Source + trust record
Source checked as of September 18, 2026. Primary authority: EDD WSD24-02 and EDD 2026 LLSIL and Poverty Guidelines.
Check result: WSD24-02 remains active. EDD updated the California LLSIL and poverty tables on May 12, 2026. For WIOA low-income determinations using this test, staff compare the applicable 70% LLSIL with the HHS poverty guideline and use the higher amount. Local Boards also must maintain self-sufficiency criteria that do not set the floor below 100% of the applicable LLSIL. Dollar figures are annual and should not be carried into a later year without checking EDD’s current table. This AI-assisted brief does not receive human legal or compliance review. Official sources control.
WDB decision strip
| STATUS | ACTION | PRIMARY OWNER | CURRENT TIMING | IMPACT |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FINAL · ACTIVE FRAMEWORK | USE CURRENT INCOME TABLES | Program + Eligibility Leadership | Numeric thresholds update annually | Low-income eligibility · Adult priority · Youth · Income verification |
The bottom line
The eligibility framework is standing policy, but the dollar thresholds are not static. Staff should use the current LLSIL and poverty-guideline values for the applicable year rather than relying on figures embedded in an older directive, checklist, or training slide.
How LLSIL and poverty guidelines affect low-income eligibility and local self-sufficiency rules
WSD24-02 is the standing California rule for using the federal Lower Living Standard Income Level and poverty guidelines in WIOA Title I. The directive itself stays active, while the dollar values change every year. For 2026, EDD updated the statewide tables on May 12.
🚩 Statewide Action Alert. Local Areas should not keep using the dollar figures printed in old eligibility worksheets. WSD24-02 directs staff to EDD’s annually updated LLSIL and poverty webpage for the current numbers.
At a glance
Agency
California EDD
Directive
WSD24-02
Policy issued
August 20, 2024
Current figures
Updated May 12, 2026
Low-income test
Higher of poverty guideline or applicable 70% LLSIL
Self-sufficiency floor
At least 100% of applicable LLSIL
Geography
EDD assigns each Local Area to an LLSIL category
Executive takeaway
WIOA’s low-income definition uses two federal income standards: the HHS poverty guidelines and 70% of the DOL Lower Living Standard Income Level. For the family size and geography that apply, Local Areas use the higher of those amounts when the WIOA low-income test relies on this income threshold.
Self-sufficiency is a different decision. Local Workforce Development Boards must establish criteria for determining whether employment leads to self-sufficiency, and WSD24-02 sets a floor: the local standard must treat employment paying at least 100% of the applicable LLSIL as the minimum threshold for self-sufficiency. A board may adopt a higher or more sophisticated local standard.
Five things to know
- The policy stays active while the numeric tables are refreshed annually.
- All California Local Areas use the same HHS poverty guideline, but LLSIL varies by geographic classification.
- For low-income status, use the higher of the applicable poverty guideline or 70% LLSIL for the family size.
- Where a Local Area spans both West Metro and West Non-Metro territory, California directs the area to use the higher LLSIL figures throughout the Local Area.
- Local Boards must establish self-sufficiency criteria, with a floor of at least 100% of LLSIL.
The low-income calculation
1. Choose geography
Use EDD’s current classification for the Local Area: West Metro, West Non-Metro, Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, or San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont.
2. Choose family size
Use the family-size definition and income-counting rules that apply to the eligibility determination.
3. Compare
Look up both the HHS poverty guideline and the applicable 70% LLSIL.
4. Use the higher amount
That higher threshold is the relevant income figure when the WIOA low-income definition calls for the poverty/LLSIL test.
