[Federal Register: March 26, 2009 (Volume 74, Number 57)]
[Notices]
[Page 13262-13266]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr26mr09-108]
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DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
Employment and Training Administration
Workforce Investment Act; Lower Living Standard Income Level
AGENCY: Employment and Training Administration, Labor.
ACTION: Notice of Determination of Lower Living Standard Income Level.
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SUMMARY: Under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998
(Pub. L. 105-220), the Secretary of Labor annually determines the Lower
Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL) for uses described in the law. WIA
defines the term ``Low Income Individual'' as one who qualifies under
various criteria, including an individual who received income for a
six-month period that does not exceed the higher level of the poverty
line or 70 percent of the LLSIL. This issuance provides the Secretary's
annual LLSIL for 2009 and references the current 2009 Health and Human
Services ``Poverty Guidelines.''
DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective on the date of
publication in the Federal Register.
ADDRESSES: Send written comments to: Mr. Samuel Wright, Department of
Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue,
NW., Room C-4510, Washington, DC 20210.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Please contact Mr. Samuel Wright,
Telephone (202) 693-2870; Fax (202) 693-3015 (these are not toll free
numbers).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: It is the purpose of the Workforce
Investment Act of 1998 ``to provide workforce investment activities,
through statewide and local workforce investment systems, that increase
the employment, retention, and earnings of participants, and increase
occupational skill attainment by participants, and as a result, improve
the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, and enhance
the productivity and competitiveness of the Nation.''
The LLSIL is used for several purposes under WIA. Specifically, WIA
Section 101(25) defines the term ``low income individual'' for
eligibility purposes, and Sections 127(b)(2)(C) and 132(b)(1)(B)(v)(IV)
define the terms ``disadvantaged youth'' and ``disadvantaged adult'' in
terms of the poverty line or LLSIL for state formula allotments. The
Governor and state/local workforce investment boards (WIBs) use the
LLSIL for determining eligibility for youth, eligibility for employed
adult workers for certain services and for the Work Opportunity Tax
Credit (WOTC). We encourage the Governors and state/local WIBs to
consult WIA regulations and the preamble to the WIA Final Rule
(published at 65 FR 49294 August 11, 2000) for more specific guidance
in applying the LLSIL to program requirements. The Department of Health
and Human Services (HHS) published the annual 2009 update of the
poverty-level guidelines in the Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 14,
January 23, 2009, pp. 4199-4201. The HHS 2009 Poverty guidelines may
also be found on the Internet at: http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/
09fedreg.pdf. ETA plans to have the 2009 LLSIL available on its Web
site at [http://www.doleta.gov/llsil/2009/].
WIA Section 101(24) defines the LLSIL as ``that income level
(adjusted for regional, metropolitan, urban and rural differences and
family size) determined annually by the Secretary [of Labor] based on
the most recent lower living family budget issued by the Secretary.''
The most recent lower living family budget was issued by the Secretary
in the fall of 1981. The four-person urban family budget estimates,
previously published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), provided
the basis for the Secretary to determine the LLSIL. BLS terminated the
four-person family budget series in 1982, after publication of the fall
1981 estimates. Currently, BLS provides data to ETA through which ETA
develops the LLSIL tables, as provided in the Appendices.
ETA published the 2008 updates to the LLSIL in the Federal Register
of April 25, 2008, at 73 FR 22435 and the corrections to tables 4 and 5
in the Federal Register of June 10, 2008, at 73 FR 32740. These notices
again updates the LLSIL to reflect cost of living increases for 2008,
by applying the percentage change in the most recent 2008 Consumer
Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for an area, compared with
the 2007 CPI-U to each
[[Page 13263]]
of the April 25, 2008 LLSIL figures. Those updated figures for a
family-of-four are listed in Appendix A, Table 1, by region for both
metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. This year the LLSIL figures
for some areas have decreased because the over-the-year change in CPI-U
was negative due to the economic downturn. Figures in all of the
accompanying tables, in the Appendices, are rounded up to the nearest
dollar. Since low income individuals, ``disadvantaged adult'' and
``disadvantaged youth'' may be determined by family income at 70
percent of the LLSIL, pursuant to WIA Sections 101(25), 127(b)(2)(C),
and 132(b)(1)(B)(v)(IV), respectively, those figures are listed as
well.
