[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 5, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 11924-11926]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-4190]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families


State Median Income Estimate for a Four-Person Family: Notice of 
the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2009 State Median Income Estimates for 
Use Under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) (CFDA 
Number 93.568) Administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human 
Services (HHS), Administration for Children and Families, Office of 
Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance

AGENCY: Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community 
Services, Division of Energy Assistance, HHS.

ACTION: Notice of State median income estimates for FFY 2009.

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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 FFY 2009 
(October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2009). LIHEAP grantees may adopt the 
State median income estimates beginning with the date of publication in 
the Federal Register or at a later date as discussed below. This 
enables LIHEAP grantees to choose to implement this notice during the 
period between the heating and cooling seasons. However, by October 1, 
2008, or 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 2009 State 
median income estimates.
    This listing of estimated State median incomes provides one of the 
maximum income criteria that LIHEAP grantees may use in determining a 
household's income eligibility for LIHEAP.

DATES: Effective Date: The estimates become effective at any time 
between the date of this publication and October 1, 2008, or the 
beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Edelman, Office of Community 
Services, Division of Energy Assistance, 5th Floor West, 370 L'Enfant 
Promenade, SW., Washington, DC 20447, Telephone: (202) 401-5292, E-
Mail: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Under the provisions of section 2603(11) of 
Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 
(Pub. L.) 97-35, as amended, HHS announces the estimated median income 
of a four-person family for each State, the District of Columbia, and 
the United States for FFY 2009 (October 1, 2008, through September 30, 
2009).
    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 was last authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, PL 
109-58, enacted on August 8, 2005. This authorization expired on 
September 30, 2007. Reauthorization of LIHEAP is pending.
    Estimates of the median income for a four-person family for each 
State and the District of Columbia for FFY 2009 have been produced by 
the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce. In developing 
these estimates, the U.S. Census Bureau used the most recently 
available income data, which was data from the 2006 American Community 
Survey (ACS). For additional information about the ACS State median 
income estimates, see http://www.census.gov/hhes/www/income/medincsizeandstate.html or contact the U.S. Census Bureau's Housing and 
Household Economic Statistics Division at (301) 763-3243. For 
additional information about the ACS in general, see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/.
    The State median income estimates, like those that derive from any 
survey, are subject to two types of errors: (1) Nonsampling Error, 
which consists of random errors that increase the variability of the 
data and non-random errors that consistently direct the data into a 
specific direction; and (2) Sampling Error, which consists of the error 
that arises from the use of probability sampling to create the sample. 
For additional information about the accuracy of the ACS State median 
income estimates, see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/ACS/accuracy2006.pdf.
    A State-by-State listing of median income and 60 percent of median 
income for a four-person family for FFY 2009 follows. The listing 
describes the method for adjusting median income for families of 
different sizes as specified in regulations applicable to LIHEAP, at 45

[[Page 11925]]

CFR 96.85(b), published in the Federal Register on March 3, 1988 at 53 
FR 6824.

    Dated: February 11, 2008.
Josephine B. Robinson,
Director, Office of Community Services.

    Estimated State Median Income for a Four-Person Family, by State,
                           Federal Fiscal Year
                            [(FFY) 2009 \1\]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                              60 percent
                                                 Estimated        of
                                                   state      estimated
                                                   median       State
                    States                       income for     median
                                                  a four-     income for
                                                   person      a four-
                                                 family\2\      person
                                                              family \3\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.......................................      $60,298      $36,179
Alaska........................................       71,781       43,069
Arizona.......................................       65,050       39,030
Arkansas......................................       52,185       31,311
California....................................       74,801       44,881
Colorado......................................       75,775       45,465
Connecticut...................................       93,821       56,293
Delaware......................................       78,321       46,993
District of Columbia..........................       71,571       42,943
Florida.......................................       65,024       39,014
Georgia.......................................       66,711       40,027
Hawaii........................................       84,472       50,683
Idaho.........................................       58,066       34,840
Illinois......................................       75,484       45,290
Indiana.......................................       67,787       40,672
Iowa..........................................       67,792       40,675
Kansas........................................       67,897       40,738
Kentucky......................................       60,202       36,121
Louisiana.....................................       60,161       36,097
Maine.........................................       63,501       38,101
Maryland......................................       94,017       56,410
Massachusetts.................................       89,347       53,608
Michigan......................................       72,591       43,555
Minnesota.....................................       81,477       48,886
Mississippi...................................       52,992       31,795
Missouri......................................       63,274       37,964
Montana.......................................       60,576       36,346
Nebraska......................................       68,917       41,350
Nevada........................................       66,095       39,657
New Hampshire.................................       87,396       52,438
New Jersey....................................       94,441       56,665
New Mexico....................................       52,034       31,220
New York......................................       75,513       45,308
North Carolina................................       61,420       36,852
North Dakota..................................       67,560       40,536
Ohio..........................................       68,579       41,147
Oklahoma......................................       55,031       33,019
Oregon........................................       64,832       38,899
Pennsylvania..................................       74,072       44,443
Rhode Island..................................       78,189       46,913
South Carolina................................       59,663       35,798
South Dakota..................................       63,508       38,105
Tennessee.....................................       60,143       36,086
Texas.........................................       59,808       35,885
Utah..........................................       63,586       38,152
Vermont.......................................       67,884       40,730
Virginia......................................       78,413       47,048
Washington....................................       75,140       45,084
West Virginia.................................       55,920       33,552
Wisconsin.....................................       72,495       43,497
Wyoming.......................................       71,559      42,935
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Note: FFY 2009 covers the period of October 1, 2008 through September
  30, 2009. The estimated median income for a four-person family living
  in the United States is $70,354 for FFY 2009. The estimates become
  effective for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
  at any time between the date of this publication and October 1, 2008,
  or the beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year, whichever is
  later.
\1\ Prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau from the 2006 American Community
  Survey (ACS). The State median income estimates, like those that
  derive from any survey, are subject to two types of errors: (1)
  Nonsampling Error, which consists of random errors that increase the
  variability of the data and non-random errors that consistently direct
  the data into a specific direction; and (2) Sampling Error, which
  consists of the error that arises from the use of probability sampling
  to create the sample.

[[Page 11926]]

 
\2\ 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 for LIHEAP: 52 percent for one
  person, 68 percent for two persons, 84 percent for three persons, 100
  percent for four persons, 116 percent for five persons, and 132
  percent for six persons. For each additional family member above six
  persons, add 3 percentage points to the percentage for a six-person
  family (132 percent), and multiply the new percentage by the State's
  estimated median income for a four-person family.
\3\ These figures were calculated by the Division of Energy Assistance
  (DEA). DEA calculated these figures by multiplying the estimated State
  median income for a four-person family for each State by 60 percent.

 [FR Doc. E8-4190 Filed 3-4-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P