[Federal Register Volume 65, Number 75 (Tuesday, April 18, 2000)]
[Notices]
[Page 20799]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 00-9644]


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 Notices
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  Federal Register / Vol. 65, No. 75 / Tuesday, April 18, 2000 / 
Notices  

[[Page 20799]]



DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Commodity Supplemental Food Program: Elderly Income Guidelines

AGENCY: Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: This notice announces the adjusted income guidelines to be 
used by State agencies in determining the eligibility of elderly 
persons applying to participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food 
Program (CSFP). These guidelines are to be used in conjunction with the 
CSFP regulations under 7 CFR part 247.

EFFECTIVE DATE: April 18, 2000.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Lillie F. Ragan, Assistant Branch 
Chief, Household Programs Branch, U.S. Department of Agriculture, 3101 
Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302-1594, or telephone (703) 
305-2662.

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

    The Food Security Act of 1985 (Pub. L. 99-198) amended section 5 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 low-income 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.
    To implement the CSFP mandates of Pub. L. 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 53 FR 4831. These regulations 
defined ``elderly persons'' as those who are 60 years of age or older 
(7 CFR 247.2). 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)).
    The Federal Poverty Income Guidelines are revised annually to 
reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The revision for 2000 was 
published by the Department of Health and Human Services in the Federal 
Register on February 15, 2000 at 65 FR 7555. To establish income limits 
of 130 percent, the 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. In past years, we have made the revised 
guidelines effective from July 1 to the following June 30, to conform 
to the effective period used in USDA child nutrition programs. 
Beginning this year, we are making the guidelines effective on the date 
that they are published in the Federal Register in order to diminish 
the time gap between CSFP adjustments and cost-of-living adjustments in 
Social Security benefits, which are made in January each year. These 
guidelines will remain in effect until publication of a notice with 
revised guidelines in 2001.

 FNS Income Eligibility Guidelines for the Elderly in CSFP (130 Percent
                      of Poverty Income Guidelines)
                       [Effective April 18, 2000]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Family size                     Annual   Month   Week
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................   10,855     905    209
2...............................................   14,625   1,219    282
3...............................................   18,395   1,533    354
4...............................................   22,165   1,848    427
5...............................................   25,935   2,162    499
6...............................................   29,705   2,476    572
7...............................................   33,475   2,790    644
8...............................................   37,245   3,104    717
For each additional family member add...........   +3,770    +315    +73
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    Authority: Pub. L. 93-86 (7 U.S.C. 612c note)


    Dated: April 12, 2000.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 00-9644 Filed 4-17-00; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P