Jurisdictions included in the various regions, based generally on
Census Divisions of the U.S. Department of Commerce, are as follows:
Northeast
Connecticut,
Maine,
Massachusetts,
New Hampshire,
New Jersey,
New York,
Pennsylvania,
Rhode Island,
Vermont,
Virgin Islands.
Midwest
Illinois,
Indiana,
Iowa,
Kansas,
Michigan,
Minnesota,
Missouri,
Nebraska,
North Dakota,
Ohio,
South Dakota,
Wisconsin.
South
Alabama,
American Samoa,
Arkansas,
Delaware,
District of Columbia,
Florida,
Georgia,
Northern Marianas,
Oklahoma,
Palau,
Puerto Rico,
South Carolina,
Kentucky,
Louisiana,
Marshall Islands,
Maryland,
Micronesia,
Mississippi,
North Carolina,
Tennessee,
Texas,
Virginia,
West Virginia.
West
Arizona,
California,
Colorado,
Idaho,
Montana,
Nevada,
New Mexico,
Oregon,
Utah,
Washington,
Wyoming.
Additionally, separate figures have been provided for Alaska,
Hawaii, and Guam as indicated in Appendix B, Table 2.
For Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam, the year 2008 figures were updated
from the April 2008 ``State Index'' based on the ratio of the urban
change in the state (using Anchorage for Alaska and Honolulu for Hawaii
and Guam) compared to the West regional metropolitan change, and then
applying that index to the West regional metropolitan change.
Data on 23 selected MSAs are also available. These are based on
semiannual CPI-U changes for a 12-month period ending in June 2008. The
updated LLSIL figures for these MSAs and 70 percent of the LLSIL are
reported in Appendix C, Table 3.
Appendix D, Table 4 lists each of the various figures at 70 percent
of the updated 2008 LLSIL for family sizes of one to six persons.
Because tables 1-3 only list the LLSIL for a family of four, table 4
can be used to determine the LLSIL for families of one to six persons.
For families larger than six persons, an amount equal to the difference
between the six-person and the five-person family income levels should
be added to the six-person family income level for each additional
person in the family. Where the poverty level for a particular family
size is greater than the corresponding LLSIL figure, the figure is
indicated in parentheses. A modified Excel version of Appendix D, Table
4, with the area names, will be available on the Department of Labor,
Employment and Training Administration LLSIL Webpage at [http://
www.doleta.gov/llsil/2009/]. Appendix E, Table 5, indicates 100 percent
of LLSIL for family sizes of one to six and is used to determine self-
sufficiency as noted at 20 CFR 663.230 of the WIA regulations and WIA
Section 134(d)(3)(A)(ii).
Use of These Data
Governors should designate the appropriate LLSILs for use within
the state from Appendices A, B, and C, containing Tables 1 through 3.
Appendices D and E, which contain Tables 4 and 5, may be used with any
LLSIL designated. The Governor's designation may be provided by
disseminating information on MSAs and metropolitan and non-metropolitan
areas within the state or it may involve further calculations. For
example, the State of New Jersey may have four or more LLSIL figures
for Northeast metropolitan, Northeast non-metropolitan, portions of the
state in the New York City MSA, and those in the Philadelphia MSA. If a
workforce investment area includes areas that would be covered by more
than one figure, the Governor may determine which is to be used.
Under 20 CFR 661.110, a state's policies and measures for the
workforce investment system shall be accepted by the Secretary to the
extent that they are consistent with the WIA and the WIA regulations.
