[Federal Register Volume 78, Number 53 (Tuesday, March 19, 2013)] [Notices] [Pages 16871-16875] From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov] [FR Doc No: 2013-06260] ----------------------------------------------------------------------- DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Employment and Training Administration Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (WIA); Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor. ACTION: Notice. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- SUMMARY: Title I of WIA (Pub. L. 105-220) requires the U.S. Secretary of Labor (Secretary) to update and publish the LLSIL tables annually, for uses described in the law (including determining eligibility for youth). WIA defines the term ``low income individual'' as one who qualifies under various criteria, including an individual who received income for a six-month period that does not exceed the higher level of the poverty line or 70 percent of the LLSIL. This issuance provides the Secretary's annual LLSIL for 2013 and references the current 2013 Health and Human Services ``Poverty Guidelines.'' DATES: This notice is effective March 19, 2013. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS ON LLSIL: Please contact Samuel Wright, Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room S-4526, Washington, DC 20210; Telephone: 202-693-2870; Fax: 202-693-3015 (these are not toll-free numbers); Email address: [email protected]. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone number above via Text Telephone (TTY/TDD) by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD). For Further Information or Questions on Federal Youth Employment Programs: Please contact Jennifer Kemp, Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room N-4464, Washington, DC 20210; Telephone: 202-693-3377; Fax: 202-693-3110 (these are not toll-free numbers); Email: [email protected]. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone number above via TTY by calling the toll-free Federal Information Relay Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The purpose of WIA is to provide workforce investment activities through statewide and local workforce investment systems that increase the employment, retention, and earnings of participants. WIA programs are intended to increase the occupational skill attainment by participants and the quality of the workforce, thereby reducing welfare dependency and enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of the Nation. LLSIL is used for several purposes under the WIA. Specifically, WIA Section 101(25) defines the term ``low income individual'' for eligibility purposes, and Sections 127(b)(2)(C) and 132(b)(1)(B)(v)(IV) define the terms ``disadvantaged youth'' and ``disadvantaged adult'' in terms of the poverty line or LLSIL for State formula allotments. The governor and State/local workforce investment boards (WIBs) use the LLSIL for determining eligibility for youth and adults for certain services. ETA encourages governors and State/local WIBs to consult the WIA regulations and the preamble to the WIA Final Rule (published at 65 FR 49294 August 11, 2000) for more specific guidance in applying LLSIL to program requirements. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published the most current poverty-level guidelines in the Federal Register on January 24, 2013 (Volume 78, Number 16), pp. 5182-5183. The HHS 2013 Poverty guidelines may also be found on the Internet at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm. ETA plans to have the 2013 LLSIL available on its Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/llsil/2013/. [[Page 16872]] WIA Section 101(24) defines LLSIL as ``that income level (adjusted for regional, metropolitan, urban and rural differences and family size) determined annually by the Secretary [of Labor] based on the most recent lower living family budget issued by the Secretary.'' The most recent lower living family budget was issued by the Secretary in fall 1981. The four-person urban family budget estimates, previously published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provided the basis for the Secretary to determine the LLSIL. BLS terminated the four-person family budget series in 1982, after publication of the fall 1981 estimates. Currently, BLS provides data to ETA, which ETA then uses to develop the LLSIL tables, as provided in the Appendices to this Federal Register notice. ETA published the 2012 updates to the LLSIL in the Federal Register of March 28, 2012, at Vol. 77, No. 60 pp. 18865-18869. This notice again updates the LLSIL to reflect cost of living increases for 2012, by calculating the percentage change in the most recent 2012 Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for an area to the 2011 CPI-U, and then applying this calculation to each of the March 28, 2012 LLSIL figures. The updated figures for a four-person family are listed in Appendix A, Table 1, by region for both metropolitan and non- metropolitan areas. Numbers in all of the Appendix tables are rounded up to the nearest dollar. Since program