Notices. Notice
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/register/2016/08/23/2016-19922A research copy — for the controlling text, always check the official state or federal source. Not legal advice.
BILLING CODE 4184-01-P 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 2017 AGENCY: Office of Community Services, ACF, HHS ACTION: Notice. SUMMARY: 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)2017 State Median Income Estimates for Use in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for FFY 2017 (October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2017).. OCS published the estimates on July 5, 2016 in LIHEAP Information Memorandum
(IM)2016-03 as “State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in FFY 2016 and Mandatory Use in FFY 2017”. LIHEAP-IM-2016-03 is available at *http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/ocs/resource/liheap-im-2016-03-state-median-income-estimates-for-optional-use-in-ffy-2016-and-mandatory-use-in-ffy-2017.* OCS made the effective date of such estimates July 1, 2016. DATES: These estimates become effective at any time between July 1, 2016 and the later of
(1)October 1, 2016; or
(2)the beginning of a grantee's fiscal year. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Peter Edelman, Program Analyst, Office of Community Services, 330 C Street SW., 5th Floor, Mail Room 5425, Washington, DC 20201. Telephone: 202-401-5292; Email: *peter.edelman@acf.hhs.gov.* SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This notice announces, for 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 2017 (October 1, 2016, through September 30, 2017). 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 July 1, 2016 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, 2016, or the beginning of the grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later, grantees must adjust their income eligibility criteria so that they are in accord with the FFY 2017 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 SMI estimates in this notice are five-year estimates derived from the American Community Survey
(ACS)conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau). The use of the five-year data to derive the SMI estimates represents a change from the past nine years, during which OCS used three-year data to derive such estimates. The reasons for this change are
(1)the Census Bureau's cessation of the three-year data; and
(2)the fact that the five-year data provides a more robust replacement option than the one-year data. 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 five-year estimates versus using the one-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. 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 2017, LIHEAP grantees must regard “family” to be the equivalent of “household” with regard 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)2017, for Use in the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) States Estimated state median income for four-person families 1 60 percent of estimated state median income for four-person families 2 3 Alabama $67,621 $40,573 Alaska 95,967 57,580 Arizona 67,273 40,364 Arkansas 60,481 36,289 California 80,458 48,275 Colorado 87,928 52,757 Connecticut 108,592 65,155 Delaware 88,703 53,222 District of Columbia 98,640 59,184 Florida 67,643 40,586 Georgia 70,132 42,079 Hawaii 88,921 53,353 Idaho 64,234 38,540 Illinois 85,516 51,310 Indiana 73,397 44,038 Iowa 80,299 48,179 Kansas 77,760 46,656 Kentucky 70,084 42,050 Louisiana 73,263 43,958 Maine 78,749 47,249 Maryland 109,262 65,557 Massachusetts 108,978 65,387 Michigan 77,718 46,631 Minnesota 94,387 56,632 Mississippi 59,701 35,821 Missouri 74,162 44,497 Montana 71,453 42,872 Nebraska 78,773 47,264 Nevada 68,978 41,387 New Hampshire 100,496 60,298 New Jersey 109,113 65,468 New Mexico 61,783 37,070 New York 88,451 53,071 North Carolina 70,000 42,000 North Dakota 88,621 53,173 Ohio 78,166 46,900 Oklahoma 66,088 39,653 Oregon 72,518 43,511 Pennsylvania 85,036 51,022 Rhode Island 91,452 54,871 South Carolina 66,542 39,925 South Dakota 76,511 45,907 Tennessee 67,026 40,216 Texas 71,307 42,784 Utah 72,805 43,683 Vermont 84,421 50,653 Virginia 94,667 56,800 Washington 86,744 52,046 West Virginia 68,750 41,250 Wisconsin 83,893 50,336 Wyoming 81,632 48,979 Puerto Rico 29,598 17,759 1 These figures were prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau), from five-year estimates from the 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014 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 three 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. *Statutory Authority:* LIHEAP was last authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, Pub. L. 109-58, which was enacted on August 8, 2005. This authorization expired on September 30, 2007, and reauthorization remains pending. The formula used to derive the SMI is authorized by 42 U.S.C. 8624(b)(2)(B)(ii). Mary M. Wayland, Senior Grants Policy Specialist, Division of Grants Policy, Office of Administration. [FR Doc. 2016-19922 Filed 8-22-16; 8:45 am]
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3 references not yet in our index
- 45 CFR 96.85(b)
- 45 CFR 96.85
- Pub. L. 109-58
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