Disclaimer on Statistical Uses
It should be noted, the publication of these figures is only for
the purpose of meeting the requirements specified by WIA as defined in
the law and regulations. BLS has not revised the lower living family
budget since 1981, and has no plans to do so. The four-person urban
family budget estimates series has been terminated. The CPI-U
adjustments used to update the LLSIL for this publication are not
precisely comparable, most notably because certain tax items were
included in the 1981 LLSIL, but are not in the CPI-U. Thus, these
figures should not be used for any statistical purposes, and are valid
only for those purposes under WIA as defined in the law and
regulations.
Lower Living Standard Income Level for 2009
Under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Public Law
105-220), the Secretary of Labor annually determines the Lower Living
Standard Income Level (LLSIL). This Notice announces the LLSIL Tables
for 2009. WIA requires the Department of Labor to update and publish
the LLSIL tables annually. The LLSIL tables are used for several
purposes under WIA, including determining eligibility for youth and for
the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.
Signed at Washington, DC, this 16th day of March 2009.
Douglas F. Small,
Deputy Assistant Secretary.
Appendix A
[[Page 13264]]
Table 1--Lower Living Standard Income Level
(For a family of four persons) by Region \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009 Adjusted 70 percent
Region \2\ LLSIL LLSIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast
Metro............................... $37,703 $26,392
Non-Metro \3\....................... 36,086 25,260
Midwest
Metro............................... 33,198 23,239
Non-Metro........................... 31,817 22,272
South
Metro............................... 32,143 22,500
Non-Metro........................... 30,986 21,690
West
Metro............................... 36,664 25,665
Non-Metro \4\....................... 35,126 24,588
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\1\ For ease of use, these figures are rounded to the next highest
dollar.
\2\ Metropolitan area measures were calculated from the weighted average
CPI-Us for city size classes A and B/C. Non-metropolitan area measures
were calculated from the CPI-Us for city size class D.
\3\ Non-metropolitan area percent changes for the Northeast region are
no longer available. The Non-metropolitan percent change was
calculated using the U.S. average CPI-U for city size class D.
\4\ Non-metropolitan area percent changes for the West region are
unpublished data.
Appendix B
Table 2--Lower Living Standard Income Level
(For a family of four persons)--Alaska, Hawaii and Guam \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009 Adjusted 70 percent
Region LLSIL LLSIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska
Metro............................... $44,250 $30,975
Non-Metro \2\....................... 44,073 30,851
Hawaii, Guam
Metro............................... 47,622 33,335
Non-Metro \2\....................... 47,051 32,936
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For ease of use, these figures are rounded to the next highest
dollar.
\2\ Non-Metropolitan percent changes for Alaska, Hawaii and Guam were
calculated from the CPI-Us for city size class D in the Western
Region.
Appendix C
Table 3--Lower Living Standard Income Level
(For a family of four persons) 23 MSAs \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
2009 Adjusted 70 percent
Metropolitan Statistical Areas (MSAs) LLSIL LLSIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anchorage, AK........................... $45,356 $31,749
Atlanta, GA............................. 30,799 21,559
Boston--Brockton--Nashua, MA/NH/ME/CT... 41,150 28,805
Chicago--Gary--Kenosha, IL/IN/WI........ 34,947 24,463
Cincinnati--Hamilton, OH/KY/IN.......... 33,753 23,627
Cleveland--Akron, OH.................... 34,542 24,179
Dallas--Ft. Worth, TX................... 31,333 21,933
Denver--Boulder--Greeley, CO............ 35,307 24,715
Detroit--Ann Arbor--Flint, MI........... 31,957 22,370
Honolulu, HI............................ 48,670 34,069
Houston--Galveston--Brazoria, TX........ 29,759 20,831
Kansas City, MO/KS...................... 32,479 22,735
Los Angeles--Riverside--Orange County, 38,822 27,175
CA.....................................
Milwaukee--Racine, WI................... 33,405 23,384
Minneapolis--St. Paul, MN/WI............ 33,585 23,510
New York--Northern NJ--Long Island, NY/ 40,205 28,144
NJ/CT/PA...............................
Philadelphia--Wilmington--Atlantic City, 36,317 25,422
PA/NJ/DE/MD............................