eligibility for low-income individuals, ``disadvantaged adults'' and ``disadvantaged youth'' may be determined by family income at 70 percent of the LLSIL, pursuant to WIA Sections 101(25), 127(b)(2)(C), and 132(b)(1)(B)(v)(IV), respectively, those figures are listed as well. I. Jurisdictions Jurisdictions included in the various regions, based generally on the Census Regions of the U.S. Department of Commerce, are as follows: A. Northeast Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire New Jersey New York Pennsylvania Rhode Island Vermont Virgin Islands B. Midwest Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Michigan Minnesota Missouri Nebraska North Dakota Ohio South Dakota Wisconsin C. South Alabama American Samoa Arkansas Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Northern Marianas Oklahoma Palau Puerto Rico South Carolina Kentucky Louisiana Marshall Islands Maryland Micronesia Mississippi North Carolina Tennessee Texas Virginia West Virginia D. West Arizona California Colorado Idaho Montana Nevada New Mexico Oregon Utah Washington Wyoming Additionally, separate figures have been provided for Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam as indicated in Appendix B, Table 2. For Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam, the year 2012 figures were updated from the 2012 ``State Index'' based on the ratio of the urban change in the State (using Anchorage for Alaska and Honolulu for Hawaii and Guam) compared to the West regional metropolitan change, and then applying that index to the West regional metropolitan change. Data on 23 selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) are also available. These are based on annual and semiannual CPI-U changes for a 12-month period ending in December 2012. The updated LLSIL figures for these MSAs and 70 percent of LLSIL are reported in Appendix C, Table 3. Appendix D, Table 4 lists each of the various figures at 70 percent of the updated 2012 LLSIL for family sizes of one to six persons. Because Tables 1-3 only list the LLSIL for a family of four, Table 4 can be used to separately determine the LLSIL for families of between one and six persons. For families larger than six persons, an amount equal to the difference between the six-person and the five-person family income levels should be added to the six-person family income level for each additional person in the family. Where the poverty level for a particular family size is greater than the corresponding 70 percent of the LLSIL figure, the figure is italicized. A modified Microsoft Excel version of Appendix D, Table 4, with the area names, will be available on the ETA LLSIL Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/llsil/2013/. Appendix E, Table 5, indicates 100 percent of LLSIL for family sizes of one to six, and is used to determine self-sufficiency as noted at 20 CFR 663.230 of the WIA regulations and WIA Section 134(d)(3)(A)(ii). II. Use of These Data Governors should designate the appropriate LLSILs for use within the State from Appendices A, B, and C, containing Tables 1 through 3. Appendices D and E, which contain Tables 4 and 5, which adjust a family of four figure for larger and smaller families, may be used with any LLSIL designated area. The governor's designation may be provided by disseminating information on MSAs and metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas within the State or it may involve further calculations. For example, the State of New Jersey may have four or more LLSIL figures for Northeast metropolitan, Northeast non-metropolitan, portions of the State in the New York City MSA, and those in the Philadelphia MSA. If a workforce investment area includes areas that would be covered by more than one LLSIL figure, the governor may determine which is to be used. Under 20 CFR 661.110, a State's policies and measures for the workforce investment system shall be accepted by the Secretary to the extent that they are consistent with WIA and WIA regulations. III. Disclaimer on Statistical Uses It should be noted that publication of these figures is only for the purpose of meeting the requirements specified by WIA as defined in the law and regulations. BLS has not revised the lower living family budget since 1981, and has no plans to do so. The four-person urban family budget estimates [[Page 16873]] series has been terminated. The CPI-U adjustments used to update LLSIL for this publication are not precisely comparable, most notably because certain tax items were included in the 1981 LLSIL, but are not in the CPI-U. Thus, these figures should not be used for any statistical purposes, and are valid only for those purposes under WIA as defined in the law and regulations. Appendix A Table 1--Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four Persons) by Region \1\ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2013 Region \2\ adjusted 70 percent LLSIL LLSIL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Northeast: Metro..................................... $41,250 $28,875 Non-Metro \3\............................. 39,404 27,583 Midwest: Metro..................................... 