What is the 2026 poverty guideline for a family of four in Maine?

$33,000. Alaska and Hawaii use higher guidelines. Maine uses the 48-state and D.C. table.

Is a $48,000 household eligible for LIHEAP in Maine?

Maybe — the state picks the line inside the federal range. Federal law keeps states from shutting out a household solely because income is under 110 percent of poverty, and it lets them set the line as high as the greater of 150 percent of poverty or 60 percent of state median income. This household is at 145 percent of poverty. This is an illustration for two adults and two children, not a determination.

Benefits / Maine

LIHEAP in Maine

The federal energy-aid band in Maine runs from 110 percent of poverty to at least 150 percent. For four people, the 2026 poverty guideline is $33,000. The exact line the state chose, and the state median-income option, are not verified here. This site does not approve or deny benefits. A missing figure stays blank. We do not guess it.

Who is inside the federal band for energy assistance? The federal band runs from 110 percent to at least 150 percent of $33,000 for a household of four. The exact line Maine chose is not verified on this page.

Maine has no metro in the top 100 population ranking, so this page stays on statewide rules.

Maine taxes wages at rates up to 7.15%. Combined state and local sales tax is 5.5%. The ACS effective property tax rate is 0.91%.

A household of four with $48,000 of income is about 145 percent of the $33,000 poverty guideline and is a maybe for LIHEAP. Maybe — the state picks the line inside the federal range.

Limits behind the page

2026 poverty guideline in Maine
Household	100%	138%	185%
1	$15,960	$22,025	$29,526
2	$21,640	$29,863	$40,034
3	$27,320	$37,702	$50,542
4	$33,000	$45,540	$61,050

An illustrative household

Two adults, ages 34 and 32, filing jointly, plus children ages 8 and 3. Gross income $48,000 a year, about 145 percent of the poverty guideline in Maine. They rent. Nobody is marked disabled or pregnant.

LIHEAP

Maybe

Maybe — the state picks the line inside the federal range

Federal law keeps states from shutting out a household solely because income is under 110 percent of poverty, and it lets them set the line as high as the greater of 150 percent of poverty or 60 percent of state median income. This household is at 145 percent of poverty.
Income is inside the 150 percent option. Whether this state uses that line, a lower one, or 60 percent of state median income is not verified.

LIHEAP at the Administration for Children and Families

Check my household · Privacy

Food stamps (SNAP) tools in Maine

Last checked: October 15, 2026

Sources

What changed

October 15, 2026. The benefit rules file was checked against the sources listed here.
January 15, 2026. HHS published the 2026 poverty guidelines in the Federal Register.