Most Community Action Agency services have income eligibility requirements. Programs have different eligibility thresholds, most of which are based on a multiple or percentage of the poverty level. The federal government establishes and updates the federal poverty level annually.
Income Eligibility for Select Programs
- Head Start: Children from families with income at or below 100% of the federal poverty level are eligible for Head Start and Early Head Start. Head Start programs may enroll up to 35% of their funded slots with families with incomes up to 130% of the federal poverty level, provided they can demonstrate an attempt to first enroll families with incomes at or below 100% of the poverty level. Additionally, Head Start and Early Head Start programs can enroll up to 10% of their enrollment with families whose income exceeds the limits if the child is part of a locally determined need area, such as children with disabilities. For more information on Head Start and Early Head Start eligibility, please consult the Head Start Act (Sec. 645. [42 U.S.C. 9840]).
- Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP): Federal law (42 USC Ch. 94) permits states to set LIHEAP eligibility at 150% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). Illinois uses the highest amount by household size. For 99% of eligible households, the eligibility threshold will be 60% of SMI. For very large families (12 people or more), 150% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) is used. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services posts LIHEAP memoranda, including income eligibility changes, on its website.
- Community Services Block Grant (CSBG): Federal CSBG law (42 USC Ch. 106) sets income eligibility at 125% of the federal poverty level. Appropriation acts passed by Congress since the COVID pandemic have increased eligibility to 200% of the federal poverty level, where it remains.
- Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP): IHWAP eligibility is 200% of the federal poverty level, but households may categorically qualify at slightly higher income levels. For example, households that receive LIHEAP can be deemed eligible even if their income is slightly above 200% of the federal poverty level.
Note: The chart below is provided for general informational purposes only. Please consult each program's official eligibility guidance, as it may differ from this chart due to rounding or seasonal variations. For example, while new poverty and median income guidelines are typically issued in January, LIHEAP only updates its eligibility at the beginning of a program year.
| 2026 Eligibility | Head Start | Up to 35% of HS Slots | LIHEAP | CSBG, Weatherization |
| HH Size | 100% | 130% | 60% SMI | 200% |
| 1 | $15,960 | $20,748 | $39,979 | $31,920 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $28,132 | $52,281 | $43,280 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $35,516 | $64,582 | $54,640 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $42,900 | $76,884 | $66,000 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $50,284 | $89,185 | $77,360 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $57,668 | $101,486 | $88,720 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $65,052 | $103,793 | $100,080 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $72,436 | $106,099 | $111,440 |
How is the Federal Poverty Level Calculated?
The United States did not have an official poverty measure before the 1960s. Click the image below to learn about the development of the poverty level and how the original model for calculating poverty has remained in use.