states), $6,880 (Alaska), $6,330 (Hawaii). These are the 2025 HHS Poverty Guidelines. Income-driven repayment payments are figured using the guideline in effect when the borrower applies/recertifies. ED uses the prior year's guideline during most of a calendar year; verify the exact figure used at studentaid.gov.
How it sets your IBR income floor (150% of guideline)
IBR protects 150% of the poverty guideline; only income above that line counts toward your payment.
| Family size | 2025 guideline (48 states) | 150% protected (IBR) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,650 | $23,475 |
| 2 | $21,150 | $31,725 |
| 3 | $26,650 | $39,975 |
| 4 | $32,150 | $48,225 |
| 5 | $37,650 | $56,475 |
| 6 | $43,150 | $64,725 |
Source: HHS / ASPE 2025 Poverty Guidelines (Federal Register, Jan 17 2025). Data as of June 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 2025 federal poverty guidelines?
For the 48 contiguous states and DC, the 2025 HHS poverty guideline is $15,650 for one person, plus $5,500 for each additional person (so a family of four is $32,150). Alaska and Hawaii use higher figures.
How do poverty guidelines affect my student loan payment?
Income-driven plans protect part of your income. IBR uses 150% of the poverty guideline for your family size: your payment is a percentage of the income above that line (your discretionary income). The bigger your family, the higher the protected amount and the lower your payment. RAP, by contrast, uses total AGI rather than the poverty guideline.
Which year's guidelines does my servicer use?
Servicers apply the poverty guideline in effect when you apply or recertify - typically the prior year's table for most of a calendar year. This page shows the 2025 figures; verify the exact guideline used on your application at studentaid.gov.
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Last updated: 2026-06-22