State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2007 LIHEAP Programs and Mandatory Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2008 LIHEAP Programs
THIS CONTAINS INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR
CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN LIHEAP INFORMATION MEMORANDUM TRANSMITTAL
NO. LIHEAP-IM-2007-2, DATED 4/2/07
TO: LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP)
GRANTEES
SUBJECT: State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in
Federal Fiscal Year 2007 LIHEAP Programs and
Mandatory Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2008 LIHEAP
Programs
RELATED The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act, Title
REFERENCES: XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of
1981, Public Law 97-35, as amended; 45 CFR 96.85(b)
PURPOSE: To provide LIHEAP grantees the State median income
estimates for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2008.
BACKGROUND: Section 2605(b)(2)(B) of Public Law 97-35 establishes
60 percent of a State's median income as the maximum
income allowed in determining income eligibility for
LIHEAP, except in States where 150 percent of the
poverty level is higher. LIHEAP grantees may set
their income eligibility guidelines anywhere between
the maximum and minimum poverty levels (110 percent
of the poverty level).
CONTENT: The Census Bureau has updated for the U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services (HHS) each State's
median income estimate for a 4-person family. The
Secretary published these estimates in the Federal
Register on March 28, 2007 for use in FFY 2008 (see
Attachment A). We have calculated 60 percent of
State median income estimates for families of one to
six members. We also have indicated how to calculate
State median income estimates for families of more
than six members (see Attachment B).
Optional Use
LIHEAP grantees may adopt the FFY 2008 State median
income estimates at any time between March 28, 2007
(the date of publication in the Federal Register) and
October 1, 2007 (the beginning of FFY 2008).
Mandatory Use
LHEAP grantees must adjust their program's income
eligibility criteria so that they are in accord with
these estimates by October 1, 2007 (the beginning of
FFY 2008) or by the beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's
fiscal year, whichever is later.
ATTACHMENTS: A—Federal Register Notice, published on March 28,
2007 (71 FR 10037-10039)
B—60 percent of estimated State median income
adjusted for family size, by State, FFY 2008
INQUIRIES Peter Edelman, Program Analyst
TO: Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS
370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20447
(202) 401-5292
E-mail: peter.edelman@acf.hhs.gov
______________/s_____________
Josephine B. Robinson
Director
Office of Community Services
Attachment A
[Federal Register: March 28, 2007 (Volume 72, Number 59)]
[Notices]
[Page 14579-14581]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr28mr07-74]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
State Median Income Estimate for a Four-Person Family: Notice of
the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2008 State Median Income Estimates for
Use Under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP),
Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS),Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community
Services, Division of Energy Assistance
AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community
Services, Division of Energy Assistance, HHS.
ACTION: Notice of estimated State median income estimates for FFY
2008.
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SUMMARY: This notice announces the estimated median income for four-
person families in each State and the District of Columbia for FFY
2008 (October 1, 2007 to September 30, 2008). LIHEAP grantees may adopt
the State median income estimates beginning with the date of publication
in the Federal Register or at a later date as discussed below. This
enables LIHEAP grantees to choose to implement this notice during the
period between the heating and cooling seasons. However, by October
1, 2007, or the beginning of a grantee's fiscal year, whichever is
later, LIHEAP grantees using State median income estimates must adjust
their income eligibility criteria to be in accord with the FFY 2008
State median income estimates.
This listing of estimated State median incomes provides one of
the maximum income criteria that LIHEAP grantees may use in determining
a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP.
DATES: Effective Date: The estimates are effective at any time
between the date of this publication and October 1, 2007, or until the
beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Edelman, Office of Community
Services, Division of Energy Assistance, 5th Floor West, 370 L'Enfant
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Telephone: (202) 401-5292, E-
Mail: peter.edelman@acf.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of section 2603(11)
of Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public
Law (PL) 97-35, as amended, HHS announces the estimated median income of
a four-person family for each State, the District of Columbia, and the
United States for FFY 2008 (October 1, 2007, through September 30,
2008).
Section 2605(b)(2)(B)(ii) of the LIHEAP statute provides that 60
percent of the median income for each State, as annually established
by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services, is one
of the income criteria that LIHEAP grantees may use in determining a
household's eligibility for LIHEAP.
LIHEAP is authorized through the end of FFY 2008 by the Energy
Policy Act of 2005, PL 109-58, enacted on August 8, 2005.
Estimates of the median income for a four-person family for each
State and the District of Columbia for FFY 2008 are produced by the
Census Bureau of the U.S. Department of Commerce, using the most
recently available income data. In previous years, model-based
estimates of the median income for a four-person family used the
following data sources: (1) The Current Population Survey's Annual
Social and Economic Supplement File; (2) the 2000 Decennial Census of
Population; and (3) per capita personal income estimates, by State,
from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Department of
Commerce.