36,392 25,475 Non-Metro................................. 35,183 24,628 South: Metro..................................... 35,131 24,592 Non-Metro................................. 34,730 24,311 West: Metro..................................... 39,606 27,724 Non-Metro \4\............................. 38,393 26,875 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ For ease of use, these figures are rounded to the next highest dollar. \2\ Metropolitan area measures were calculated from the weighted average CPI-U's for city size classes A and B/C. Non-metropolitan area measures were calculated from the CPI-U's for city size class D. \3\ Non-metropolitan area percent changes for the Northeast region are no longer available. The Non-metropolitan percent change was calculated using the U.S. average CPI-U for city size class D. \4\ Non-metropolitan area percent changes for the West region are based on unpublished BLS data. Appendix B Table 2--Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four Persons), for Alaska, Hawaii and Guam \1\ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2013 Region adjusted 70 percent LLSIL LLSIL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Alaska: Metro..................................... $46,913 $32,839 Non-Metro \2\............................. 48,173 33,721 Hawaii, Guam: Metro..................................... 50,941 35,658 Non-Metro \2\............................. 51,428 36,000 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ For ease of use, these figures are rounded to the next highest dollar. \2\ Non-Metropolitan percent changes for Alaska, Hawaii and Guam were calculated from the CPI-U's for all urban consumers for city size class D in the Western Region. Generally the non-metro areas LLSIL is lower than the LLSIL in metro areas. This year the non-metro area LLSIL incomes were larger because the change in CPI-U was smaller in the metro areas compared to the change in CPI-U in the non-metro areas of Alaska, Hawaii and Guam. Appendix C Table 3--Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four Persons) for 23 Selected MSAs \1\ ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2013 Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) adjusted 70 percent LLSIL LLSIL ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Anchorage, AK................................. $48,086 $33,660 Atlanta, GA................................... 33,008 23,106 Boston--Brockton--Nashua, MA/NH/ME/CT......... 44,231 30,962 Chicago--Gary--Kenosha, IL/IN/WI.............. 37,641 26,349 Cincinnati--Hamilton, OH/KY/IN................ 35,610 24,927 Cleveland--Akron, OH.......................... 37,425 26,198 Dallas--Ft. Worth, TX......................... 33,338 23,337 Denver--Boulder--Greeley, CO.................. 37,286 26,100 Detroit--Ann Arbor--Flint, MI................. 34,960 24,472 Honolulu, HI.................................. 51,856 36,300 Houston--Galveston--Brazoria, TX.............. 32,109 22,476 Kansas City, MO/KS............................ 34,261 23,983 Los Angeles--Riverside--Orange County, CA..... 41,692 29,185 Milwaukee--Racine, WI......................... 35,522 24,865 Minneapolis--St. Paul, MN/WI.................. 35,608 24,926 New York--Northern NJ--Long Island, NY/NJ/CT/ 43,731 30,612 PA........................................... Philadelphia--Wilmington--Atlantic City, PA/NJ/ 39,694 27,786 DE/MD........................................ Pittsburgh, PA................................ 43,489 30,443 St. Louis, MO/IL.............................. 33,741 23,619 San Diego, CA................................. 45,363 31,754 San Francisco--Oakland--San Jose, CA.......... 42,606 29,824 Seattle--Tacoma--Bremerton, WA................ 43,060 30,142 Washington--Baltimore, DC/MD/VA/WV \2\........ 44,522 31,165 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ \1\ For ease of use, these figures are rounded to the next highest dollar. \2\ Baltimore and Washington are calculated as a single metropolitan statistical area. Appendix D Table 4: 70 Percent of Updated 2013 Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL), by Family Size To use the 70 percent LLSIL value, where it is stipulated for the WIA programs, begin by locating the region or metropolitan area where the program applicant resides. These are listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3. After locating the appropriate region or metropolitan statistical area, find the 70 percent LLSIL amount for that location. The 70 percent LLSIL figures are listed in the last column to the right on each of the three tables. These figures apply to a family of four. Larger and smaller family eligibility is based on a percentage of the family of four. To determine eligibility for other size families consult Table 4 and the instructions below. To use Table 4, locate the 70 percent LLSIL value that applies to the individual's region or metropolitan area [[Page 16874]] from Tables 1, 2 or 3. Find the same number in the ``family of four'' column of Table 4. Move left or right across that row to the size that corresponds to the individual's family unit. That figure is the maximum household income the individual is permitted in order to qualify as economically disadvantaged under the WIA. Where the HHS poverty level for a particular family size is greater than the corresponding LLSIL figure, the LLSIL figure is italicized. Individuals from these size families may consult the 2013 HHS poverty guidelines found on the Health and Human Services Web site at http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/13poverty.cfm to find the higher eligibility standard. Individuals from Alaska and Hawaii should consult the HHS guidelines for the generally higher poverty levels that apply in their States. