[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 72 (Tuesday, April 15, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Pages 18230-18232]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-9088]


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

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


State Median Income Estimate for a Four-Person Family (FFY 2004); 
Notice of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2004 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: Office of Community Services, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION: Notice of estimated State median income for FFY 2004.

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

SUMMARY: This notice announces the estimated median income for four-
person families in each State and the District of Columbia for FFY 2004 
(October 1, 2003 to September 30, 2004). 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, 2003, 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 FFY 2004 State median income estimates.
    This listing of estimated State median incomes provides 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, 2003, 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, DHHS, Office of Community Services, Division of 
Energy Assistance, 5th Floor West, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW., 
Washington, DC 20447, Telephone: (202) 401-5304, 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

[[Page 18231]]

FFY 2004 (the period of October 1, 2003, through September 30, 2004).
    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 the Department 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 FFY 2004 by the 
Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-285, 
which was enacted on October 27, 1998.
    Estimates of the median income of a four-person family for each 
State and the District of Columbia for FFY 2004 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 FFY 2004, the Bureau of the Census used the following 
three sources of data: (1) The Current Population Survey 2002 Annual 
Demographic File; (2) the 2000 Decennial Census of Population; and (3) 
2001 per capita personal income estimates, by State, from the Bureau of 
Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce.
    As indicated above, the Current Population Survey 2000 Annual 
Demographic File is one of the data sources used in developing the 
State median estimates for FFY 2004. The use of this file introduces 
the following changes in development of the estimates:
    1. The Annual Demographic File enhances income estimates produced 
by the Bureau of the Census from the March Current Population (CPS). In 
2001, the Bureau of the Census began referring to the March CPS file as 
the CPS Annual Demographic File (ADF) due to a significant sample 
expansion to improve the accuracy of State estimates of children's 
health insurance coverage and an expansion of the months in which the 
survey is conducted.
    This sample expansion, known as the State Children's Health 
Insurance Program (SCHIP) sample, has three components: (1) Asking the 
March Income Supplement questions of selected households in the 
February and April CPS samples, that is, of the households not also 
included in the March sample; (2) interviewing selected sample 
households from the preceding November CPS sample during the February-
April period using the March Income Supplement; and (3) increasing the 
monthly CPS sample in States with high sampling errors for uninsured 
children. The sample increase added about 28,000 interviewed households 
to the 2001 ADF, resulting in a total sample size of about 78,000 
interviewed households.
    Although the expanded sample was implemented in 2001, only 
information from the regular 2001 March CPS sample was released when 
the FFY 2003 State median income estimates were calculated. The FFY 
2004 estimates shown below use the expanded sample from the 2002 ADF.
    2. Prior income estimates from the March CPS have been based on 
population controls from the 1990 Decennial Census of Population. The 
2002 ADF estimates are based on population controls from the 2000 
Decennial Census of Population. Nationally, the use of Census 2000-
based population controls lowered the national median household income 
by 0.3 percent.
    For further information on the estimating method and data sources, 
contact the Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division, at the 
Bureau of the Census (301-763-3243).
    A state-by-state listing of median income, and 60 percent of median 
income, for a four-person family for FFY 2004 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 6, 2003.
Clarence H. Carter,
Director.

    Estimated State Median Income for a Four-Person Family, by State,
                       Federal Fiscal Year 2004 1
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              60 percent
                                                  Estimated       of
                                                    State     estimated
                                                   median       State
                     States                      income for     median
                                                   a four-    income for
                                                   person      a four-
                                                  family 2      person
                                                                family
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama........................................     $54,594      $32,756
Alaska.........................................      71,395       42,837
Arizona........................................      56,067       33,640
Arkansas.......................................      47,838       28,703
California.....................................      63,761       38,257
Colorado.......................................      67,634       40,580
Connecticut....................................      82,517       49,510
Delaware.......................................      73,301       43,981
District of Col................................      61,799       37,079
Florida........................................      56,824       34,094
Georgia........................................      59,497       35,698
Hawaii.........................................      66,014       39,608
Idaho..........................................      51,098       30,659
Illinois.......................................      66,507       39,904
Indiana........................................      63,573       38,144
Iowa...........................................      61,656       36,994
Kansas.........................................      61,686       37,012
Kentucky.......................................      54,319       32,591
Louisiana......................................      51,234       30,740
Maine..........................................      58,425       35,055
Maryland.......................................      82,879       49,727
Massachusetts..................................      80,247       48,148
Michigan.......................................      68,337       41,002
Minnesota......................................      72,635       43,581
Mississippi....................................      46,810       28,086
Missouri.......................................      61,036       36,622
Montana........................................      48,078       28,847
Nebraska.......................................      60,626       36,376
Nevada.........................................      59,283       35,570
New Hampshire..................................      72,606       43,564
New Jersey.....................................      80,577       48,346
New Mexico.....................................      46,596       27,958
New York.......................................      66,498       39,899
North Carolina.................................      56,500       33,900
North Dakota...................................      55,138       33,083
Ohio...........................................      64,282       38,569
Oklahoma.......................................      53,949       32,369
Oregon.........................................      58,737       35,242
Pennsylvania...................................      66,130       39,678
Rhode Island...................................      70,446       42,268
South Carolina.................................      59,212       35,527
South Dakota...................................      59,718       35,831
Tennessee......................................      56,052       33,631
Texas..........................................      56,606       33,964
Utah...........................................      59,035       35,421
Vermont........................................      62,938       37,763
Virginia.......................................      69,616       41,770
Washington.....................................      65,997       39,598
West Virginia..................................      49,470       29,682
Wisconsin......................................      65,441       39,265
Wyoming........................................      58,541       35,125
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note--FFY 2004 covers the period of October 1, 2003 through September
  30, 2004. The estimated median income for a four-person family living
  in the United States is $63,278 for FFY 2004. 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, 2003,
  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 four-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 each additional family member above six
  persons, add 3% to the percentage for a six-person family (132%), and
  multiply the new percentage by the State's estimated median income for
  a four-person family.
2 Prepared by the Bureau of the Census from the Current Population
  Survey 2002 Annual Demographic File, 2000 Decennial Census of
  Population and Housing, and 2001 per capita personal income estimates,
  by State, from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). For further
  information, contact the Housing and Household Economic Statistics
  Division at the Bureau of the Census (301-763-3243).


[[Page 18232]]

[FR Doc. 03-9088 Filed 4-14-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P