Area Median Income (AMI) is a federally established benchmark that reflects typical household income levels within a specific geographic area.
For purposes of the ECCA program, AMI figures are based on the official data published annually by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These federally standardized income limits are required for program eligibility calculations.
Under ECCA guidelines, families may qualify if their household income is at or below three times (300%) the HUD-published AMI for their region and household size.
Because HUD’s methodology uses standardized national calculations, the AMI used for eligibility may differ from locally reported median income figures. The program is required to apply the federally published AMI thresholds when determining eligibility.
To make this easier, families can use the Eligibility Checker available on our homepage to see an early estimate based on their household size and location.
