HI · benefits by state
Hawaii benefits: SNAP, Medicaid, ACA, WIC and Section 8
Hawaii runs every program on its own poverty guideline and SNAP scale, and its SNAP utility table has no heating and cooling allowance at all: bills count item by item.
Federal and Hawaii figures read on official sources on · Checked by Radif Partners · How we calculate
- SNAP maximum, 4 people
- $1,655
- FY 2027, from October 1, 2026
- SNAP gross income limit, 3 people
- $5,237/mo
- 200% of poverty (BBCE)
- Medicaid, single adult
- $2,111/mo
- 138% of poverty
- Children, family of 3
- $8,195/mo
- 313% of poverty, Medicaid
- WIC limit, 3 people
- $50,542/yr
- 185% of poverty, to June 30, 2027
- Section 8 very low income, 4 people
- $60,500 to $77,000
- 5 counties or towns, FY 2026
Hawaii's figures are built on a poverty guideline of its own, $37,950 a year for four people in 2026 against $33,000 in the 48 contiguous states, and SNAP uses a Hawaii scale as well. The gross income test is 200% of that guideline, $5,237 a month for three in fiscal year 2027, with no asset limit, and the maximum for four is $1,655. Hawaii has no heating and cooling allowance; instead the USDA table lists one standard per utility, such as $376 for electricity in a three-person home. A Hilo family of three earning $3,300 with $1,500 rent and an electric bill would receive about $819 a month. Hawaii expanded Medicaid, called Med-QUEST: a single adult qualifies up to $2,111 a month, and children are covered up to 313% of poverty, $8,195 a month for a family of three.
Household income in Hawaii
92% of poverty
$28,800 a year against the 2026 guideline of $31,420 for 3 people
- SNAP food benefitsFY 2027 amounts; no utility allowanceLikely eligible$910/mo
- Medicaid for the parentsHawaii: 138% of the poverty guidelineWithin the limitlimit $3,613/mo
- Medicaid or CHIP for the childrenChildren 6 to 18, 313% of the guidelineWithin the Medicaid limitlimit $8,195/mo
- Marketplace premium tax creditAmount depends on the benchmark premium where you liveMedicaid comes first94% of 2025 FPL
- Earned income tax credit (2026)2 qualifying children, single or head of householdCredit at tax time$6,282/yr
- WIC (pregnancy or a child under 5)Nutrition risk is assessed at the WIC clinicWithin 185% of povertylimit $50,542/yr
- Section 8 housing voucherLimits are set by county: check yours in the Section 8 lookup.
A first screening under each program's published 2026 rules; every agency counts income and household its own way and decides on your application. How this is calculated.
No heating allowance, one standard per bill
In the USDA table, Hawaii is the only state whose rows carry no heating and cooling figure (New Jersey's are marked pending). Hawaii's rows are sized by household instead, and each lists separate standards for electricity, gas, water, sewage and trash (USDA SUA table). For one person, electricity is $299 and water $67; for three, $376 and $83; telephone is $43 at every size. The table also marks these standards as optional, so a household's actual costs can be used instead when they are higher. How several bills combine is for the agency to decide; the example below uses electricity alone.
The Hilo family has $3,300 of wages. Hawaii's SNAP deductions are larger than on the mainland: the standard deduction is $306 instead of $217, and the shelter cap $1,036. After the 20% earnings deduction, $2,334 is left. Rent and the $376 electricity standard make $1,876, the excess over half of income is $709, net income $1,625, and the Hawaii maximum for three, $1,307, minus $488 gives $819. If the landlord paid the electricity, the estimate would fall to $706. Even so, Hawaii's maximum is about 62% above the mainland figure of $1,023 for four. The SNAP calculator handles the Hawaii scale.
Med-QUEST on the Hawaii guideline
The Med-QUEST Division covers expansion adults at 138% of the Hawaii guideline, $2,111 a month for one person, where the same percentage is $1,835 in Ohio. A line cook in Kahului earning $2,000 a month is at 131% of poverty and qualifies. Children up to 19 stay on Medicaid to 313% (CMS levels), with no separate CHIP listed, and pregnant women qualify to 196%, $4,065 a month for two. Above Med-QUEST, Hawaii uses HealthCare.gov; the premium tax credit starts at $17,990 a year for one person on the 2025 Hawaii guideline (subsidy calculator).
