State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2008 LIHEAP Programs and Mandatory Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2009 LIHEAP Programs

THIS CONTAINS INFORMATION ISSUED BY THE U.S. ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN LIHEAP INFORMATION MEMORANDUM TRANSMITTAL NO. LIHEAP-IM-2008-5, DATED 3/20/08

TO:	LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) GRANTEES
SUBJECT:	State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2008 LIHEAP Programs and Mandatory Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2009 LIHEAP Programs
RELATED REFERENCES:	The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act, Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35, as amended; 45 CFR 96.85(b)
PURPOSE:	To provide LIHEAP grantees the State median income estimates for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2009.
BACKGROUND:	Section 2605(b)(2)(B) of Public Law 97-35 establishes 60 percent of a State's median income as the maximum income allowed in determining income eligibility for LIHEAP, except in States where 150 percent of the poverty level is higher. LIHEAP grantees may set their income eligibility guidelines anywhere between the maximum and minimum poverty levels (110 percent of the poverty level).
CONTENT:	The Census Bureau has updated for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) each State's median income estimate for a 4-person family. The Secretary published these estimates in the Federal Register on March 5, 2008 for use in FFY 2009 (see Attachment A). We have calculated 60 percent of State median income estimates for families of one to six members. We also have indicated how to calculate State median income estimates for families of more than six members (see Attachment B). Optional Use LIHEAP grantees may adopt the FFY 2009 State median income estimates at any time between March 5, 2008 (the date of publication in the Federal Register) and October 1, 2008 (the beginning of FFY 2009). Mandatory Use LHEAP grantees must adjust their program's income eligibility criteria so that they are in accord with these estimates by October 1, 2008 (the beginning of FFY 2009) or by the beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later.
ATTACHMENT:	(A)—Federal Register Notice, published on March 5, 2008 (73 FR 11924-11926) (B)—60 percent of estimated State median income adjusted for family size, by State, FFY 2009
INQUIRIES TO:	Peter Edelman, Program Analyst Division of Energy Assistance Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS 370 L'Enfant Promenade, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20447 (202) 401-5292 E-mail: peter.edelman@acf.hhs.gov _____________/s_____________ Josephine Robinson Director Office of Community Services

Attachment A

[Federal Register: March 5, 2008 (Volume 73, Number 44)]
[Notices]
[Page 11924-11926]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr05mr08-79]

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.

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: peter.edelman@acf.hhs.gov.

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://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=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://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/leaving.cgi?from=leavingFR.html&log=linklog&to=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 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\]

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.

\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.