What Is the Poverty Line in Tennessee for a Single Person?

The poverty line represents a measure of economic hardship, indicating the minimum income a household needs to afford basic necessities. This nationally standardized measure helps quantify the scope of poverty and serves as a benchmark for various programs. It provides a consistent reference point across the country for assessing financial need.

Understanding Federal Poverty Guidelines

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is responsible for issuing the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) annually. These guidelines serve as the official poverty measure for administrative purposes, determining eligibility for a wide range of federal programs. For the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia, the guidelines are uniform. This means that states like Tennessee utilize the same FPG as most other states in the continental U.S. While Alaska and Hawaii have separate, higher guidelines to account for their elevated costs of living, the core methodology remains consistent.

The Current Poverty Line for a Single Person in Tennessee

For the calendar year 2025, the Federal Poverty Guideline for a single person in the 48 contiguous states and the District of Columbia is $15,650 annually. This amount applies to an individual residing in Tennessee, aligning the state’s poverty threshold with most other states.

How the Poverty Line is Used

The Federal Poverty Guidelines serve as a benchmark for determining eligibility for numerous federal and state assistance programs. These programs aim to provide support to individuals and families experiencing financial hardship. Eligibility criteria are frequently set as a percentage of the FPG, allowing for different levels of support based on income relative to the poverty line.

For example, programs such as Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Head Start, and various housing assistance initiatives often use these guidelines. An individual’s income might be evaluated against thresholds like 100%, 138%, or 200% of the FPG to determine their qualification for benefits. This percentage-based approach allows for a tiered system of support.

Factors Influencing the Poverty Line and Annual Updates

The Federal Poverty Guidelines undergo an annual update by the Department of Health and Human Services. These adjustments primarily reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which measures the average change over time in the prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. By incorporating CPI data, the guidelines are adjusted to account for inflation, helping to ensure the poverty line maintains its purchasing power over time. These annual updates are typically released early in each calendar year, providing current figures for program administrators and the public. Individuals seeking the most recent official FPG information can generally find it published on the HHS website.