The poverty guidelines are a version of the federal poverty measure issued each year in the Federal Register by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).  The guidelines are a simplification of the poverty thresholds for use for administrative purposes — for instance, determining financial eligibility for certain federal programs.

1. For WIOA purposes, the guidelines are issued annually in tables through a WIOA Notice on Revised Poverty Guidelines for Determining Eligibility. These tables are used for determining eligibility for needs-related payments and Category I of the Job Training and Economic Development (JTED) Grant Program. These tables are issued through a WIOA Notice on Revised Poverty Guidelines for Determining Eligibility.
2. This policy provides the information contained in those tables to be used for determining the poverty guidelines for needs-related payments. Tables for determining the status of WIOA income eligibility, commonly referred to as the 70% Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) and the 100% LLSIL for determining needs-related payments are found in the Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) section of the policy manual.