Pittsburgh, PA.......................... 40,379 28,265
St. Louis, MO/IL........................ 31,917 22,342
San Diego, CA........................... 42,827 29,979
San Francisco--Oakland--San Jose, CA.... 38,904 27,233
[[Page 13265]]
Seattle--Tacoma--Bremerton, WA.......... 40,221 28,155
Washington--Baltimore, DC/MD/VA/WV \2\.. 41,013 28,709
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ For ease of use, these figures are rounded to the next highest
dollar.
\2\ Baltimore and Washington are now calculated as a single metropolitan
statistical area.
Appendix D
Table 4--Seventy Percent of Updated 2009 Lower Living Standard Income
Level (LLSIL), by Family Size
To use the seventy percent LLSIL value, where it is stipulated for
WIA programs, begin by locating the region or metropolitan area where
they reside. These are listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3. After locating the
appropriate region or metropolitan statistical area, find the seventy
percent LLSIL amount for that location. The seventy percent LLSIL
figures are listed in the last column to the right on each of the three
tables. These figures apply to a family of four. Larger and smaller
family eligibility is based on a percentage of the family of four. To
determine eligibility for other size families consult table 4 and the
instructions below.
To use Table 4, locate the seventy percent LLSIL value that applies
to the individual's region or metropolitan area from Tables 1, 2 or 3.
Find the same number in the ``family of four'' column of Table 4. Move
left or right across that row to the size that corresponds to the
individual's family unit. That figure is the maximum household income
the individual is permitted in order to qualify as economically
disadvantaged under WIA.
Where the HHS poverty level for a particular family size is greater
than the corresponding LLSIL figure, the LLSIL figure appears in a
shaded block. Individuals from these size families may consult the 2009
HHS poverty guidelines found in the Federal Register, Vol. 74, No. 14,
January 23, 2009, pp. 4199-4201 (on the Internet at http://
aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/09fedreg.pdf) to find the higher eligibility
standard. Individuals from Alaska and Hawaii should consult the HHS
guidelines for the generally higher poverty levels that apply in their
states.
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Family of one Family of two Family of three Family of four Family of five Family of six
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$7,505......................................... $12,296 $16,876 $20,831 $24,585 $28,751
7,762.......................................... 12,722 17,470 21,559 25,444 29,754
7,815.......................................... 12,802 17,571 21,690 25,597 29,935
7,901.......................................... 12,947 17,771 21,933 25,887 30,272
8,024.......................................... 13,144 18,044 22,272 26,288 30,742
8,049.......................................... 13,187 18,101 22,342 26,367 30,832
8,056.......................................... 13,199 18,123 22,370 26,398 30,870
8,104.......................................... 13,278 18,225 22,500 26,556 31,058
8,184.......................................... 13,416 18,421 22,735 26,831 31,379
8,366.......................................... 13,714 18,824 23,239 27,422 32,075
8,418.......................................... 13,798 18,943 23,384 27,596 32,272
8,467.......................................... 13,874 19,048 23,510 27,747 32,449
8,508.......................................... 13,945 19,144 23,627 27,884 32,608
8,707.......................................... 14,272 19,588 24,179 28,536 33,369
8,807.......................................... 14,439 19,815 24,463 28,871 33,766
8,853.......................................... 14,509 19,921 24,588 29,019 33,939
8,901.......................................... 14,587 20,025 24,715 29,166 34,110
9,096.......................................... 14,909 20,467 25,260 29,812 34,859
9,157.......................................... 15,002 20,595 25,422 30,004 35,085
9,240.......................................... 15,142 20,790 25,665 30,285 35,422
9,505.......................................... 15,578 21,379 26,392 31,148 36,424
9,784.......................................... 16,034 22,013 27,175 32,068 37,507
9,809.......................................... 16,073 22,060 27,233 32,138 37,587
10,133......................................... 16,609 22,797 28,144 33,210 38,845
10,142......................................... 16,613 22,809 28,155 33,226 38,856
10,181......................................... 16,683 22,901 28,265 33,359 39,011
