IIRC…
@cshell2 if you are talking about the simplified needs test (where no assets are considered), income needs to be less than $49,999 AND the person needs to qualify for a means tested benefit, or Be a dislocated worker (if independent). You used to be able to file a 1040A or 1040EZ as an option but when the tax law changed, those forms went away…I forget what is in place instead.
My point is…the income threshold is only one of the two prongs for qualifying for the simplified needs test.