313% of the 2026 poverty guideline for your household
313% of poverty, per year
$85,512
| Per month | $7,126 |
| Per week | $1,644 |
| 100% guideline (2026) | $27,320 |
Five counties, Honolulu on top
HUD gives Hawaii five rows. For a family of four, the very low income limit is $77,000 in Honolulu County, $74,000 in Maui County, $67,950 on Kauai and $60,500 on the Big Island, with tiny Kalawao County at $60,950. The other state with its own guideline is Alaska; for a West Coast comparison, see California.
SNAP rules in Hawaii, FY 2027
Run by the Hawaii Department of Human Services, Benefit, Employment & Support Services Division · apply online. All households: gross income up to 200% of the poverty guideline, no asset limit.
| Household | Gross income limit | Net income limit | Maximum benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $3,060 | $1,530 | $496 |
| 2 | $4,149 | $2,075 | $910 |
| 3 | $5,237 | $2,619 | $1,307 |
| 4 | $6,325 | $3,163 | $1,655 |
| 5 | $7,414 | $3,707 | $1,969 |
| 6 | $8,502 | $4,251 | $2,367 |
| 7 | $9,590 | $4,795 | $2,615 |
| 8 | $10,679 | $5,340 | $2,979 |
| Allowance area | Heating or cooling (HCSUA) | Other utilities (LUA) | Telephone |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 member | none | none | $43 |
| 2 members | none | none | $43 |
| 3 members | none | none | $43 |
| 4 to 5 members | none | none | $43 |
| 6 members | none | none | $43 |
| 7 to 10 members | none | none | $43 |
Med-QUEST (Medicaid) and CHIP income limits in Hawaii
Hawaii covers adults up to 138% of the poverty guideline under the ACA expansion. Med-QUEST 2026 chart lists the parent and caretaker standard at 100% of the Hawaii FPL (105% only once the 5% disregard is added), where the CMS table showed 105%; adults 133%, pregnant women 191% and children up to 308% (S-CHIP) match CMS. Agency: Hawaii Department of Human Services, Med-QUEST Division · apply. Marketplace for 2026: HealthCare.gov.
| Group | Limit (% of poverty) | Program | 1 or 2 people | 3 people | 4 people |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adults 19 to 64 without children | 138% | Medicaid (adult group) | $2,111 | $3,613 | $4,364 |
| Parents and caretakers | 138% | Medicaid (adult group) | $2,862 | $3,613 | $4,364 |
| Pregnant women | 196% | Medicaid | $4,065 | $5,131 | $6,198 |
| Babies under 1 | 313% | Medicaid | $6,492 | $8,195 | $9,898 |
| Children 1 to 5 | 313% | Medicaid | $6,492 | $8,195 | $9,898 |
| Children 6 to 18 | 313% | Medicaid | $6,492 | $8,195 | $9,898 |
Section 8 income limits by county in Hawaii
HUD sets the limits for each of the 5 counties or towns of Hawaii (5 HUD areas). For a family of four, the very low income limit that opens a Housing Choice Voucher ranges from $60,500 (Hawaii County) to $77,000 (Honolulu County).
Hawaii County, HI: FY 2026 income limits
Within the voucher limit
Very low income limit for 3: $54,450 a year
| Extremely low income (ELI), 3 people | $32,700 |
| Very low income (50%), the voucher limit | $54,450 |
| Low income (80%) | $87,150 |
| Your band | Extremely low income (30%) |
| Adjusted income after HUD deductions | $29,500 a year |
| Estimated tenant payment (30% of adjusted income) | $738 a month |
HUD FY 2026 limits (effective May 1, 2026) and 2026 deductions ($500 per dependent, $550 for an elderly or disabled family). The housing authority decides, and most have waiting lists. How this is calculated.