[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 58 (Friday, March 25, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 16217-16223]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-06764]


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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR

Employment and Training Administration


Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) 2014; Lower 
Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL)

AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration (ETA), Labor.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: Title I of WIOA (Pub. L.113-128) requires the U.S. Secretary 
of Labor (Secretary) to update and publish the LLSIL tables annually, 
for uses described in the law (including determining eligibility for 
youth). WIOA defines the term ``low income individual'' as one who 
qualifies under various criteria, including an individual in a family 
with total family income for a six-month period that does not exceed 
the higher level of the poverty line or 70 percent of the LLSIL. This 
issuance provides the Secretary's annual LLSIL for 2016 and references 
the current 2016 Health and Human Services ``Poverty Guidelines.''

DATES: This notice is effective March 25, 2016.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR QUESTIONS ON LLSIL: Please contact Samuel 
Wright, Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 
200 Constitution Avenue NW., Room C-4526, Washington, DC 20210; 
Telephone: 202-693-2870; Fax: 202-693-3015 (these are not toll-free 
numbers); Email address: [email protected]. Individuals with 
hearing or speech impairments may access the telephone number above via 
Text Telephone (TTY/TDD) by calling the toll-free Federal Information 
Relay Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD).

For Further Information Or Questions On Federal Youth Employment 
Programs:  Please contact Jennifer Kemp, Department of Labor, 
Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue NW., 
Room N-4464, Washington, DC 20210; Telephone: 202-693-3377; Fax: 202-
693-3113 (these are not toll-free numbers); Email: 
[email protected]. Individuals with hearing or speech impairments 
may access the telephone number above via TTY by calling the toll-free 
Federal Information Relay Service at 1-877-889-5627 (TTY/TDD).

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:  The purpose of WIOA is to provide workforce 
investment activities through statewide and local workforce investment 
systems that increase the employment, retention, and earnings of 
participants. WIOA programs are intended to increase the occupational 
skill attainment by participants and the quality of the workforce, 
thereby reducing welfare dependency and enhancing the productivity and 
competitiveness of the Nation.
    LLSIL is used for several purposes under the WIOA. Specifically, 
WIOA SEC.3(36) (A)(B)defines the term ``low income individual'' for 
eligibility purposes, and SEC.127(b)(2)(c), 
SEC.132(b)(1)(B)(IV),(V)(bb) define the terms ``disadvantaged youth'' 
and ``disadvantaged adult'' in terms of the poverty line or LLSIL for 
State formula allotments. The governor and state/local

[[Page 16218]]

workforce development boards (WDs) use the LLSIL for determining 
eligibility for youth and adults for certain services. ETA encourages 
governors and State/local boards to consult the WIOA regulations and 
the preamble to the WIOA Final Rule for more specific guidance in 
applying LLSIL to program requirements. The U.S. Department of Health 
and Human Services (HHS) published the most current poverty-level 
guidelines in the Federal Register on January 25, 2016 (Volume 81, 
Number 15), pp. 4036-4037. The HHS 2016 Poverty guidelines may also be 
found on the Internet at https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines. ETA 
plans to have the 2016 LLSIL available on its Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/llsil.
    WIOA Section 3(36)(B) defines LLSIL as ``that income level 
(adjusted for regional, metropolitan, urban and rural differences and 
family size) determined annually by the Secretary [of Labor] based on 
the most recent lower living family budget issued by the Secretary.'' 
The most recent lower living family budget was issued by the Secretary 
in fall 1981. The four-person urban family budget estimates, previously 
published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provided the 
basis for the Secretary to determine the LLSIL. BLS terminated the 
four-person family budget series in 1982, after publication of the fall 
1981 estimates. Currently, BLS provides data to ETA, which ETA then 
uses to develop the LLSIL tables, as provided in the Appendices to this 
Federal Register notice.
    ETA published the 2015 updates to the LLSIL in the Federal Register 
of March 27, 2015, at Vol. 80, No.59 pp. 16450-16456. Last year, ETA 
also published a correction to three Regions in the Federal Register of 
July 16, 2015 at Vol. 80, No. 136 pp. 42123-42124. These notices again 
update the LLSIL to reflect cost of living increases for 2015, by 
calculating the percentage change in the most recent 2014 Consumer 
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for an area to the 2015 
CPI-U, and then applying this calculation to each of the March 27, 2015 
LLSIL figures. This year, a Region and several metro areas had a 
negative CPI-U due mostly to the decline in gas prices.
    The updated figures for a four-person family are listed in Appendix 
A, Table 1, by region for both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. 
Numbers in all of the Appendix tables are rounded up to the nearest 
dollar. Since program eligibility for low-income individuals, 
``disadvantaged adults'' and ``disadvantaged youth'' may be determined 
by family income at 70 percent of the LLSIL, pursuant to WIOA Section 3 
(36)(A)(ii) and Section 3(36)(B), respectively, those figures are 
listed as well.

