Free tool
Gas assistance income limit calculator
Nearly every fuel assistance programme decides on a multiple of the federal poverty level. Find your number.
What this tells you
Enter your household size and annual income and this calculator shows your income as a percentage of the 2026 federal poverty level, then lists the eligibility cutoffs you fall under. 200% of the poverty level is the cutoff used most often — $66,000 for a household of four. Everything is calculated in your browser and nothing is stored or sent.
Why this number matters
Most agencies decide on one figure
Before they look at anything else, a caseworker works out your household income as a percentage of the federal poverty level. 200% is the line you will meet most often.
Knowing your number before you call saves a conversation, and tells you straight away whether to focus on the general assistance routes or the medical ones, which reach much higher.
2026 income limits by household size
The three cutoffs gas assistance programmes use most, for the 48 contiguous states and DC
In plain language: 200% of the poverty level is the cutoff you will meet most often — that is $66,000 for a household of four in 2026. Alaska's figures are 25% higher and Hawaii's 15% higher.
View this data as a table
| Household size | 100% | 150% | 200% |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $23,940 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $32,460 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $40,980 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $49,500 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $58,020 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $66,540 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $75,060 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $83,580 | $111,440 |
Source: HHS poverty guidelines published in the Federal Register, 15 January 2026. The one-person figure ($15,960) and the $5,680 increment are the published values; intermediate rows are calculated from them.
Which cutoff matters for which programme
| Cutoff | Used by |
|---|---|
| 150% of FPL | Many LIHEAP and crisis assistance programmes |
| 185% of FPL | Some church and ministry gas voucher funds |
| 200% of FPL | The most common cutoff — Community Action Agencies, Ohio PRC gas cards, Geauga County transportation vouchers, most free-car programmes, several Salvation Army offices |
| 250% of FPL | California Low Cost Automobile Insurance |
| 600% of FPL | Blood Cancer United travel grant, adjusted by ZIP code cost of living |
A different measure to watch for
Some programmes use Area Median Family Income rather than the poverty level. One Oregon community aid group sets its gas voucher limit at 80% of area median income, which in a high-cost area is considerably more generous than 200% of FPL. If an agency quotes a percentage, ask which measure it is.
Which year of guidelines applies
A programme may still be working from the previous year’s figures. Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for 2026 coverage, for example, use the 2025 guidelines. If you are close to a cutoff, ask the agency which year they apply.
Sources
- HHS poverty guidelines for 2026, published in the Federal Register, 15 January 2026. The one-person figure of $15,960 and the $5,680 per-person increment are the published values; this calculator derives all other household sizes from them.
- Programme cutoffs taken from published eligibility rules of the named organisations.
Every figure on this page is taken from the programme's own published material or a government document. Where sources disagree or a figure could not be confirmed, we say so in the text rather than guessing. See how we verify.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
What is the income limit for free gas cards?
There is no single limit, because each programme sets its own. The most common cutoff by a wide margin is 200% of the federal poverty level, which for 2026 is $31,920 for one person and $66,000 for a household of four in the 48 contiguous states. Some ministry funds use 185%, crisis programmes often use 150%, and medical travel grants go much higher — Blood Cancer United's travel assistance reaches 600% of the guidelines.
What is 200% of the federal poverty level in 2026?
For the 48 contiguous states and DC: $31,920 for one person, $43,280 for two, $54,640 for three, $66,000 for four, and $77,360 for five. Each additional person adds $11,360 at the 200% level. Alaska's figures are 25% higher and Hawaii's 15% higher. These derive from the 2026 guidelines published in the Federal Register in January 2026.
My income is above the limit. Is there anything for me?
Yes, several things. Medical travel programmes are far more generous — Blood Cancer United reaches 600% of the poverty level. Medicaid non-emergency medical transportation depends on Medicaid eligibility rather than a separate income test. Many church and ministry funds assess need rather than applying an income formula at all. And Modest Needs exists specifically for working people who earn just above the poverty line and are therefore shut out of conventional assistance.
Does this calculator store my income?
No. The calculation happens entirely in JavaScript on your own device. There is no server, no database and no analytics capturing what you type. You can confirm this by disconnecting from the internet — the calculator still works, because nothing about it depends on a connection.