[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42331-42333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17063]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[C.F.D.A. Number: 93.568]
Notice of LIHEAP State Median Income Estimates for FFY 2015
AGENCY: Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS.
ACTION: State Median Income Estimates for a Four-Person Household:
Notice of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2015 State Median Income
Estimates for Use in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
(LIHEAP).
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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of
Community Services (OCS), Division of Energy Assistance (DEA) announces
the estimated median income of four-person households in each state,
the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for FFY 2015 (October 1,
2014, to September 30, 2015).
DATES: Effective Date: These estimates become effective at any time
between the date of this publication and the later of (1) October 1,
2014; or (2) the beginning of a grantee's fiscal year.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Edelman, Program Analyst, Office
of Community Services, 5th Floor West, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW.,
Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: 202-401-5292; Email:
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces to grantees of the Low
Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) the estimated median
income of four-person households in each state, the District of
Columbia, and Puerto Rico for FFY 2015 (October 1, 2014, to September
30, 2015). LIHEAP grantees that choose to base their income eligibility
criteria on these state median income (SMI) estimates may adopt these
estimates (up to 60 percent) on their date of publication in the
Federal Register or on a later date as discussed in the ``Dates''
section. This enables grantees to implement this notice during the
period between the heating and cooling seasons. However, by October 1,
2014, or the beginning of the grantee's fiscal year, whichever is
later, such grantees must adjust their income eligibility criteria so
that they are in accord with the FFY 2015 SMI.
Sixty percent of SMI for each LIHEAP grantee, as annually
established by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, is one of
the income criteria that LIHEAP grantees may use in determining a
household's income eligibility for LIHEAP. The last time LIHEAP was
authorized was by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58,
which was enacted on August 8, 2005. This authorization expired on
September 30, 2007, and reauthorization remains pending.
The SMI estimates in this notice are 3-year estimates derived from
the American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the U.S. Census
Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau).
For additional information about the ACS state median income
estimates, including the definition of income and the derivation of
medians see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/data_documentation/SubjectDefinitions/2012_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf under
``Income in the Past 12 Months.'' For additional information about
using the ACS 3-year estimates vs. using the 1-year or 5-year
estimates, see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/estimates/. For additional information about the ACS in general,
see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/ or contact the Census Bureau's
Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division at (301) 763-3243.
These SMI estimates, like those derived from any survey, are
subject to two types of errors: (1) Non-sampling Error, which consists
of random errors that increase the variability of the data
[[Page 42332]]
and non-random errors that consistently shift the data in a specific
direction; and (2) Sampling Error, which consists of the error that
arises from the use of probability sampling to create the sample. For
additional information about the accuracy of the ACS SMI estimates, see
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/data_documentation/Accuracy/MultiyearACSAccuracyofData2012.pdf.
In the state-by-state listing of SMI and 60 percent of SMI for a
four-person family for FFY 2015, LIHEAP grantees must regard ``family''
to be the equivalent of ``household'' with regards to setting their
income eligibility criteria. This listing describes the method for
adjusting SMI for households of different sizes, as specified in
regulations applicable to LIHEAP (45 CFR 96.85(b)). These regulations
were published in the Federal Register on March 3, 1988, (53 FR 6827)
and amended on October 15, 1999 (64 FR 55858).
Estimated State Median Income for Four-Person Families, by State, for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2015
[For use in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)]
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60 percent of estimated
Estimated state median state median income for
States income for four-person four-person families \2
families \1\ 3\
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Alabama....................................................... $65,575 $39,345
Alaska........................................................ 89,082 53,449
Arizona....................................................... 63,560 38,136
Arkansas...................................................... 58,947 35,368
California.................................................... 76,804 46,082
Colorado...................................................... 85,182 51,109
Connecticut................................................... 104,214 62,528
Delaware...................................................... 85,261 51,157
District of Columbia.......................................... 100,408 60,245
Florida....................................................... 65,166 39,100
Georgia....................................................... 67,885 40,731
Hawaii........................................................ 85,096 51,058
Idaho......................................................... 62,088 37,253
Illinois...................................................... 82,114 49,268
Indiana....................................................... 71,057 42,634
Iowa.......................................................... 76,955 46,173
Kansas........................................................ 75,582 45,349
Kentucky...................................................... 67,026 40,216
Louisiana..................................................... 69,514 41,708
Maine......................................................... 77,344 46,406
Maryland...................................................... 106,452 63,871
Massachusetts................................................. 104,545 62,727
Michigan...................................................... 73,991 44,395
Minnesota..................................................... 89,824 53,894
Mississippi................................................... 56,573 33,944
Missouri...................................................... 71,915 43,149
Montana....................................................... 69,557 41,734
Nebraska...................................................... 74,905 44,943
Nevada........................................................ 65,832 39,499
New Hampshire................................................. 97,547 58,528
New Jersey.................................................... 105,497 63,298
New Mexico.................................................... 58,215 34,929
New York...................................................... 84,381 50,629
North Carolina................................................ 66,844 40,106
North Dakota.................................................. 86,170 51,702
Ohio.......................................................... 75,188 45,113
Oklahoma...................................................... 64,091 38,455
Oregon........................................................ 68,929 41,357
Pennsylvania.................................................. 81,802 49,081
Rhode Island.................................................. 89,587 53,752
South Carolina................................................ 63,212 37,927
South Dakota.................................................. 73,736 44,242
Tennessee..................................................... 63,997 38,398
Texas......................................................... 67,757 40,654
Utah.......................................................... 68,036 40,822
Vermont....................................................... 81,615 48,969
Virginia...................................................... 91,442 54,865
Washington.................................................... 83,863 50,318
West Virginia................................................. 66,130 39,678
Wisconsin..................................................... 80,612 48,367
Wyoming....................................................... 76,526 45,916
Puerto Rico................................................... 28,861 17,317
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\1\ These figures were prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau), from 3-
year estimates from the 2010, 2011, and 2012 American Community Surveys (ACSs). These estimates, like those
derived from any survey, are subject to two types of error: (1) Non-sampling Error, which consists of random
errors that increase the variability of the data and non-random errors that consistently direct the data in a
specific direction; and (2) Sampling Error, which consists of the error that arises from the use of
probability sampling to create the sample.
[[Page 42333]]
\2\ These figures were calculated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance by multiplying the
estimated state median income for a four-person family for each state by 60 percent.
3 To adjust for different sizes of households for LIHEAP purposes, 45 CFR 96.85 calls for multiplying 60 percent
of a state's estimated median income for a four-person family by the following percentages: 52 percent for a
one-person household, 68 percent for a two-person household, 84 percent for a three-person household, 100
percent for a four-person household, 116 percent for a five-person household, and 132 percent for a six-person
household. For each additional household member above six people, 45 CFR 96.85 calls for adding 3 percentage
points to the percentage for a six-person household (132 percent) and multiplying the new percentage by 60
percent of the median income for a four-person family.
Note: FFY 2015 covers the period of October 1, 2014, through
September 30, 2015. The estimated median income for four-person
families living in the United States for this period is $76,365.
Grantees that use SMI for LIHEAP may, at their option, employ such
estimates at any time between the date of this publication and the
later of October 1, 2014 or the beginning of their fiscal year.
Statutory Authority: 45 CFR 96.85(b) and 42 U.S.C.
8624(b)(2)(B)(ii).
Dated: July 15, 2014.
Jeannie L. Chaffin,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-17063 Filed 7-18-14; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P