LIHEAP IM 2018-3 State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in FY 2018 and Mandatory Use in FY 2019
Low Income Home Energy Assistance |
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services |
Transmittal No. LIHEAP-IM-2018-03 June 15, 2018
TO: LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) GRANTEES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES
GUIDANCE X STATES
INTENDED FOR: X TRIBES/TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS
X TERRITORIES
SUBJECT: State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2018 LIHEAP Programs and Mandatory Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2019 LIHEAP Programs.
RELATED (1) The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act, Title XXVI of the
REFERENCES: Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981, Public Law 97-35, as amended; and
(2) 45 CFR 96.85 (b), Income Eligibility — Final Rule, published in the Federal Register on March 3, 1988 (53 FR 6827) and amended October 15, 1999 (64 FR 55858).
PURPOSE: To provide to LIHEAP grantees the State Median Income (SMI) estimates for use in LIHEAP programs for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2019.
BACKGROUND: Section 2605(b)(2)(B) of Public Law 97-35 sets the maximum allowed in determining income eligibility for LIHEAP at 60 percent of SMI, except where 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) is higher. LIHEAP grantees may set their programs’ income eligibility criteria anywhere between 110 percent of FPG and this maximum.
CONTENT: In this memorandum, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces that it has updated the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) income-eligibility limits based upon State Median Income (SMI) for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. These limits make up part of the maximum that LIHEAP grantees may use in setting their programs’ income eligibility criteria. LIHEAP grantees may set such criteria anywhere between 110 percent of Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) and the greater of (1) this maximum; and (2) 150 percent of FPG.
HHS calculated these limits from the SMI estimates for a 4-person family developed by the United States Census Bureau (Census Bureau). HHS assimilated the Census Bureau’s estimates from the American Community Survey for a family into the income eligibility criteria for a household because the LIHEAP statute requires it to do so. HHS calculated 60 percent of such estimates and published the resulting figures in this memorandum. HHS will additionally publish such figures in the Federal Register.
HHS calculated these limits for households of sizes other than 4 persons under the methodology specified in 45 CFR 96.85. This methodology calls for HHS to multiply the limit for a four-person household by the following: (1) 52 percent for one person; (2) 68 percent for two persons; (3) 84 percent for three persons; (4) 100 percent for four persons; (5) 116 percent for five persons; and (6) 132 percent for six persons. HHS did not calculate the limits for households of sizes greater than six persons; however, those limits are based on that for a four-person family times 132 percent plus 3 percentage points for each household member above six. See Attachment 1 for (1) the 60 percent of SMI figures for households of sizes one through six; and (2) a reiteration of the instructions for calculating 60 percent of SMI for households of sizes greater than six.
Grantees should determine the SMI-based limits on household size, not family size. However, because the figures presented here show such limits by family size, grantees should consider the applicable limit for a family, as presented here, to be that for a household in their programs.
Grantees must limit LIHEAP eligibility to 150 percent of the FPG or 60 percent of SMI. Grantees must set LIHEAP income-eligibility at or below the greater of these two levels; however, they may not set LIHEAP income-eligibility below 110 percent of the FPG.
Optional Use
Grantees, insofar as they use SMI to set their programs’ income eligibility criteria, may adopt these estimates at any time between the date of the publication of this document and October 1, 2018 (the beginning of FFY 2019) or the beginning of the grantee’s fiscal year, whichever is later.
Mandatory Use
LIHEAP grantees, insofar as they use SMI to set their programs’ income eligibility criteria, must adopt these estimates by no later than October 1, 2018 (the beginning of FFY 2019) or the beginning of the grantee’s fiscal year, whichever is later.
