[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32958-32959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14187]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families
[CFDA Number: 93.568]
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Announces the State
Median Income Estimates for Federal Fiscal Year 2016
AGENCY: Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS.
ACTION: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of
Community Services (OCS), announces the State Median Income Estimates
for a Four-Person Household for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016
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 2016 (October 1,
2015, to September 30, 2016).
DATES: These estimates become effective at any time between the date of
this publication and the later of (1) October 1, 2015; 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 2016 (October 1, 2015, to September
30, 2016). 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, 2015,
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 2016 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/2013_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf under ``Income in the
Past 12 Months.'' For additional information about using the ACS 3-year
estimates versus 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 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/MultiyearACSAccuracyofData2013.pdf.
In the state-by-state listing of SMI and 60 percent of SMI for a
four-person family for FFY 2016, 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) 2016, for Use in
the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
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Estimated state median 60 percent of estimated
States income for four-person state median income for four-
families \1\ person families 2 3
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Alabama............................................. $66,253 $39,752
Alaska.............................................. 90,307 54,184
Arizona............................................. 65,138 39,083
Arkansas............................................ 58,262 34,957
California.......................................... 77,106 46,264
Colorado............................................ 85,915 51,549
Connecticut......................................... 106,193 63,716
[[Page 32959]]
Delaware............................................ 85,925 51,555
District of Columbia................................ 83,794 50,276
Florida............................................. 65,764 39,458
Georgia............................................. 68,448 41,069
Hawaii.............................................. 86,495 51,897
Idaho............................................... 62,002 37,201
Illinois............................................ 82,918 49,751
Indiana............................................. 72,299 43,379
Iowa................................................ 79,300 47,580
Kansas.............................................. 75,709 45,425
Kentucky............................................ 69,239 41,543
Louisiana........................................... 71,516 42,910
Maine............................................... 76,455 45,873
Maryland............................................ 107,438 64,463
Massachusetts....................................... 106,173 63,704
Michigan............................................ 75,711 45,427
Minnesota........................................... 92,111 55,267
Mississippi......................................... 57,024 34,214
Missouri............................................ 72,647 43,588
Montana............................................. 68,720 41,232
Nebraska............................................ 77,165 46,299
Nevada.............................................. 66,461 39,877
New Hampshire....................................... 98,638 59,183
New Jersey.......................................... 105,700 63,420
New Mexico.......................................... 60,534 36,320
New York............................................ 86,316 51,790
North Carolina...................................... 67,706 40,624
North Dakota........................................ 88,725 53,235
Ohio................................................ 76,875 46,125
Oklahoma............................................ 64,907 38,944
Oregon.............................................. 70,295 42,177
Pennsylvania........................................ 83,730 50,238
Rhode Island........................................ 89,353 53,612
South Carolina...................................... 63,706 38,224
South Dakota........................................ 74,498 44,699
Tennessee........................................... 66,060 39,636
Texas............................................... 69,517 41,710
Utah................................................ 70,740 42,444
Vermont............................................. 82,781 49,669
Virginia............................................ 92,379 55,427
Washington.......................................... 85,013 51,008
West Virginia....................................... 67,613 40,568
Wisconsin........................................... 82,053 49,232
Wyoming............................................. 79,777 47,866
Puerto Rico......................................... 29,188 17,513
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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 2011, 2012, and 2013 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.
\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 2016 covers the period of October 1, 2015, through
September 30, 2016. The estimated median income for four-person
families living in the United States for this period is $77,507.
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, 2015 or the beginning of their fiscal year.
Statutory Authority: 45 CFR 96.85(b) and 42 U.S.C.
8624(b)(2)(B)(ii).
Jeannie L. Chaffin,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-14187 Filed 6-9-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P