I. Jurisdictions

    Jurisdictions included in the various regions, based generally on 
the Census Regions of the U.S. Department of Commerce, are as follows:

A. Northeast

Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New 
York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,Vermont, Virgin Islands

B. Midwest

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, 
Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin,

C. South

Alabama, American Samoa, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, 
Florida, Georgia, Northern Marianas, Oklahoma, Palau, Puerto Rico, 
South Carolina, Kentucky, Louisiana, Marshall Islands, Maryland, 
Micronesia, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, 
West Virginia

D. West

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, 
Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming

Additionally, separate figures have been provided for Alaska, Hawaii, 
and Guam as indicated in Appendix B, Table 2.
    For Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam, the year 2016 figures were updated 
from the 2015 ``State Index'' based on the ratio of the urban change in 
the state (using Anchorage for Alaska and Honolulu for Hawaii and Guam) 
compared to the West regional metropolitan change, and then applying 
that index to the West regional metropolitan change.
    Data on 23 selected Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) are also 
available. These are based on annual and semiannual CPI-U changes for a 
12-month period ending in December 2015. The updated LLSIL figures for 
these MSAs and 70 percent of LLSIL are reported in Appendix C, Table 3.
    Appendix D, Table 4 lists each of the various figures at 70 percent 
of the updated 2015 LLSIL for family sizes of one to six persons. 
Because Tables 1-3 only list the LLSIL for a family of four, Table 4 
can be used to separately determine the LLSIL for families of between 
one and six persons. For families larger than six persons, an amount 
equal to the difference between the six-person and the five-person 
family income levels should be added to the six-person family income 
level for each additional person in the family. Where the poverty level 
for a particular family size is greater than the corresponding 70 
percent of the LLSIL figure, the figure is shaded. A modified Microsoft 
Excel version of Appendix D, Table 4, with the area names, will be 
available on the ETA LLSIL Web site at http://www.doleta.gov/llsil. 
Appendix E, Table 5, indicates 100 percent of LLSIL for family sizes of 
one to six, and is used to determine self-sufficiency as noted at 
Section 3 (36)(a)(ii) and Section 3 (36)(B),(C)(ii) in WIOA.

II. Use of These Data

    Governors should designate the appropriate LLSILs for use within 
the State from Appendices A, B, and C, containing Tables 1 through 3. 
Appendices D and E, which contain Tables 4 and 5, which adjust a family 
of four figure for larger and smaller families, may be used with any 
LLSIL designated area. The governor's designation may be provided by 
disseminating information on MSAs and metropolitan and non-metropolitan 
areas within the state or it may involve further calculations. For 
example, the State of New Jersey may have four or more LLSIL figures 
for Northeast metropolitan, Northeast non-metropolitan, portions of the 
state in the New York City MSA, and those in the Philadelphia MSA. If a 
workforce investment area includes areas that would be covered by more 
than one LLSIL figure, the governor may determine which is to be used.
    A state's policies and measures for the workforce investment system 
shall be accepted by the Secretary to the extent that they are 
consistent with WIOA and WIOA regulations.

III. Disclaimer on Statistical Uses

    It should be noted that publication of these figures is only for 
the purpose of meeting the requirements specified by WIOA as defined in 
the law and regulations. BLS has not revised the lower living family 
budget since 1981, and has no plans to do so. The four-person urban 
family budget estimates series has been terminated. The CPI-U 
adjustments used to update LLSIL for this publication are not precisely 
comparable, most notably because certain tax items were included in the 
1981 LLSIL, but are not in the CPI-U. Thus, these figures should not be 
used for any statistical purposes, and are valid only for those 
purposes under WIOA as defined in the law and regulations.