10,340......................................... 16,945 23,258 28,709 33,884 39,626
10,372......................................... 16,997 23,339 28,805 33,995 39,752
10,798......................................... 17,689 24,287 29,979 35,379 41,377
11,111......................................... 18,203 24,992 30,851 36,406 42,575
11,157......................................... 18,277 25,094 30,975 36,554 42,753
11,435......................................... 18,739 25,720 31,749 37,471 43,815
11,861......................................... 19,437 26,681 32,936 38,866 45,453
12,007......................................... 19,670 27,007 33,335 39,339 4,6010
12,270......................................... 20,102 27,596 34,069 40,203 47,022
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[[Page 13266]]
Appendix E
Table 5--Updated 2009 LLSIL (100%), By Family Size
To use the LLSIL to determine the minimum level for establishing
self-sufficiency criteria at the State or local level, begin by
locating the metropolitan area or region from Table 1, 2 or 3. Then
locate the appropriate region or metropolitan statistical area and then
find the 2009 Adjusted LLSIL amount for that location. These figures
apply to a family of four. Locate the corresponding number in the
family of four in the column below. Move left or right across that row
to the size that corresponds to the individual's family unit. That
figure is the minimum figure States must set for determining whether
employment leads to self-sufficiency under WIA programs.
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Family of one Family of two Family of three Family of four Family of five Family of six
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$10,722........................................ $17,566 $24,109 $29,759 $35,121 $41,073
11,089......................................... 18,174 24,957 30,799 36,348 42,505
11,164......................................... 18,289 25,101 30,986 36,567 42,764
11,287......................................... 18,496 25,387 31,333 36,982 43,246
11,463......................................... 18,777 25,777 31,817 37,554 43,917
11,499......................................... 18,838 25,858 31,917 37,667 44,046
11,509......................................... 18,855 25,890 31,957 37,712 44,100
11,577......................................... 18,969 26,036 32,143 37,937 44,369
11,692......................................... 19,166 26,316 32,479 38,330 44,827
11,952......................................... 19,592 26,891 33,198 39,174 45,822
12,026......................................... 19,712 27,062 33,405 39,423 46,103
12,095......................................... 19,820 27,211 33,585 39,638 46,355
12,154......................................... 19,922 27,348 33,753 39,834 46,583
12,438......................................... 20,389 27,983 34,542 40,766 47,670
12,582......................................... 20,627 28,307 34,947 41,244 48,237
12,647......................................... 20,727 28,458 35,126 41,455 48,484
12,716......................................... 20,838 28,607 35,307 41,665 48,729
12,994......................................... 21,299 29,239 36,086 42,589 49,799
13,081......................................... 21,432 29,421 36,317 42,863 50,121
13,200......................................... 21,632 29,700 36,664 43,264 50,603
13,578......................................... 22,254 30,542 37,703 44,497 52,034
13,977......................................... 22,905 31,447 38,822 45,811 53,582
14,013......................................... 22,961 31,514 38,904 45,911 53,696
14,476......................................... 23,727 32,567 40,205 47,443 55,493
14,489......................................... 23,733 32,584 40,221 47,466 55,508
14,544......................................... 23,833 32,715 40,379 47,656 55,730
14,771......................................... 24,207 33,226 41,013 48,405 56,609
14,817......................................... 24,282 33,341 41,150 48,564 56,789
15,426......................................... 25,270 34,696 42,827 50,541 59,110
15,873......................................... 26,004 35,703 44,073 52,009 60,821
15,938......................................... 26,110 35,849 44,250 52,220 61,075
16,336......................................... 26,770 36,743 45,356 53,530 62,593
16,944......................................... 27,767 38,115 47,051 55,523 64,933
17,153......................................... 28,100 38,581 47,622 56,199 65,728
17,528......................................... 28,717 39,423 48,670 57,433 67,174
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[FR Doc. E9-6618 Filed 3-25-09; 8:45 am]