LIHEAP IM 2011-9 State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in FY 2011
Transmittal No. LIHEAP-IM-2011-09 | Date: June 2, 2011 |
TO:
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LOW INCOME HOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (LIHEAP) GRANTEES AND OTHER INTERESTED PARTIES |
GUIDANCE |
X STATES |
SUBJECT:
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State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2011 LIHEAP Programs and Mandatory Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2012 LIHEAP Programs. |
RELATED |
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PURPOSE: |
To provide to LIHEAP grantees the State Median Income (SMI) estimates for use in LIHEAP programs for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2012. |
BACKGROUND: |
Section 2605(b)(2)(B) of P.L. 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. The continuing resolutions (CRs) in FFY 2011 permitted grantees the same allowable level in effect for FFY 2010 (as well as for FFY 2009). Public Law (P.L.) 112-10, enacted on April 15, 2011, provided final FFY 2011 appropriations for the LIHEAP program and directed a return to the LIHEAP statutory maximum of 60 percent of SMI. |
CONTENT:
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Using the Census Bureau’s updated figures, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) calculated 60 percent of SMI for four-person families and published the results in the Federal Register on April 18, 2011. Using those figures and the methodology specified in 45 CFR 96.85, HHS also calculated 60 percent of SMI for households of one-to-six persons. HHS is publishing the resulting figures in this memorandum. It is also publishing the methodology that shows how to calculate 60 percent of SMI for households of more than six persons. See Attachment 1 for the complete Federal Register notice and Attachment 2 for (1) the 60 percent of SMI figures for households sizes one through six; and (2) the instructions for calculating 60 percent of SMI for households sizes greater than six. Grantees are not out of compliance if they chose to set eligibility and provide benefits to qualified households in FFY 2011 above 60 percent, but no more that 75 percent of SMI, prior to April 15. Grantees were allowed to use or maintain the use of 75 percent of SMI from FY 2010. HHS is not requiring grantees to hold public hearings if the provisions under P.L. 112-10 mean that they will need to change their LIHEAP eligibility maximum for the remainder of FFY 2011. As with all LIHEAP funds, grantees should be able to adequately track and document program obligations and expenditures. |
ATTACHMENTS: |
(1) Federal Register Notice, published on April 18, 2011 (76 FR 21750-21752) (2) 60 percent of estimated State median income adjusted for family size, by State, FFY 2012 |
INQUIRIES: |
Peter Edelman, Program Analyst |
/s/ |