ATTACHMENT: (1) 60 percent of estimated state median income adjusted for family size, by state, FFY 2019
INQUIRIES:
Sharnice Peters, Program Analyst
Division of Energy Assistance
Office of Community Services
Administration for Children and Families
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
330 C Street, S.W. 5th Floor
Mail Room 5425
Washington, D.C. 20201
(202) 401-4046
E-mail: sharnice.peters@acf.hhs.gov
/s/
J. Janelle George
Acting Director
Office of Community Services
ESTIMATED STATE MEDIAN INCOME, BY HOUSEHOLD SIZE AND BY STATE, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND PUERTO RICO
FEDERAL FISCAL YEAR 2019
Estimated SMI for four-person families[i] |
60 percent of estimated SMI for four-person families[ii] |
60 Percent of Estimated State Median Income2 |
||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1-Person Household |
2-Person Household |
3-Person Household |
4-Person Household |
5-Person Household |
6-Person Household |
|||
Alabama |
$70,380 |
$42,228 |
$21,959 |
$28,715 |
$35,472 |
$42,228 |
$48,984 |
$55,741 |
Alaska |
$100,165 |
$60,099 |
$31,251 |
$40,867 |
$50,483 |
$60,099 |
$69,715 |
$79,331 |
Arizona |
$71,731 |
$43,039 |
$22,380 |
$29,267 |
$36,153 |
$43,039 |
$49,925 |
$56,811 |
Arkansas |
$62,957 |
$37,774 |
$19,642 |
$25,686 |
$31,730 |
$37,774 |
$43,818 |
$49,862 |
California |
$83,490 |
$50,094 |
$26,049 |
$34,064 |
$42,079 |
$50,094 |
$58,109 |
$66,124 |
Colorado |
$91,226 |
$54,736 |
$28,463 |
$37,220 |
$45,978 |
$54,736 |
$63,494 |
$72,252 |
Connecticut |
$112,550 |
$67,530 |
$35,116 |
$45,920 |
$56,725 |
$67,530 |
$78,335 |
$89,140 |
Delaware |
$91,134 |
$54,680 |
$28,434 |
$37,182 |
$45,931 |
$54,680 |
$63,429 |
$72,178 |
District of Columbia |
$99,095 |
$59,457 |
$30,918 |
$40,431 |
$49,944 |
$59,457 |
$68,970 |
$78,483 |
Florida |
$70,094 |
$42,056 |
$21,869 |
$28,598 |
$35,327 |
$42,056 |
$48,785 |
$55,514 |
Georgia |
$73,201 |
$43,921 |
$22,839 |
$29,866 |
$36,894 |
$43,921 |
$50,948 |
$57,976 |
Hawaii |
$93,785 |
$56,271 |
$29,261 |
$38,264 |
$47,268 |
$56,271 |
$65,274 |
$74,278 |
Idaho |
$66,310 |
$39,786 |
$20,689 |
$27,054 |
$33,420 |
$39,786 |
$46,152 |
$52,518 |
Illinois |
$89,400 |
$53,640 |
$27,893 |
$36,475 |
$45,058 |
$53,640 |
$62,222 |
$70,805 |
Indiana |
$76,063 |
$45,638 |
$23,732 |
$31,034 |
$38,336 |
$45,638 |
$52,940 |
$60,242 |
Iowa |
$83,857 |
$50,314 |
$26,163 |
$34,214 |
$42,264 |
$50,314 |
$58,364 |
$66,414 |
Kansas |
$80,875 |
$48,525 |
$25,233 |
$32,997 |
$40,761 |
$48,525 |
$56,289 |
$64,053 |
Kentucky |
$72,226 |
$43,336 |
$22,535 |
$29,468 |
$36,402 |
$43,336 |
$50,270 |
$57,204 |
Louisiana |
$74,906 |
$44,944 |
$23,371 |
$30,562 |
$37,753 |
$44,944 |
$52,135 |
$59,326 |
Maine |
$81,233 |
$48,740 |
$25,345 |
$33,143 |
$40,942 |
$48,740 |
$56,538 |
$64,337 |
Maryland |
$111,677 |
$67,006 |
$34,843 |
$45,564 |
$56,285 |
$67,006 |
$77,727 |
$88,448 |
Massachusetts |
$113,815 |
$68,289 |
$35,510 |
$46,437 |
$57,363 |
$68,289 |
$79,215 |
$90,141 |
Michigan |
$81,588 |
$48,953 |
$25,456 |
$33,288 |
$41,121 |
$48,953 |
$56,785 |
$64,618 |
Minnesota |
$99,936 |
$59,962 |
$31,180 |
$40,774 |
$50,368 |
$59,962 |
$69,556 |
$79,150 |
Mississippi |
$61,183 |
$36,710 |
$19,089 |
$24,963 |
$30,836 |
$36,710 |
$42,584 |
$48,457 |
Missouri |
$77,891 |
$46,735 |
$24,302 |
$31,780 |
$39,257 |
$46,735 |
$54,213 |
$61,690 |
Montana |
$76,526 |
$45,916 |
$23,876 |
$31,223 |
$38,569 |
$45,916 |
$53,263 |
$60,609 |
Nebraska |
$81,686 |
$49,012 |
$25,486 |
$33,328 |
$41,170 |
$49,012 |
$56,854 |
$64,696 |
Nevada |
$71,593 |
$42,956 |
$22,337 |
$29,210 |
$36,083 |
$42,956 |
$49,829 |
$56,702 |
New Hampshire |
$105,643 |
$63,386 |
$32,961 |
$43,102 |
