04-3783. Income Level for Individuals Eligible for Assistance

AGENCY:

Legal Services Corporation.

ACTION:

Final rule.

SUMMARY:

The Legal Services Corporation (“Corporation”) is required by law to establish maximum income levels for individuals eligible for legal assistance. This document updates the specified income levels to reflect the annual amendments to the Federal Poverty Guidelines as issued by the Department of Health and Human Services.

EFFECTIVE DATE:

This rule is effective as of February 23, 2004.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Mattie C. Condray, Senior Assistant General Counsel, Legal Services Corporation, 3333 K St., NW., Washington, DC, 20007; [phone]; [e-mail].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Section 1007(a)(2) of the Legal Services Corporation Act (“Act”), 42 U.S.C. 2996f(a)(2), requires the Corporation to establish maximum income levels for individuals eligible for legal assistance, and the Act provides that other specified factors shall be taken into account along with income.

Section 1611.3(b) of the Corporation's regulations establishes a maximum income level equivalent to one hundred and twenty-five percent (125%) of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Since 1982, the Department of Health and Human Services has been responsible for updating and issuing the Poverty Guidelines. The revised figures for 2004 set out below are equivalent to 125% of the current Poverty Guidelines as published on February 13, 2004 (69 FR 7336).

List of Subjects in 45 CFR Part 1611

• Grant programs—law, legal services

For reasons set forth above, 45 CFR part 1611 is amended as follows:

PART 1611—ELIGIBILITY

1. The authority citation for part 1611 continues to read as follows:

Authority: Secs. 1006(b)(1), 1007(a)(1) Legal Services Corporation Act of 1974, 42 U.S.C. 2996e(b)(1), 2996f(a)(1), 2996f(a)(2).

2. Appendix A of part 1611 is revised to read as follows:

Appendix A of Part 1611

Legal Services Corporation 2004 Poverty Guidelines^*

Size of family unit	48 contiguous states and the District of Columbiai	Alaska ii	Hawaii iii
1	$11,638	$14,538	$13,375
2	15,613	19,513	17,950
3	19,588	24,488	22,525
4	23,563	29,463	27,100
5	27,538	34,438	31,675
6	31,513	39,413	36,250
7	35,488	44,388	40,825
8	39,463	49,363	45,400
* The figures in this table represent 125% of the poverty guidelines by family size as determined by the Department of Health and Human Services.
i For family units with more than eight members, add $3,975 for each additional member in a family.
ii For family units with more than eight members, add $4,976 for each additional member in a family.
iii For family units with more than eight members, add $4,575 for each additional member in a family.

Victor M. Fortuno,

Vice President for Legal Affairs, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary.