For a family of four, 250% of the federal poverty level works out to $82,500 a year, or $6,875 a month. Pennsylvania households at or below that line cannot have regulated gas or electric service cut off from Dec. 1 through March 31, according to the Altoona Mirror’s report on the state’s winter assistance rules. The protection does not erase what is owed, so the bills keep building behind it.
What 250% of the Poverty Line Means in Dollars for Each Household Size
The Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission lists the income ceilings month by month on its customer protections sheet. At 250% of poverty, the monthly limits are $3,325 for one person, $4,508 for two, $5,692 for three and $6,875 for four. Each additional person adds $1,183 a month.
Those monthly figures line up with the federal numbers. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services sets the 2026 poverty guidelines at $15,960 for one person, $21,640 for two, $27,320 for three and $33,000 for four in the 48 contiguous states. Multiplying by 2.5 gives annual ceilings of $39,900, $54,100, $68,300 and $82,500. Each added person raises the poverty line by $5,680, which is $14,200 at 250%.
The annual multiplication is simple arithmetic on the HHS numbers. The PUC sheet is dated February 2026 and uses the 2026 guidelines, which are updated every January…