[[Page 16219]]

Appendix A

    Table 1--Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four
                         Persons) by Region \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           2015 adjusted    70 percent
               Region \2\                      LLSIL           LLSIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast:                                ..............  ..............
    Metro...............................        $ 42,164        $ 29,514
    Non-Metro \3\.......................          41,826          29,279
Midwest:                                  ..............  ..............
    Metro...............................          36,977          25,884
    Non-Metro...........................          35,740          25,018
South:                                    ..............  ..............
    * Metro.............................          35,803          25,062
    Non-Metro...........................          35,568          24,898
* West:                                   ..............  ..............
    Metro...............................          41,048          28,734
    Non-Metro \4\.......................          40,580          28,406
------------------------------------------------------------------------
* The South Metro Region and the West Metro and Non-Metro Regions 2015
  LLSIL were adjusted.
\1\ For ease of use, these figures are rounded to the next highest
  dollar.
\2\ Metropolitan area measures were calculated from the weighted average
  CPI-U's for city size classes A and B/C. Non-metropolitan area
  measures were calculated from the CPI-U's for city size class D.
\3\ Non-metropolitan area percent changes for the Northeast region are
  no longer available. The Non-metropolitan percent change was
  calculated using the U.S. average CPI-U for city size class D.
\4\ Non-metropolitan area percent changes for the West region are based
  on unpublished BLS data.

Appendix B

    Table 2--Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four
                Persons), for Alaska, Hawaii and Guam \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           2015 adjusted    70 percent
               Region \1\                      LLSIL           LLSIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska:
    Metro \2\...........................        $ 47,899        $ 33,529
    Non-Metro \3\.......................          52,482          36,737
Hawaii, Guam:
    Metro...............................          52,587          36,811
    Non-Metro \3\.......................          56,028          39,220
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For ease of use, these figures are rounded to the next highest
  dollar.
\2\ The CPI-U change was negative.
\3\ Non-Metropolitan percent changes for Alaska, Hawaii and Guam were
  calculated from the CPI-U's for all urban consumers for city size
  class D in the Western Region. Generally the non-metro areas LLSIL is
  lower than the LLSIL in metro areas. This year the non-metro area
  LLSIL incomes were larger because the change in CPI-U was smaller in
  the metro areas compared to the change in CPI-U in the non-metro areas
  of Alaska, Hawaii and Guam.

Appendix C

    Table 3--Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four
                   Persons), for 23 Selected MSAs \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)    2016 adjusted    70 percent
                   \1\                         LLSIL           LLSIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anchorage, AK \2\.......................         $49,096         $34,367
Atlanta, GA \2\.........................          34,370          24,059
Boston--Brockton--Nashua, MA/NH/ME/CT...          45,346          31,742
Chicago--Gary--Kenosha, IL/IN/WI........          38,019          26,613
Cincinnati--Hamilton, OH/KY/IN..........          36,435          25,505
Cleveland--Akron, OH....................          37,800          26,460
Dallas--Ft. Worth, TX...................          34,141          23,899
Denver--Boulder--Greeley, CO............          38,913          27,239
Detroit--Ann Arbor--Flint, MI \2\.......          35,202          24,641
Honolulu, HI............................          53,532          37,473
Houston--Galveston--Brazoria, TX........          34,842          24,389
Kansas City, MO/KS......................          35,159          24,612
Los Angeles--Riverside--Orange County,            42,146          29,502
 CA \2\.................................
Milwaukee--Racine, WI...................          36,705          25,694
Minneapolis--St. Paul, MN/WI............          36,942          25,859
New York--Northern NJ--Long Island, NY/           45,008          31,506
 NJ/CT/PA \2\...........................
Philadelphia--Wilmington--Atlantic City,          40,855          28,599
 PA/NJ/DE/MD............................
Pittsburgh, PA..........................          44,940          31,458

[[Page 16220]]

 
St. Louis, MO/IL........................          34,557          24,190
San Diego, CA...........................          46,922          32,846
San Francisco--Oakland--San Jose, CA....          45,389          31,772
Seattle--Tacoma--Bremerton, WA..........          45,018          31,512
Washington--Baltimore, DC/MD/VA/WV \2\..          45,551          31,885
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For ease of use, these figures are rounded to the next highest
  dollar.
\2\ The CPI-U change was negative.
\2\ Baltimore and Washington are calculated as a single metropolitan
  statistical area.

