[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 51 (Monday, March 17, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Pages 12651-12652]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-6606]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Office of Community Services


State Median Income Estimates for Four-Person Families (FY 1998); 
Notice of the Fiscal Year (FY) 1998 State Median Income Estimates for 
Use Under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) 
Administered by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families (ACF), DHHS.

ACTION: Notice of estimated state median income for FY 1998.

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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 FY 1998 
(October 1, 1997 to September 30, 1998). In the past, the date for 
adoption of the state median income estimates has been the first day of 
the fiscal year after their publication. Beginning with the state 
median income estimates for FY 1996, the adoption date for the 
estimates was changed to be consistent with the adoption date for the 
poverty income guidelines. Therefore, LIHEAP grantees may adopt the 
state median income estimates at any time between the date of this 
publication and the first day of FY 1998, at the LIHEAP grantee's 
option. This means that LIHEAP grantees could also choose to implement 
this notice during the period between the heating and cooling seasons. 
However, by October 1, 1997, or by 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 FY 1998 state median income estimates.
    This listing of estimated state median incomes concerns maximum 
income levels for households to which LIHEAP grantees may make payments 
under LIHEAP.

EFFECTIVE DATE: The estimates are effective at any time between the 
date of this publication and October 1, 1997, or by the beginning of a 
LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Leon Litow, Administration for 
Children and Families, HHS, Office of Community Services, Division of 
Energy Assistance, 5th Floor West, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447; Telephone: (202) 401-5304; Internet E-Mail: 
[email protected]

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of section 2603(7) of 
Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 
97-35, as amended), we are announcing the estimated median income of a 
four-person family for each state, the District of Columbia, and the 
United States for FY 1998 (the period of October 1, 1997, through 
September 30, 1998).
    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 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 currently authorized through the end of FY 1999 by the 
Human Services Amendments of 1994, Public Law 103-252, which was 
enacted on May 18, 1994.
    Estimates of the median income of four-person families for each 
state and the District of Columbia for FY 1998 have been developed by 
the Bureau of the Census of the U.S. Department of Commerce, using the 
most recently available income data. In developing the median income 
estimates for FY 1998, the Bureau of the Census used the following 
three sources of data: (1) The March 1996 Current Population Survey; 
(2) the 1990 Decennial Census of Population; and (3) 1995 per capita 
personal income estimates, by state, from the Bureau of Economic 
Analysis of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
    Like the estimates for FY 1997, the FY 1998 estimates include 
income estimates from the March Current Population Survey that are 
based on population controls from the 1990 Decennial Census of 
Population. Previous income estimates from the March Current Population 
Survey had been based on population controls from the 1980 Decennial 
Census of Population. Generally, the use of 1990 population controls 
results in somewhat lower estimates of income.
    For further information on the estimating method and data sources, 
contact Edward Welniak, Chief of the Income Statistics Branch, Housing 
and Household Economic Statistics Division, at the Bureau of the Census 
(301-763-8576).
    A state-by-state listing of median income, and 60 percent of median 
income, for a four-person family for FY 1998 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), which was published in the Federal Register on March 3, 
1988 at 53 FR 6824.

    Dated: March 11, 1997.
Donald Sykes,
Director, Office of Community Services.

  Estimated State Median Income for 4-Person Families, by State, Fiscal 
                              Year 1998 \1\                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              60 percent
                                                 Estimated        of    
                                                   state      estimated 
                                                   median       state   
                    States                       income 4-      median  
                                                   person     income 4- 
                                                  families      person  
                                                    \2\        families 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.......................................      $42,617      $25,570
Alaska........................................       56,045       33,627
Arizona.......................................       44,526       26,716
Arkansas......................................       38,520       23,112
California....................................       51,519       30,911
Colorado......................................       50,941       30,565
Connecticut...................................       62,157       37,294
Delaware......................................       54,519       32,711
District of Col...............................       49,837       29,902
Florida.......................................       44,626       26,776
Georgia.......................................       48,850       29,310
Hawaii........................................       54,749       32,849
Idaho.........................................       42,142       25,285
Illinois......................................       53,807       32,284
Indiana.......................................       47,465       28,479
Iowa..........................................       47,314       28,388
Kansas........................................       46,611       27,967
Kentucky......................................       40,587       24,352
Louisiana.....................................       41,442       24,865
Maine.........................................       45,507       27,304
Maryland......................................       60,239       36,143
Massachusetts.................................       59,191       35,515
Michigan......................................       52,955       31,773
Minnesota.....................................       54,396       32,638
Mississippi...................................       37,328       22,397
Missouri......................................       45,795       27,477
Montana.......................................       42,987       25,792
Nebraska......................................       44,886       26,932
Nevada........................................       50,064       30,038
New Hampshire.................................       54,492       32,695
New Jersey....................................       61,409       36,845
New Mexico....................................       37,365       22,419
New York......................................       50,672       30,403
North Carolina................................       47,367       28,420
North Dakota..................................       43,483       26,090
Ohio..........................................       50,893       30,536

[[Page 12652]]

                                                                        
Oklahoma......................................       42,124       25,274
Oregon........................................       46,229       27,737
Pennsylvania..................................       50,884       30,530
Rhode Island..................................       51,362       30,817
South Carolina................................       44,048       26,429
South Dakota..................................       42,269       25,361
Tennessee.....................................       44,312       26,587
Texas.........................................       43,977       26,386
Utah..........................................       45,611       27,367
Vermont.......................................       47,376       28,426
Virginia......................................       50,032       30,019
Washington....................................       51,415       30,849
West Virginia.................................       39,731       23,839
Wisconsin.....................................       50,628       30,377
Wyoming.......................................       45,925      27,555 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note--FY 1998 covers the period of October 1, 1997 through September 30,
  1998. The estimated median income for 4-person families living in the 
  United States is $49,687 for FY 1998. 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, 1997, 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 4-person family is multiplied by the following           
  percentages to adjust for family size: 52% for one person, 68% for two
  persons, 84% for three persons, 100% for four persons, 116% for five  
  persons, and 132% for six persons. For family sizes greater than six  
  persons, add 3% to 132% for each additional family member and multiply
  the new percentage by the state's estimated median income for a 4-    
  person family.                                                        
\2\ Prepared by the Bureau of the Census from the March 1996 Current    
  Population Survey, 1990 Decennial Census of Population and Housing,   
  and 1995 per capita personal income estimates, by state, from the     
  Bureau of Economic Analysis.                                          

[FR Doc. 97-6606 Filed 3-14-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P