Legal Aid Eligibility Calculator
Estimate whether you may qualify for free or reduced-cost legal aid services based on federal poverty guidelines, household size, and income.
Formulas Used
Federal Poverty Level (FPL) — 2024 HHS Guidelines:
- Contiguous 48 States & DC: FPL = $15,060 + ($5,380 × (household size − 1))
- Alaska: FPL = $18,810 + ($6,730 × (household size − 1))
- Hawaii: FPL = $17,310 + ($6,190 × (household size − 1))
Income Thresholds:
- Standard civil matters: 125% FPL = FPL × 1.25
- Domestic violence & immigration: 200% FPL = FPL × 2.00
- Sliding-scale zone (civil): 125%–200% FPL
Asset Limit: min($3,000 × household size, $9,000) — excludes primary residence and one vehicle
Sliding-Scale Fee Estimate: Fee% = ((Income% FPL − 125) / 75) × 100
Income as % of FPL: (Annual Income / FPL₁₀₀) × 100
Assumptions & References
- Income thresholds follow Legal Services Corporation (LSC) regulations (45 CFR Part 1611), which set the standard at 125% FPL for LSC-funded programs.
- 2024 Federal Poverty Guidelines published by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), effective January 2024.
- Asset limits based on LSC guidelines: $3,000 per household member, capped at $9,000; primary home and one vehicle excluded.
- Domestic violence and immigration programs commonly use a 200% FPL threshold per VAWA and IIRIRA provisions.
- Criminal defense eligibility is governed by Gideon v. Wainwright (1963) — public defenders, not legal aid, handle criminal matters.
- Sliding-scale fee estimates are illustrative; actual fees vary by program and jurisdiction.
- This calculator provides an estimate only and does not constitute legal advice. Eligibility is determined by individual legal aid organizations.
- Some non-LSC-funded programs (state-funded, bar association, law school clinics) may have different thresholds.