[Federal Register Volume 80, Number 111 (Wednesday, June 10, 2015)]
[Notices]
[Pages 32958-32959]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2015-14187]


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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Administration for Children and Families

[CFDA Number: 93.568]


The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Announces the State 
Median Income Estimates for Federal Fiscal Year 2016

AGENCY: Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS.

ACTION: The Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Office of 
Community Services (OCS), announces the State Median Income Estimates 
for a Four-Person Household for the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2016 
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 2016 (October 1, 
2015, to September 30, 2016).

DATES: These estimates become effective at any time between the date of 
this publication and the later of (1) October 1, 2015; 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 2016 (October 1, 2015, to September 
30, 2016). 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, 2015, 
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 2016 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/2013_ACSSubjectDefinitions.pdf under ``Income in the 
Past 12 Months.'' For additional information about using the ACS 3-year 
estimates versus 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 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/MultiyearACSAccuracyofData2013.pdf.
    In the state-by-state listing of SMI and 60 percent of SMI for a 
four-person family for FFY 2016, 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) 2016, for Use in
                             the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
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                                                         Estimated state median        60 percent of estimated
                       States                            income for four-person     state median income for four-
                                                              families \1\               person families 2 3
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.............................................                       $66,253                       $39,752
Alaska..............................................                        90,307                        54,184
Arizona.............................................                        65,138                        39,083
Arkansas............................................                        58,262                        34,957
California..........................................                        77,106                        46,264
Colorado............................................                        85,915                        51,549
Connecticut.........................................                       106,193                        63,716

[[Page 32959]]

 
Delaware............................................                        85,925                        51,555
District of Columbia................................                        83,794                        50,276
Florida.............................................                        65,764                        39,458
Georgia.............................................                        68,448                        41,069
Hawaii..............................................                        86,495                        51,897
Idaho...............................................                        62,002                        37,201
Illinois............................................                        82,918                        49,751
Indiana.............................................                        72,299                        43,379
Iowa................................................                        79,300                        47,580
Kansas..............................................                        75,709                        45,425
Kentucky............................................                        69,239                        41,543
Louisiana...........................................                        71,516                        42,910
Maine...............................................                        76,455                        45,873
Maryland............................................                       107,438                        64,463
Massachusetts.......................................                       106,173                        63,704
Michigan............................................                        75,711                        45,427
Minnesota...........................................                        92,111                        55,267
Mississippi.........................................                        57,024                        34,214
Missouri............................................                        72,647                        43,588
Montana.............................................                        68,720                        41,232
Nebraska............................................                        77,165                        46,299
Nevada..............................................                        66,461                        39,877
New Hampshire.......................................                        98,638                        59,183
New Jersey..........................................                       105,700                        63,420
New Mexico..........................................                        60,534                        36,320
New York............................................                        86,316                        51,790
North Carolina......................................                        67,706                        40,624
North Dakota........................................                        88,725                        53,235
Ohio................................................                        76,875                        46,125
Oklahoma............................................                        64,907                        38,944
Oregon..............................................                        70,295                        42,177
Pennsylvania........................................                        83,730                        50,238
Rhode Island........................................                        89,353                        53,612
South Carolina......................................                        63,706                        38,224
South Dakota........................................                        74,498                        44,699
Tennessee...........................................                        66,060                        39,636
Texas...............................................                        69,517                        41,710
Utah................................................                        70,740                        42,444
Vermont.............................................                        82,781                        49,669
Virginia............................................                        92,379                        55,427
Washington..........................................                        85,013                        51,008
West Virginia.......................................                        67,613                        40,568
Wisconsin...........................................                        82,053                        49,232
Wyoming.............................................                        79,777                        47,866
Puerto Rico.........................................                        29,188                        17,513
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ These figures were prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau), from 3-
  year estimates from the 2011, 2012, and 2013 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.
\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 2016 covers the period of October 1, 2015, through 
September 30, 2016. The estimated median income for four-person 
families living in the United States for this period is $77,507. 
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, 2015 or the beginning of their fiscal year.

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

Jeannie L. Chaffin,
Director, Office of Community Services.
[FR Doc. 2015-14187 Filed 6-9-15; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P