02-2224. State Median Income Estimates for Four-Person Families (FFY 2003); Notice of the Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2003 State Median Income Estimates for Use Under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) Administered by the ...

AGENCY:

Office of Community Services, ACF, DHHS.

ACTION:

Notice of estimated State median income for FFY 2003.

SUMMARY:

This notice announces the estimated median income for four-person families in each State and the District of Columbia for FFY 2003 (October 1, 2002 to September 30, 2003). LIHEAP grantees may adopt the State median income estimates beginning with the date of this publication of the estimates in the Federal Register or at a later date as discussed below. This means that LIHEAP grantees could choose to implement this notice during the period between the heating and cooling seasons. However, by October 1, 2002, or by 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 2003 State median income estimates.

This listing of estimated State median incomes concerns maximum income levels for households to which LIHEAP grantees may make payments under LIHEAP.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

The estimates are effective at any time between the date of this publication and October 1, 2002, or by the beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Leon Litow,Administration for Children and Families, HHS,Office of Community Services,Division of Energy Assistance, 5th Floor West, 370 L'Enfant Promenade, SW.,Washington, DC 20447,Telephone: [phone],E-Mail: [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Under the provisions of section 2603(7) of Title XXVI of the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (Pub. L. 97-35, as amended), we are announcing the estimated median income of a four-person family for each state, the District of Columbia, and the United States for FFY 2003 (the period of October 1, 2002, through September 30, 2003).

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 the Department 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 is currently authorized through the end of FFY 2004 by the Coats Human Services Reauthorization Act of 1998, Pub. L. 105-285, which was enacted on October 27, 1998.

Estimates of the median income of four-person families for each State and the District of Columbia for FFY 2003 have been developed by the Bureau of the Census of the U.S. Department of Commerce, using the most recently available income data. In developing the median income estimates for FFY 2003, the Bureau of the Census used the following three sources of data: (1) The March 2001 Current Population Survey; (2) the 1990 Decennial Census of Population; and (3) 2000 per capita personal income estimates, by state, from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Like the estimates for FFY 2002, the FFY 2003 estimates include income estimates from the March Current Population Survey that are based on population controls from the 1990 Decennial Census of Population. Income estimates prior to FFY 1996 from the March Current Population Survey had been based on population controls from the 1980 Decennial Census of Population. Generally, the use of 1990 population controls results in somewhat lower estimates of income.

In 1999, BEA revised its methodology in estimating per capita personal income estimates. BEA's revised methodology is reflected in the FFY 2003 state 4-person family median income estimates. Generally, the revised methodology decreased, on average, state median income estimates for FFY 2002 by about 0.04 percent. For further information on the estimating method and data sources, contact the Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division, at the Bureau of the Census (301-457-3243).

A state-by-state listing of median income, and 60 percent of median income, for a four-person family for FFY 2003 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), which was published in the Federal Register on March 3, 1988 at 53 FR 6824.

Dated: January 24, 2002.

Clarence H. Carter,

Director, Office of Community Services.

Estimated State Median Income for 4-Person Families, by State, Federal Fiscal Year 20031 ¹

States	Estimated state median income 4-person families 2	60 percent of estimated state median income 4-person families
Alabama	$51,451	$30,871
Alaska	66,874	40,124
Arizona	55,663	33,398
Arkansas	44,537	26,722
California	63,206	37,924
Colorado	66,624	39,974
Connecticut	82,702	49,621
Delaware	69,360	41,616
District of Col	63,406	38,044
Florida	55,351	33,211
Georgia	59,489	35,693
Hawaii	65,872	39,523
Idaho	53,722	32,233
Illinois	68,117	40,870
Indiana	62,079	37,247
Iowa	57,921	34,753
Kansas	56,784	34,070
Kentucky	51,249	30,749
Louisiana	47,363	28,418
Maine	56,186	33,712
Maryland	77,562	46,537
Massachusetts	78,025	46,815
Michigan	68,740	41,244
Minnesota	70,553	42,332
Mississippi	46,331	27,799
Missouri	61,173	36,704
Montana	46,142	27,685
Nebraska	57,040	34,224
Nevada	59,614	35,768
New Hampshire	71,661	42,997
New Jersey	78,560	47,136
New Mexico	47,314	28,388
New York	64,520	38,712
North Carolina	57,203	34,322
North Dakota	53,140	31,884
Ohio	62,251	37,351
Oklahoma	48,459	29,075
Oregon	58,315	34,989
Pennsylvania	65,411	39,247
Rhode Island	68,418	41,051
South Carolina	56,294	33,776
South Dakota	55,150	33,090
Tennessee	54,899	32,939
Texas	53,513	32,108
Utah	57,043	34,226
Vermont	59,125	35,475
Virginia	68,054	40,832
Washington	63,568	38,141
West Virginia	46,270	27,762
Wisconsin	66,725	40,035
Wyoming	55,859	33,515
Note: FFY 2003 covers the period of October 1, 2002 through September 30, 2003. The estimated median income for 4-person families living in the United States is $62,228 for FFY 2003. The estimates are effective for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at any time between the date of this publication and October 1, 2002, or by the beginning of a LIHEAP grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later.
1 In accordance with 45 CFR 96.85, each State's estimated median income for a 4-person family is multiplied by the following percentages to adjust for family size: 52% for one person, 68% for two persons, 84% for three persons, 100% for four persons, 116% for five persons, and 132% for six persons. For family sizes greater than six persons, add 3% for each additional family member and multiply the new percentage by the State's estimated median income for a 4-person family.
2 Prepared by the Bureau of the Census from the March 2001 Current Population Survey, 1990 Decennial Census of Population and Housing, and 2000 per capita personal income estimates, by state, from the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA). In 1999, BEA revised its methodology in estimating per capita personal income estimates. BEA's revised methodology is reflected in the FFY 2003 state 4-person family median income estimates. For further information, contact the Housing and Household Economic Statistics Division at the Bureau of the Census (301-457-3243).