$53,244 |
$63,386 |
$73,528 |
$83,670 |
New Jersey |
$113,350 |
$68,010 |
$35,365 |
$46,247 |
$57,128 |
$68,010 |
$78,892 |
$89,773 |
New Mexico |
$61,722 |
$37,033 |
$19,257 |
$25,182 |
$31,108 |
$37,033 |
$42,958 |
$48,884 |
New York |
$91,964 |
$55,178 |
$28,693 |
$37,521 |
$46,350 |
$55,178 |
$64,006 |
$72,835 |
North Carolina |
$72,694 |
$43,616 |
$22,680 |
$29,659 |
$36,637 |
$43,616 |
$50,595 |
$57,573 |
North Dakota |
$92,406 |
$55,444 |
$28,831 |
$37,702 |
$46,573 |
$55,444 |
$64,315 |
$73,186 |
Ohio |
$81,451 |
$48,871 |
$25,413 |
$33,232 |
$41,052 |
$48,871 |
$56,690 |
$64,510 |
Oklahoma |
$68,213 |
$40,928 |
$21,283 |
$27,831 |
$34,380 |
$40,928 |
$47,476 |
$54,025 |
Oregon |
$78,683 |
$47,210 |
$24,549 |
$32,103 |
$39,656 |
$47,210 |
$54,764 |
$62,317 |
Pennsylvania |
$88,581 |
$53,149 |
$27,637 |
$36,141 |
$44,645 |
$53,149 |
$61,653 |
$70,157 |
Rhode Island |
$96,855 |
$58,113 |
$30,219 |
$39,517 |
$48,815 |
$58,113 |
$67,411 |
$76,709 |
South Carolina |
$70,238 |
$42,143 |
$21,914 |
$28,657 |
$35,400 |
$42,143 |
$48,886 |
$55,629 |
South Dakota |
$80,689 |
$48,413 |
$25,175 |
$32,921 |
$40,667 |
$48,413 |
$56,159 |
$63,905 |
Tennessee |
$69,659 |
$41,795 |
$21,733 |
$28,421 |
$35,108 |
$41,795 |
$48,482 |
$55,169 |
Texas |
$74,896 |
$44,938 |
$23,368 |
$30,558 |
$37,748 |
$44,938 |
$52,128 |
$59,318 |
Utah |
$77,057 |
$46,234 |
$24,042 |
$31,439 |
$38,837 |
$46,234 |
$53,631 |
$61,029 |
Vermont |
$87,630 |
$52,578 |
$27,341 |
$35,753 |
$44,166 |
$52,578 |
$60,990 |
$69,403 |
Virginia |
$96,804 |
$58,082 |
$30,203 |
$39,496 |
$48,789 |
$58,082 |
$67,375 |
$76,668 |
Washington |
$91,766 |
$55,060 |
$28,631 |
$37,441 |
$46,250 |
$55,060 |
$63,870 |
$72,679 |
West Virginia |
$70,346 |
$42,208 |
$21,948 |
$28,701 |
$35,455 |
$42,208 |
$48,961 |
$55,715 |
Wisconsin |
$88,076 |
$52,846 |
$27,480 |
$35,935 |
$44,391 |
$52,846 |
$61,301 |
$69,757 |
Wyoming |
$84,078 |
$50,447 |
$26,232 |
$34,304 |
$42,375 |
$50,447 |
$58,519 |
$66,590 |
Puerto Rico |
$30,098 |
$18,059 |
$9,391 |
$12,280 |
$15,170 |
$18,059 |
$20,948 |
$23,838 |
[i] Prepared by the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Commerce (Census Bureau) from the 2012 through 2016 American Community Surveys (ACSs). For further information, see Table B19119 for the five-year estimates of the 2012 through 2016 ACSs. One can find this table by undertaking the following steps: (1) going to the webpage http://factfinder2.census.gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/searchresults.xhtml?refresh=t; (2) click on “Topics (age, income, year, dataset,…)” (3) under “Dataset” select “2016 ACS 5-year estimates” dataset; (4) selecting “Geographies (states, counties, places, ...)”; (5) selecting a geographic type of “State -040” (6) select “All States within United States and Puerto Rico”; (7) selecting the additional geographic type “United States -010” (8)selecting “United States”; and (9) enter under “Topic or table name” B19119: (10) clicking on “Go”.(11) click on the hyperlink entitled “MEDIAN FAMILY INCOME IN THE PAST 12 MONTHS (IN 2016 INFLATION-ADJUSTED DOLLARS) BY FAMILY SIZE”. Alternatively, one can contact the Census Bureau's Social, Economic and Housing Statistics Division (SEHSD) at (301) 763-3243.
[ii] 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 four-person family is multiplied by the following percentages to adjust for household 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 household member above six persons, add three percentage points to the percentage for a six-person household (132 percent), and multiply the new percentage by 60 percent of the State's estimated median income for a four-person household.