In preparing State-level, four-person family median income
estimates for FFY 2008, the Census Bureau revised its methodology.
The Census Bureau chose to use direct estimates derived from the
American Community Survey (ACS) instead of using the model-based
estimates. Generally, this change decreased, on average, State median
income estimates by about 0.8 percent compared to the model-based
estimates.
There are two key advantages in using the ACS over the previous
methodology. First, as the Federal Government's largest current
household survey (approximately 3 million addresses per year), the
ACS is able to produce State-level estimates with very low sampling
errors. Second, since it is possible to obtain reliable State income
estimates directly from the ACS (as opposed to the previous methodology
that used a model based on several data sources), ACS estimates will be
available on a more timely basis. For example, the ACS 2005 State median
income estimates were released by the Census Bureau in August 2006.
Information about the ACS is available at
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/.
For further information on the ACS State median income
estimates, contact the Housing and Household Economic Statistics
Division, at the Census Bureau (301) 763-3243.
A State-by-State listing of median income and 60 percent of
median income for a four-person family for FFY 2008 follows. The listing
describes the method for adjusting median income for families of
different sizes as specified in regulations applicable to LIHEAP, at
45 CFR 96.85(b), published in the Federal Register on March 3, 1988 at
53 FR 6824.
Dated: March 21, 2007.
Yolanda Butler,
Deputy Director, Office of Community Services.
[[Page 14580]]
Estimated State Median Income for a Four-Person Family, by State,
Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2008 \1\
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60 percent
of
Estimated estimated
State median State median
States income for a income for a
four-person four-person
States family \2\ family
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Alabama................................... $53,690 $32,214
Alaska.................................... 76,560 45,936
Arizona................................... 61,102 36,661
Arkansas.................................. 52,217 31,330
California................................ 70,712 42,427
Colorado.................................. 70,300 42,180
Connecticut............................... 92,205 55,323
Delaware.................................. 76,288 45,773
District of Columbia...................... 50,248 30,149
Florida................................... 62,269 37,361
Georgia................................... 64,427 38,656
Hawaii.................................... 79,240 47,544
Idaho..................................... 52,470 31,482
Illinois.................................. 72,368 43,421
Indiana................................... 64,564 38,738
Iowa...................................... 65,575 39,345
Kansas.................................... 64,929 38,957
Kentucky.................................. 54,992 32,995
Louisiana................................. 55,945 33,567
Maine..................................... 64,806 38,884
Maryland.................................. 89,608 53,765
Massachusetts............................. 85,420 51,252
Michigan.................................. 71,542 42,925
Minnesota................................. 77,395 46,437
Mississippi............................... 47,726 28,636
Missouri.................................. 63,847 38,308
Montana................................... 55,641 33,385
Nebraska.................................. 64,800 38,880
Nevada.................................... 61,777 37,066
New Hampshire............................. 81,522 48,913
New Jersey................................ 90,261 54,157
New Mexico................................ 48,223 28,934
New York.................................. 72,170 43,302
North Carolina............................ 59,481 35,689
North Dakota.............................. 59,926 35,956
Ohio...................................... 66,734 40,040
Oklahoma.................................. 53,138 31,883
Oregon.................................... 61,945 37,167
Pennsylvania.............................. 68,646 41,188
Rhode Island.............................. 78,297 46,978
South Carolina............................ 57,932 34,759
South Dakota.............................. 61,309 36,785
Tennessee................................. 56,874 34,124
Texas..................................... 57,511 34,507
Utah...................................... 57,999 34,799
Vermont................................... 71,382 42,829
Virginia.................................. 77,430 46,458
Washington................................ 72,103 43,262
West Virginia............................. 52,292 31,375
Wisconsin................................. 71,064 42,638
Wyoming................................... 62,933 37,760
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Note: FFY 2008 covers the period of October 1, 2007 through September
30, 2008. The estimated median income for a four-person family
living in the United States is $67,019 for FFY 2008. The estimates
are effective for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP) at any time between the date of this publication and October
1, 2007, or by the beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year,
whichever is later.
\1\ In accordance with 45 CFR 96.85, each State's estimated median
income for a four-person family is multiplied by the following
percentages to adjust for family size for LIHEAP: 52 percent for
one person, 68 percent for two persons, 84 percent for three persons,
100 percent for four persons, 116 percent for five persons, and 132
percent for six persons. For each additional family member above
six persons, add 3 percentage points to the percentage for a six-
person family (132 percent), and multiply the new percentage by the
State's estimated median income for a four-person family.
\2\ Prepared by the Census Bureau from the 2005 American Community
Survey. For further information, contact the Housing and Household
Economic Statistics Division at the Census Bureau (301-763-3243).
[[Page 14581]]
[FR Doc. E7-5631 Filed 3-27-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P