2026 low-income reference table
The figures below are the current EDD-published 2026 values. For a low-income determination, compare the poverty guideline with the correct 70% LLSIL column and use the higher number.
| Family size | 2026 poverty | 70% LLSIL West Metro | West Non-Metro | Los Angeles MSA | San Diego MSA | San Francisco MSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $15,960 | $14,761 | $14,465 | $15,032 | $16,976 | $16,016 |
| 2 | $21,640 | $24,191 | $23,707 | $24,634 | $27,809 | $26,243 |
| 3 | $27,320 | $33,213 | $32,549 | $33,821 | $38,181 | $36,018 |
| 4 | $33,000 | $41,001 | $40,174 | $41,753 | $47,129 | $44,464 |
| 5 | $38,680 | $48,381 | $47,415 | $49,269 | $55,618 | $52,473 |
| 6 | $44,360 | $56,588 | $55,454 | $57,627 | $65,047 | $61,370 |
| 7 | $50,040 | $64,795 | $63,493 | $65,985 | $74,476 | $70,267 |
| 8 | $55,720 | $73,002 | $71,532 | $74,343 | $83,905 | $79,164 |
| Each additional | +$5,680 | +$8,207 | +$8,039 | +$8,358 | +$9,429 | +$8,897 |
2026 minimum self-sufficiency reference
The Local Board’s self-sufficiency policy may be higher or more detailed, but WSD24-02 says the criteria must at least provide that self-sufficiency is achieved when employment pays 100% of the applicable LLSIL.
| Family size | 100% LLSIL West Metro | West Non-Metro | Los Angeles MSA | San Diego MSA | San Francisco MSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $21,087 | $20,664 | $21,475 | $24,251 | $22,880 |
| 2 | $34,559 | $33,867 | $35,191 | $39,727 | $37,490 |
| 3 | $47,447 | $46,498 | $48,316 | $54,544 | $51,454 |
| 4 | $58,573 | $57,392 | $59,647 | $67,327 | $63,520 |
| 5 | $69,116 | $67,736 | $70,384 | $79,454 | $74,961 |
| 6 | $80,840 | $79,220 | $82,324 | $92,925 | $87,672 |
| 7 | $92,564 | $90,704 | $94,264 | $106,396 | $100,383 |
| 8 | $104,288 | $102,188 | $106,204 | $119,867 | $113,094 |
| Each additional | +$11,724 | +$11,484 | +$11,940 | +$13,471 | +$12,711 |
Low income and self-sufficiency are different questions
| Question | Rule | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Is the person “low income” under the WIOA income test? | Use the higher of the current poverty guideline or applicable 70% LLSIL for family size. | Eligibility and priority rules where WIOA uses the low-income definition. |
| Is current employment self-sufficient? | Apply the Local Board’s adopted self-sufficiency policy; it may not set a floor below 100% LLSIL. | Determining whether an employed worker needs certain career or training services. |
WDB implementation considerations
- Use the live EDD table. Do not hard-code annual values into policy manuals without a process for updating them.
- Confirm geographic classification. Staff should know which LLSIL column applies to the Local Area.
- Keep the two tests separate. Low-income eligibility uses poverty versus 70% LLSIL; self-sufficiency uses the board’s local standard with a 100% LLSIL minimum.
- Review local self-sufficiency policy. Make sure the board has actually adopted criteria and that the current local standard is not below the state floor.
- Update calculators and forms. Replace stale spreadsheets, intake handouts, provider tools, and desk references when EDD posts annual updates.
- Train on family-size and income rules. The dollar table is only one part of the eligibility calculation.
Implementation traps
- Using 70% LLSIL automatically without comparing it with the poverty guideline.
- Using a statewide LLSIL number instead of the Local Area’s assigned geographic column.
- Confusing the low-income threshold with the self-sufficiency standard.
- Leaving old annual figures embedded in provider guidance after EDD updates the table.
Source basis and interpretation
Controlling policy: EDD WSD24-02 — LLSIL and Poverty Guidelines
Current figures: EDD Federal Lower Living Standard Income Level and Poverty Guidelines, updated May 12, 2026.
How to use this brief: WSD24-02 controls the method; the dollar figures above are EDD’s current 2026 values and will change in future years. Always verify the live EDD table before making a formal eligibility or self-sufficiency decision.