Low-income households
Free gas cards for low-income households
The cutoffs programmes really use, where to apply, and the honest limits on what you will receive.
Most gas assistance for low-income households uses a cutoff of 200% of the federal poverty level — $31,920 for one person or $66,000 for a household of four in 2026. The best starting point is your Community Action Agency, which is funded by the Community Services Block Grant, covers nearly every county, and is not restricted to energy bills the way LIHEAP is.
Expect $25 to $100, once every 6 to 12 months, as a voucher rather than cash. Ohio is the exception: its county PRC programmes fund up to $600 a year in some counties.
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.
The 2026 income limits
| 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 |
Each additional person beyond eight adds $5,680 at the 100% level. Use the calculator to get your own percentage.
Where low-income households should apply
Your Community Action Agency
The most flexible funder in the country. CSBG rules let agencies respond to individual circumstances rather than a rigid formula, and crucially they are not limited to energy expenses. Say clearly that you need fuel for a vehicle, not home heating.
2-1-1, asking for gas vouchers by name
Free and usually answered 24 hours a day. Ask which agencies currently have funds, and request three names.
Your county welfare office, if work is involved
Ask for diversionary assistance, emergency assistance or supportive services. In Ohio ask about PRC, which funds gas cards directly.
Churches, St. Vincent de Paul and FISH ministries
Where same-day help lives. Typically $25, often requiring a form and copies of bills.
Your LIHEAP application, in the same appointment
LIHEAP will not buy motor fuel, but clearing a utility bill frees household cash — and it is usually administered by the same Community Action Agency that may have fuel funds.
What if you are over the limit?
Being over 200% does not end the search. Three routes go higher or ignore income:
- Medical travel grants. Blood Cancer United’s travel assistance reaches 600% of the poverty guidelines, adjusted for your ZIP code’s cost of living.
- Medicaid transport. Depends on Medicaid eligibility rather than a separate income test, and can pay mileage or issue gas vouchers indefinitely.
- Need-based church funds. Many congregations assess the situation rather than applying an income formula.
- Modest Needs. Built specifically for working people who earn just above the poverty line and are shut out of conventional assistance. Note that it funds car repairs, not fuel, and pays the garage directly.
Watch which measure they use
Not every programme uses the poverty level. One Oregon community aid group sets its gas voucher limit at 80% of Area Median Family Income — in a high-cost area that is considerably more generous than 200% of FPL. If an agency quotes a percentage, ask which measure it refers to.
Ask which year of guidelines applies
Programmes sometimes run a year behind. Affordable Care Act premium tax credits for 2026 coverage use the 2025 guidelines, for example. If you are near a cutoff, ask.
Fixing the car is often cheaper than fuelling it
A dragging brake, a failing oxygen sensor, worn spark plugs or underinflated tyres can cost more than 10% in fuel economy. Car repair assistance is therefore fuel assistance, and it is badly under-publicised:
- Ohio PRC — Mercer County funds up to $3,000 of vehicle repair over 36 months for a household’s only vehicle
- Michigan Direct Support Services — funds repairs where the vehicle is the primary means of transport for employment (note: not State Emergency Relief, which excludes repairs)
- Modest Needs — auto repair is a covered category, paid directly to the garage
- Local technical colleges and high school auto programmes — often charge parts only for work done by students under supervision. Available in most counties and almost never mentioned anywhere
- Nonprofit garages — a growing sector offering income-qualified labour at or below cost
Sources
- HHS poverty guidelines for 2026, Federal Register, 15 January 2026. The one-person figure and the $5,680 increment are published values; other rows are calculated from them.
- Community Action Partnership state associations roster, October 2025.
- County PRC plans published via jfs.ohio.gov (Fulton, Mercer, Miami, Lucas, Geauga).
- Michigan Office of Administrative Hearings decisions on State Emergency Relief and Direct Support Services.
- modestneeds.org self-sufficiency grant guidance.
- bloodcancerunited.org Susan Lang Pay-It-Forward travel assistance eligibility.
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 for low-income families?
Most programmes use 200% of the federal poverty level, which in 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 a few use Area Median Income instead, which can be more generous in expensive areas. Each programme sets its own figure, so always ask.
Where do low-income families get gas vouchers?
Start with your Community Action Agency, which is funded by the Community Services Block Grant, covers nearly every county, and unlike LIHEAP is not restricted to energy bills. Then call 2-1-1 and ask specifically for gas vouchers. Churches, St. Vincent de Paul conferences and FISH ministries are the most likely to help the same day, and in Ohio the county PRC programme funds gas cards outright.
How much gas help can a low-income family get in a year?
From any single charity, usually one award of $25 to $100 every 6 to 12 months. The exception is Ohio's county PRC programmes: Mercer County funds up to $100 a month to a $600 annual ceiling, and Fulton County issues four $100 cards a year to employed households under 200% of the poverty level. Families in ongoing difficulty generally work through several agencies rather than returning to one.
Can I get gas help if I am working?
Yes, and for several programmes employment is a requirement rather than a disqualification. Ohio's Fulton County PRC gas cards are specifically for employed households under 200% of the poverty level, and Miami County requires 30 days of employment at 32 or more hours a week for vehicle assistance. TANF and WIOA fuel help is likewise built around work, interviews and training.
Does a gas voucher count as income for SNAP or housing assistance?
A small charitable gas voucher is not normally treated as income and does not usually affect benefits. Larger in-kind gifts are different — a donated vehicle can count as income or an asset and may affect food or housing assistance — so check before accepting one. If you are unsure, ask the agency issuing the help how it reports the assistance.