Income Eligibility Guidelines

Each year, HHS publishes updated HHS poverty guidelines and State median income estimates. LIHEAP grantees may adopt the State median income estimates and HHS poverty guidelines at any time between the date of their publication in the Federal Register and October 1 (the beginning of the new Federal Fiscal Year) or by the beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later. This means, for example, that LIHEAP grantees could choose to implement the State median income estimates and the HHS poverty guidelines during the period between the heating and cooling seasons. However, by October 1, or by the beginning of a grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later, LIHEAP grantees must adjust their income eligibility criteria to be in accord with the poverty guidelines and the State median income estimates for the new Federal Fiscal Year.

The 2005 HHS poverty guidelines and State median income estimates for FY 2006 took effect at the beginning of FY 2006 (October 1, 2005). The 2005 HHS poverty guidelines (Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 33, February 18, 2005, pages 8373-8375) are displayed in table I-1 . The State median income estimates for FY 2006 (Federal Register, Vol. 70, No. 32, February 17, 2005, pages 8102-8104) are displayed in table I-2.

The maximum household income cutoffs for a four-person household for heating assistance for FY 2006 are in table I-3. The cutoffs have been converted to percents of the 2005 HHS poverty guidelines that were in effect at the beginning of FY 2006.

Although a household may be income eligible for LIHEAP, many LIHEAP grantees establish additional criteria that a household has to meet in order to be program eligible for LIHEAP.

Table I-1. 100, 110, and 150 percent of the 2005 HHS Poverty Guidelines For All States (Except Alaska and Hawaii) and for the District of Columbia

For family units with more than 8 members, add $3,586 for each additional member at 110 percent of poverty and $4,890 at 150 percent of poverty.

Alaska

For family units with more than 8 members, add $4,488 for each additional member at 110 percent of poverty and $6,120 at 150 percent of poverty.

Hawaii

For family units with more than 8 members, add $4,125 for each additional member at 110 percent of poverty and $5,625 at 150 percent of poverty.

Table I-2. 60 percent of estimated State median income adjusted for family size, by State, FY 2006

Note--The estimated U.S. median income for 4-person families is $65,093 for the period of October 1, 2005 through September 30, 2006.

1/Prepared by the Administration for Children and Families, Office of Community Services, Division of Energy Assistance. In accordance with 45 CFR 96.85, 60 percent of each State's estimated median income for a 4-person family is multiplied by the following percentages to adjust for family size: 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 percent to the percentage for a 6-person family (132 percent), and multiply the new percentage by the State's estimated median income for a 4-person family.

2/Prepared by the Census Bureau from the Current Population Survey 2004 ASEC, 2000 Decennial Census of Population and Housing, and 2003 per capita income estimates, by State, Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Table I-3. LIHEAP: States’ maximum income eligibility standards for 4-person households as a percent of the 2005 HHS Poverty Guidelines, by type of assistance and by State, FY 2006