[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 34 (Friday, February 20, 1998)]
[Notices]
[Pages 8650-8651]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-4355]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


State Median Income Estimates for Four-Person Families (FY 1999); 
Notice of the Fiscal Year (FY) 1999 State Median Income Estimates for 
Use Under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)

AGENCY: Office of Community Services, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice of estimated state median income for FY 1999.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the estimated median income for four-

[[Page 8651]]

 person families in each state and the District of Columbia for FY 1999 
(October 1, 1998 to September 30, 1999). LIHEAP grantees may adopt the 
state median income estimates beginning with the date of this 
publication of the estimates in the Federal Register or at a later date 
as discussed below. This means that LIHEAP grantees could choose to 
implement this notice during the period between the heating and cooling 
seasons. However, by October 1, 1998, 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 1999 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, 1998, 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, S.W., 
Washington, D.C. 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 1999 (the period of October 1, 1998, through 
September 30, 1999).
    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, Pub. L. 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 1999 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 1999, the Bureau of the Census used the following 
three sources of data: (1) The March 1997 Current Population Survey; 
(2) the 1990 Decennial Census of Population; and (3) 1996 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 1998, the FY 1999 estimates include 
income estimates from the March Current Population Survey that are 
based on population controls from the 1990 Decennial Census of 
Population. Income estimates prior to FY 1996 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 the Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division, at the 
Bureau of the Census (301-457-3242).
    A state-by-state listing of median income, and 60 percent of median 
income, for a four-person family for FY 1999 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: February 13, 1998.
Donald Sykes,
Director, Office of Community Services.

  Estimated State Median Income for 4-Person Families, by State, Fiscal 
                              Year 1999 \1\                             
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                   60   
                                                                Percent 
                                                   Estimated       of   
                                                     state     estimated
                     States                          median      state  
                                                   income 4-     median 
                                                     person    income 4-
                                                    families     person 
                                                      \2\       families
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.........................................     $44,879     $26,927
Alaska..........................................      62,078      37,247
Arizona.........................................      45,032      27,019
Arkansas........................................      36,828      22,097
California......................................      53,807      32,284
Colorado........................................      53,632      32,179
Connecticut.....................................      67,380      40,428
Delaware........................................      56,662      33,997
District of Col.................................      53,256      31,954
Florida.........................................      44,829      26,897
Georgia.........................................      48,920      29,352
Hawaii..........................................      57,909      34,745
Idaho...........................................      44,133      26,480
Illinois........................................      55,372      33,223
Indiana.........................................      52,962      31,777
Iowa............................................      48,167      28,900
Kansas..........................................      49,034      29,420
Kentucky........................................      44,932      26,959
Louisiana.......................................      41,851      25,111
Maine...........................................      48,632      29,179
Maryland........................................      61,860      37,116
Massachusetts...................................      62,385      37,431
Michigan........................................      56,174      33,704
Minnesota.......................................      56,200      33,720
Mississippi.....................................      38,748      23,249
Missouri........................................      50,015      30,009
Montana.........................................      41,462      24,877
Nebraska........................................      46,726      28,036
Nevada..........................................      50,946      30,568
New Hampshire...................................      56,497      33,898
New Jersey......................................      65,586      39,352
New Mexico......................................      38,143      22,886
New York........................................      52,799      31,679
North Carolina..................................      49,272      29,563
North Dakota....................................      45,480      27,288
Ohio............................................      51,835      31,101
Oklahoma........................................      43,138      25,883
Oregon..........................................      46,245      27,747
Pennsylvania....................................      53,814      32,288
Rhode Island....................................      53,967      32,380
South Carolina..................................      46,973      28,184
South Dakota....................................      45,043      27,026
Tennessee.......................................      45,245      27,147
Texas...........................................      46,757      28,054
Utah............................................      45,775      27,465
Vermont.........................................      49,401      29,641
Virginia........................................      53,394      32,036
Washington......................................      53,153      31,892
West Virginia...................................      41,293      24,776
Wisconsin.......................................      52,986      31,792
Wyoming.........................................      46,830     28,098 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note--FY 1999 covers the period of October 1, 1988 through September 30,
  1999. The estimated median income for 4-person families living in the 
  United States is $51,518 for FY 1999. 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, 1998, 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 1997 Current    
  Population Survey, 1990 Decennial Census of Population and Housing,   
  and 1996 per capita personal income estimates, by state, from the     
  Bureau of Economic Analysis.                                          

[FR Doc. 98-4355 Filed 2-19-98; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P