[Federal Register Volume 62, Number 75 (Friday, April 18, 1997)]
[Notices]
[Page 19098]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 97-10103]



[[Page 19098]]

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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, 1997.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillie F. Ragan, Assistant Branch 
Chief, Household Programs Section, 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 1995 (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 Public Law 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 Public Law 99-198, the 
Department published an interim rule on September 17, 1986 at 51 FR 
32895 and a final rule on February 18, 1988 at 58 FR 8287. These 
regulations define ``elderly persons'' as those who are 60 years of age 
or older. The final rule further stipulates 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 1997 was 
published by the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) in the 
Federal Register for March 10, 1997 at 62 FR 10855. To establish income 
limits of 130 percent, the poverty income guidelines were multiplied by 
1.30 and the results rounded up to the next whole dollar.
    At this time the Department is publishing the income limits of 130 
percent of the poverty income guidelines. The table in this notice 
contains the income limits by household size to be used for elderly 
certification in the CSFP for the period July 1, 1997--June 30, 1998.


 Effective July 1, 1997-June 30, 1998--FCS Poverty Income Guidelines for
                             Elderly in CSFP                            
               [130 Percent of Poverty Income Guidelines]               
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               Family size                   Annual     Month      Week 
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1........................................     10,257        855      198
2........................................     13,793      1,150      266
3........................................     17,329      1,445      334
4........................................     20,865      1,739      402
5........................................     24,401      2,034      470
6........................................     27,937      2,329      538
7........................................     31,473      2,623      606
8........................................     35,009      2,918      674
For each additional family member add:...     +3,536       +295      +68
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    Dated: April 10, 1997.
William E. Ludwig,
Administrator.
[FR Doc. 97-10103 Filed 4-17-97; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P