[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 139 (Monday, July 21, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 42331-42333]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-17063]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[C.F.D.A. Number: 93.568]


Notice of LIHEAP State Median Income Estimates for FFY 2015

AGENCY: Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS.

ACTION: State Median Income Estimates for a Four-Person Household: 
Notice of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2015 State Median Income 
Estimates for Use in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program 
(LIHEAP).

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SUMMARY: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of 
Community Services (OCS), Division of Energy Assistance (DEA) announces 
the estimated median income of four-person households in each state, 
the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico for FFY 2015 (October 1, 
2014, to September 30, 2015).

DATES: Effective Date: These estimates become effective at any time 
between the date of this publication and the later of (1) October 1, 
2014; or (2) the beginning of a grantee's fiscal year.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Edelman, Program Analyst, Office 
of Community Services, 5th Floor West, 370 L'Enfant Promenade SW., 
Washington, DC 20447. Telephone: 202-401-5292; Email: 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces to grantees of the Low 
Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) the estimated median 
income of four-person households in each state, the District of 
Columbia, and Puerto Rico for FFY 2015 (October 1, 2014, to September 
30, 2015). LIHEAP grantees that choose to base their income eligibility 
criteria on these state median income (SMI) estimates may adopt these 
estimates (up to 60 percent) on their date of publication in the 
Federal Register or on a later date as discussed in the ``Dates'' 
section. This enables grantees to implement this notice during the 
period between the heating and cooling seasons. However, by October 1, 
2014, or the beginning of the grantee's fiscal year, whichever is 
later, such grantees must adjust their income eligibility criteria so 
that they are in accord with the FFY 2015 SMI.
    Sixty percent of SMI for each LIHEAP grantee, 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 income eligibility for LIHEAP. The last time LIHEAP was 
authorized was by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Public Law 109-58, 
which was enacted on August 8, 2005. This authorization expired on 
September 30, 2007, and reauthorization remains pending.
    The SMI estimates in this notice are 3-year estimates derived from 
the American Community Survey (ACS) conducted by the U.S. Census 
Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau).
    For additional information about the ACS state median income 
estimates, including the definition of income and the derivation of 
medians see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/data_documentation/SubjectDefinitions/2012_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf under 
``Income in the Past 12 Months.'' For additional information about 
using the ACS 3-year estimates vs. using the 1-year or 5-year 
estimates, see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/guidance_for_data_users/estimates/. For additional information about the ACS in general, 
see http://www.census.gov/acs/www/ or contact the Census Bureau's 
Social, Economic, and Housing Statistics Division at (301) 763-3243.
    These SMI estimates, like those derived from any survey, are 
subject to two types of errors: (1) Non-sampling Error, which consists 
of random errors that increase the variability of the data

[[Page 42332]]

and non-random errors that consistently shift the data in 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 SMI estimates, see 
http://www.census.gov/acs/www/Downloads/data_documentation/Accuracy/MultiyearACSAccuracyofData2012.pdf.
    In the state-by-state listing of SMI and 60 percent of SMI for a 
four-person family for FFY 2015, LIHEAP grantees must regard ``family'' 
to be the equivalent of ``household'' with regards to setting their 
income eligibility criteria. This listing describes the method for 
adjusting SMI for households of different sizes, as specified in 
regulations applicable to LIHEAP (45 CFR 96.85(b)). These regulations 
were published in the Federal Register on March 3, 1988, (53 FR 6827) 
and amended on October 15, 1999 (64 FR 55858).