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Family of Family of Family of Family of Family of Family of one two three four five six ------------------------------------------------------------------------ $8,098 $13,267 $18,209 $22,476 $26,526 $31,021 8,319 13,635 18,723 23,106 27,268 31,888 8,406 13,775 18,908 23,337 27,544 32,209 8,509 13,941 19,135 23,619 27,874 32,595 8,634 14,153 19,432 23,983 28,303 33,101 8,759 14,349 19,693 24,311 28,689 33,551 8,813 14,439 19,825 24,472 28,878 33,770 8,857 14,513 19,919 24,592 29,025 33,946 8,873 14,534 19,953 24,628 29,069 33,994 8,952 14,673 20,144 24,865 29,345 34,317 8,977 14,710 20,195 24,926 29,418 34,403 8,976 14,713 20,197 24,927 29,418 34,403 9,172 15,034 20,635 25,475 30,061 35,163 9,400 15,404 21,147 26,100 30,800 36,023 9,433 15,464 21,223 26,198 30,918 36,154 9,486 15,552 21,342 26,349 31,097 36,369 9,677 15,859 21,774 26,875 31,718 37,096 9,932 16,280 22,349 27,583 32,553 38,064 9,982 16,357 22,458 27,724 32,715 38,265 10,008 16,398 22,510 27,786 32,794 38,347 10,399 17,043 23,391 28,875 34,079 39,851 10,508 17,219 23,641 29,185 34,439 40,281 10,742 17,602 24,159 29,824 35,196 41,164 10,858 17,785 24,419 30,142 35,571 41,598 10,965 17,968 24,664 30,443 35,929 42,016 11,022 18,065 24,797 30,612 36,122 42,252 11,148 18,271 25,086 30,962 36,540 42,729 11,224 18,394 25,248 31,165 36,782 43,016 11,438 18,737 25,725 31,754 37,474 43,827 11,828 19,377 26,605 32,839 38,754 45,326 12,123 19,867 27,268 33,660 39,726 46,452 12,145 19,896 27,317 33,721 39,793 46,535 12,844 21,041 28,889 35,658 42,080 49,216 12,964 21,245 29,162 36,000 42,482 49,682 13,073 21,418 29,403 36,300 42,835 50,101 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Appendix E Table 5: Updated 2013 LLSIL (100 percent), by Family Size To use the LLSIL to determine the minimum level for establishing self-sufficiency criteria at the State or local level, begin by locating the metropolitan area or region from Table 1, 2 or 3. Then locate the appropriate region or metropolitan statistical area and then find the 2013 adjusted LLSIL amount for that location. These figures apply to a family of four. Locate the corresponding number in the family of four in the column below. Move left or right across that row to the size that corresponds to the individual's family unit. That figure is the minimum figure that States must set for determining whether employment leads to self-sufficiency under WIA programs. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Family of Family of Family of Family of Family of Family of one two three four five six ------------------------------------------------------------------------ $11,569 $18,953 $26,013 $32,109 $37,894 $44,316 11,885 19,478 26,747 33,008 38,955 45,554 12,009 19,679 27,012 33,338 39,349 46,013 12,156 19,915 27,336 33,741 39,820 46,564 12,334 20,218 27,760 34,261 40,433 47,287 12,512 20,498 28,134 34,730 40,984 47,930 12,590 20,627 28,322 34,960 41,255 48,243 12,653 20,732 28,456 35,131 41,464 48,494 12,676 20,763 28,504 35,183 41,527 48,563 12,788 20,961 28,777 35,522 41,921 49,024 12,824 21,014 28,850 35,608 42,026 49,148 12,823 21,018 28,853 35,610 42,026 49,147 13,103 21,478 29,479 36,392 42,944 50,232 [[Page 16875]] 13,429 22,006 30,210 37,286 44,000 51,461 13,476 22,091 30,318 37,425 44,169 51,648 13,552 22,217 30,489 37,641 44,424 51,955 13,824 22,655 31,105 38,393 45,312 52,994 14,188 23,257 31,927 39,404 46,504 54,377 14,259 23,368 32,083 39,606 46,736 54,664 14,298 23,425 32,157 39,694 46,848 54,782 14,856 24,348 33,416 41,250 48,684 56,930 15,011 24,599 33,773 41,692 49,198 57,544 15,346 25,146 34,513 42,606 50,280 58,806 15,511 25,408 34,884 43,060 50,816 59,425 15,664 25,669 35,235 43,489 51,327 60,023 15,746 25,808 35,424 43,731 51,603 60,359 15,926 26,101 35,838 44,231 52,201 61,042 16,035 26,277 36,069 44,522 52,546 61,452 16,340 26,767 36,750 45,363 53,534 62,610 16,897 27,681 38,007 46,913 55,362 64,751 17,319 28,381 38,955 48,086 56,751 66,361 17,350 28,423 39,024 48,173 56,847 66,479 18,349 30,058 41,270 50,941 60,115 70,308 18,520 30,350 41,661 51,428 60,688 70,974 18,676 30,598 42,004 51,856 61,193 71,573 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Signed at Washington, DC, this 11th day of March, 2013. Jane Oates, Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training. [FR Doc. 2013-06260 Filed 3-18-13; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 4510-FT-P