[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 95 (Wednesday, May 15, 1996)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24478-24479]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-12186]



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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Food and Consumer Service


Commodity Supplemental Food Program: Elderly Poverty Income 
Guidelines

AGENCY: Food and Consumer Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the adjusted poverty income guidelines 
to be used by State agencies in determining the income eligibility of 
elderly persons applying to participate in the Commodity Supplemental 
Food Program (CSFP). These poverty income guidelines are to be used in 
conjunction with the CSFP Regulations.

EFFECTIVE DATE: July 1, 1996.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillie F. Ragan, Assistant Branch 
Chief, Household Programs Branch, Food Distribution Division, Food and 
Consumer Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 Park Center 
Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302-1594, or telephone (703) 305-2661.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of that 
Act.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This notice does not contain reporting or recordkeeping 
requirements subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980 (44 U.S.C. 
3507).

Executive Order 12372

    This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance Programs under No. 10.565 and is subject to the provisions 
of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation 
with State and local officials (7 CFR Part 3015, Subpart V, 48 FR 
29112).

Description

    On December 23, 1985 the President signed the Food Security Act of 
1985 (Pub. L. 99-198). This legislation amended section 5(f) and (g) of 
the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c 
note) to require that the Secretary permit agencies administering the 
CSFP to serve elderly persons if such service can be provided without 
reducing service levels for women, infants, and children. The law also 
mandates establishment of income eligibility requirements for elderly 
participation. Prior to enactment of Pub. L. 99-198, elderly 
participation was restricted by law to three designated pilot projects 
which served the elderly in accordance with agreements with the 
Department.
    In order to implement the CSFP mandates of Pub. L. 99-198, the 
Department published interim rules on September 17, 1986 at 51 FR 32895 
and a final rule on February 18, 1988 at 58 FR 8287. These regulations 
defined ``elderly persons'' as those who are 60 years of age or older. 
The final rule further stipulated that elderly persons certified on or 
after September 17, 1986 must have ``household income at or below 130 
percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines published annually by 
the Department of Health and Human Services'' (7 CFR 247.7(a)(3)).
    These poverty income guidelines are revised annually to reflect 
changes in the Consumer Price Index. The revision for 1996 was 
published by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in the 
Federal Register for March 4, 1996 at 61 FR 8286. At this time the 
Department is publishing the income limit of 130 percent of the poverty 
income guidelines by household size to be used for elderly 
certification in the CSFP for the period July 1, 1996-June 30, 1997.
    The poverty income guidelines were multiplied by 1.30 and the 
results rounded up to the next whole dollar. The table in this notice 
contains the income limits by household size for the 48 contiguous 
States and the District of Columbia. The poverty income guidelines for 
areas outside of the 48 contiguous States have not been included in 
this notice because the CSFP does not operate in these areas. The 
revised income guidelines reflect an

[[Page 24479]]

increase of 3.58 percent over the income guidelines for the previous 
period.

  FCS Poverty Income Guidelines for Elderly in CSFP--48 States and the  
                          District of Columbia                          
  [Effective July 1, 1996-June 30, 1997; 130 Percent of Poverty Income  
                               Guidelines]                              
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                 Family size                   Annual    Month     Week 
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1...........................................    10,062      839      194
2...........................................    13,468    1,123      259
3...........................................    16,874    1,407      325
4...........................................    20,280    1,690      390
5...........................................    23,686    1,974      456
6...........................................    27,092    2,258      521
7...........................................    30,498    2,542      587
8...........................................    33,904    2,826      652
For each additional family member add.......    +3,406     +284      +66
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    Dated May 2, 1996.
William E Ludwig,
Administrator.
[FR Doc 96-12186 Filed 5-14-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P