      Estimated State Median Income for Four-Person Families, by State, for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2015
                       [For use in the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)]
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                                                                                         60 percent of estimated
                                                                 Estimated state median  state median income for
                            States                               income for four-person  four-person families \2
                                                                      families \1\                  3\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.......................................................                  $65,575                  $39,345
Alaska........................................................                   89,082                   53,449
Arizona.......................................................                   63,560                   38,136
Arkansas......................................................                   58,947                   35,368
California....................................................                   76,804                   46,082
Colorado......................................................                   85,182                   51,109
Connecticut...................................................                  104,214                   62,528
Delaware......................................................                   85,261                   51,157
District of Columbia..........................................                  100,408                   60,245
Florida.......................................................                   65,166                   39,100
Georgia.......................................................                   67,885                   40,731
Hawaii........................................................                   85,096                   51,058
Idaho.........................................................                   62,088                   37,253
Illinois......................................................                   82,114                   49,268
Indiana.......................................................                   71,057                   42,634
Iowa..........................................................                   76,955                   46,173
Kansas........................................................                   75,582                   45,349
Kentucky......................................................                   67,026                   40,216
Louisiana.....................................................                   69,514                   41,708
Maine.........................................................                   77,344                   46,406
Maryland......................................................                  106,452                   63,871
Massachusetts.................................................                  104,545                   62,727
Michigan......................................................                   73,991                   44,395
Minnesota.....................................................                   89,824                   53,894
Mississippi...................................................                   56,573                   33,944
Missouri......................................................                   71,915                   43,149
Montana.......................................................                   69,557                   41,734
Nebraska......................................................                   74,905                   44,943
Nevada........................................................                   65,832                   39,499
New Hampshire.................................................                   97,547                   58,528
New Jersey....................................................                  105,497                   63,298
New Mexico....................................................                   58,215                   34,929
New York......................................................                   84,381                   50,629
North Carolina................................................                   66,844                   40,106
North Dakota..................................................                   86,170                   51,702
Ohio..........................................................                   75,188                   45,113
Oklahoma......................................................                   64,091                   38,455
Oregon........................................................                   68,929                   41,357
Pennsylvania..................................................                   81,802                   49,081
Rhode Island..................................................                   89,587                   53,752
South Carolina................................................                   63,212                   37,927
South Dakota..................................................                   73,736                   44,242
Tennessee.....................................................                   63,997                   38,398
Texas.........................................................                   67,757                   40,654
Utah..........................................................                   68,036                   40,822
Vermont.......................................................                   81,615                   48,969
Virginia......................................................                   91,442                   54,865
Washington....................................................                   83,863                   50,318
West Virginia.................................................                   66,130                   39,678
Wisconsin.....................................................                   80,612                   48,367
Wyoming.......................................................                   76,526                   45,916
Puerto Rico...................................................                   28,861                   17,317
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These figures were prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau), from 3-
  year estimates from the 2010, 2011, and 2012 American Community Surveys (ACSs). These estimates, like those
  derived from any survey, are subject to two types of error: (1) Non-sampling Error, which consists of random
  errors that increase the variability of the data and non-random errors that consistently direct the data in 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 42333]]

 
\2\ These figures were calculated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for
  Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance by multiplying the
  estimated state median income for a four-person family for each state by 60 percent.
3 To adjust for different sizes of households for LIHEAP purposes, 45 CFR 96.85 calls for multiplying 60 percent
  of a state's estimated median income for a four-person family by the following percentages: 52 percent for a
  one-person household, 68 percent for a two-person household, 84 percent for a three-person household, 100
  percent for a four-person household, 116 percent for a five-person household, and 132 percent for a six-person
  household. For each additional household member above six people, 45 CFR 96.85 calls for adding 3 percentage
  points to the percentage for a six-person household (132 percent) and multiplying the new percentage by 60
  percent of the median income for a four-person family.


    Note: FFY 2015 covers the period of October 1, 2014, through 
September 30, 2015. The estimated median income for four-person 
families living in the United States for this period is $76,365. 
Grantees that use SMI for LIHEAP may, at their option, employ such 
estimates at any time between the date of this publication and the 
later of October 1, 2014 or the beginning of their fiscal year.


    Statutory Authority: 45 CFR 96.85(b) and 42 U.S.C. 
8624(b)(2)(B)(ii).

    Dated: July 15, 2014.
Jeannie L. Chaffin,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 2014-17063 Filed 7-18-14; 8:45 a.m.]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P