Appendix D

Table 4: 70 Percent of Updated 2015 Lower Living Standard Income Level 
(LLSIL), by Family Size

    To use the 70 percent LLSIL value, where it is stipulated for 
the WIOA programs, begin by locating the region or metropolitan area 
where the program applicant resides. These are listed in Tables 1, 2 
and 3. After locating the appropriate region or metropolitan 
statistical area, find the 70 percent LLSIL amount for that 
location. The 70 percent LLSIL figures are listed in the last column 
to the right on each of the three tables. These figures apply to a 
family of four. Larger and smaller family eligibility is based on a 
percentage of the family of four. To determine eligibility for other 
size families consult Table 4 and the instructions below.
    To use Table 4, locate the 70 percent LLSIL value that applies 
to the individual's region or metropolitan area from Tables 1, 2 or 
3. Find the same number in the ``family of four'' column of Table 4. 
Move left or right across that row to the size that corresponds to 
the individual's family unit. That figure is the maximum household 
income the individual is permitted in order to qualify as 
economically disadvantaged under the WIOA.
    Where the HHS poverty level for a particular family size is 
greater than the corresponding LLSIL figure, the LLSIL figure 
appears in a shaded block. Individuals from these size families may 
consult the 2016 HHS poverty guidelines found on the Health and 
Human Services Web site at https://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty-guidelines 
to find the higher eligibility standard. Individuals from Alaska and 
Hawaii should consult the HHS guidelines for the generally higher 
poverty levels that apply in their States.

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Appendix E

Table 5: Updated 2015 LLSIL (100 Percent), by Family Size

    To use the LLSIL to determine the minimum level for establishing 
self-sufficiency criteria at the State or local level, begin by 
locating the metropolitan area or region from Table 1, 2 or 3. Then 
locate the appropriate region or metropolitan statistical area and 
then find the 2015 adjusted LLSIL amount for that location. These 
figures apply to a family of four. Locate the corresponding number 
in the family of four in the column below. Move left or right across 
that row to the size that corresponds to the individual's family 
unit. That figure is the minimum figure that States must set for 
determining whether employment leads to self-sufficiency under WIOA 
programs.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Family of one      Family of two     Family of three     Family of four     Family of five     Family of six
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         12,298             20,153             27,662             34,141             40,296             47,121
         12,375             20,281             27,850             34,370             40,561             47,433
         12,450             20,397             27,997             34,557             40,783             47,691
         12,554             20,566             28,227             34,842             41,119             48,087
         12,657             20,748             28,488             35,159             41,493             48,527
         12,677             20,770             28,518             35,202             41,540             48,577
         12,815             20,993             28,813             35,568             41,974             49,087
         12,879             21,087             28,953             35,740             42,186             49,333
         12,895             21,129             29,000             35,803             42,256             49,421
         13,120             21,505             29,522             36,435             43,000             50,285
         13,214             21,659             29,735             36,705             43,318             50,658
         13,304             21,801             29,931             36,942             43,600             50,989
         13,313             21,823             29,953             36,977             43,634             51,039
         13,611             22,312             30,622             37,800             44,611             52,166
         13,687             22,440             30,794             38,019             44,869             52,476
         14,015             22,966             31,528             38,913             45,920             53,705
         14,611             23,946             32,877             40,580             47,894             56,013
         14,716             24,111             33,098             40,855             48,219             56,385
         14,778             24,219             33,252             41,048             48,438             56,654
         15,061             24,687             33,890             41,826             49,364             57,720
         15,174             24,866             34,140             42,146             49,734             58,170
         15,185             24,886             34,156             42,164             49,762             58,190
         16,187             26,525             36,410             44,940             53,039             62,025
         16,206             26,561             36,458             45,008             53,110             62,122
         16,217             26,563             36,470             45,018             53,127             62,128
         16,328             26,758             36,741             45,346             53,516             62,580
         16,349             26,789             36,767             45,389             53,564             62,646
         16,405             26,885             36,902             45,551             53,760             62,872
         16,901             27,686             38,013             46,922             55,374             64,762
         17,252             28,263             38,805             47,899             56,526             66,111
         17,683             28,977             39,773             49,096             57,944             67,755
         18,902             30,965             42,515             52,482             61,932             72,425
         18,942             31,030             42,604             52,587             62,058             72,580
         19,279             31,586             43,361             53,532             63,171             73,885

[[Page 16223]]

 
         20,177             33,065             45,387             56,028             66,117             77,322
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Portia Wu,
Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Administration.
[FR Doc. 2016-06764 Filed 3-24-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4510-FT-P