LIHWAP IM-2022-05 Federal Poverty Guidelines and State Median Incomes for Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2023 FY2022
Low Income Household Water Assistance Program
Information Memorandum
IM#:
DATE:
TO:
SUBJECT:
ATTACHMENT(S):
Related References
- Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines, Federal Register Notice dated January 21, 2022 (87 FR 3315-3316)
- LIHWAP Supplemental Terms and Conditions (PDF)
Purpose
To provide LIHWAP grant recipients the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) and State Median Income (SMI) estimates for mandatory use in the Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP) for Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2023.
Background
Section 11(c)(ii) of the LIHWAP Supplemental Terms and conditions sets the maximum allowed in determining income eligibility for LIHWAP at 150 percent of the FPG or 60 percent of SMI, whichever is greater. LIHWAP grant recipients may set their programs’ income eligibility criteria anywhere between 110 percent of FPG and this maximum.
Content
This memorandum updates the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) LIHWAP income-eligibility limits based upon FPG and SMI for the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico. These limits make up the maximum that LIHWAP grant recipients may use in setting their programs’ income eligibility criteria. Grant recipients must limit LIHWAP eligibility to 150 percent of the FPG or 60 percent of SMI—meaning at or below the greater of these two levels. Grant recipients must not set LIHWAP income-eligibility below 110 percent of the FPG.
HHS calculated these limits from the SMI estimates for a 4-person family developed by the United States Census Bureau (Census Bureau). HHS calculated 60 percent of the Census Bureau’s estimates from the American Community Survey to determine the maximum SMI for LIHWAP eligibility.
HHS calculated the limits specified at 45 CFR 96.85. This methodology outlines that HHS shall 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 4 for (1) the 60 percent of SMI figures for households of sizes one through six; and (2) the instructions for calculating 60 percent of SMI for households of sizes greater than six.
Territorial Calculations
HHS does not issue poverty guidelines overall for federal programs in the territories. HHS has indicated that federal programs are generally responsible for deciding whether to use the Continental United States poverty guidelines for the territories or to follow some other procedure. However, the Division of Energy Assistance (DEA) has developed an approach to adjust annually the HHS poverty guidelines for the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico’s use in determining LIHWAP income eligibility. A similar adjustment is not available for the other territories at this time. DEA recommends that the other territories use the adjusted poverty guidelines provided in Attachment 3 in determining LIHWAP income eligibility for FFY 2023.
For Inquiries
Grant recipients may contact federal staff members with questions or inquiries. Contact information for LIHWAP staff is available here.
Thank you for your attention to these matters. OCS looks forward to continuing to provide high-quality services to OCS partners.
/s/
Dr. Lanikque Howard
Director, Office of Community Services
Files
- PDF COMM_LIHWAP_IM _Federal Poverty Guidelines and State Median Incomes for Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2023_FY2022 (256.82 KB)
- PDF COMM_LIHWAP_Att3HHSPGTable_PR_FY2022 (146.79 KB)
- PDF COMM_LIHWAP_Att4SMITable_FY2022 (190.17 KB)
- PDF COMM_LIHWAP_Att2HHSPGTables_States_FY2022 (164.63 KB)