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State Percent of Poverty Guidelines for LIHEAP Components

Note: The LIHEAP statute  (Section 2605(b)(2)(b) of Public Law 97- 35) established 150 percent of the poverty guidelines(FPG) as a maximum income level allowed in determining LIHEAP eligibility, except where 60 percent of a state's median income (SMI) is higher. Effective in FY 1995, income eligibility criteria for LIHEAP may not be set lower than 110 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines, but priority may be given to households with the highest energy costs or needs in relation to income. The federal government sets the poverty guidelines in February of every year and publishes them in the Federal Register.

States may adopt the year's new guidelines at any time between the date of publication in the Federal Register and the first day of the next fiscal year or by the beginning of the grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later. For LIHEAP, the majority of states use the prior year guidelines until the first day of the next fiscal year in order to avoid changing guidelines in the middle of their program year. Most states start their new fiscal year October 1; however, a few states start theirs July 1 and those states, along with several that operate summer cooling programs, adopt the most recent guidelines in June or July.

The FY 2011 appropriation does not include a provision that will allow states to set their maximum ceiling for the remainder of the year as the greater of 75 percent of state median or 150 percent of the federal poverty level as was allowed in prior two years. The ceiling under the CR for the remainder of FY 2011 will be the same as allowed under current law as the greater of 60 percent SMI or 150 percent FPG.

Tables: As noted above, these income levels are used by most states through September 2011.

• State Median Income Estimates for Optional Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2010 LIHEAP Programs and Mandatory Use in Federal Fiscal Year 2011 LIHEAP Programs
  
  
• FY 2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines were published in the Federal Register, January 20, 2011.

The Percent of Poverty Table below, compiled by the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, shows the percent of federal poverty guidelines (FPG) or state's median income (SMI) to be used by states in determining eligibility for LIHEAP components in FY 2011. Although states can have a different poverty level for each component (crisis, cooling and weatherization) the majority use the same poverty level for all components.

State	Heat	Crisis	Wx	Comment
Alabama	150 FPG	150 FPG	150 FPG
Alaska	150 FPG	150 FPG	60 SMI
Arizona	200 FPG	200 FPG	200 FPG
Arkansas	150 FPG	150 FPG	150 FPG
California	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
Colorado	185 FPG	185 FPG	185 FPG
Connecticut	150 FPG	150 FPG	200 FPG	Heating and crisis: 200% FPG for seniors and disabled
Delaware	200 FPG	200 FPG	200 FPG
Dist. of Columbia	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
Florida	150 FPG	150 FPG	125 FPG
Georgia	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
Hawaii	150 FPG	150 FPG
Idaho	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
Illinois	150 FPG	150 FPG	200 FPG
Indiana	150 FPG	150 FPG	150 FPG
Iowa	150 FPG	150 FPG	150 FPG
Kansas	130 FPG	130 FPG	150 FPG
Kentucky	130 FPG	130 FPG	150 FPG
Louisiana	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
Maine	228 FPG	228 FPG	228 FPG	Households with a member who is susceptible to hypothermia, such as elderly or a child under the age of two, may use up to 228% of poverty level
Maryland	175 FPG	175 FPG	175 FPG
Massachusetts	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
Michigan	110 FPG	60 SMI	150 FPG
Minnesota	50 SMI	50 SMI	200 FPG
Mississippi	150 FPG	150 FPG	150 FPG
Missouri	135 FPG	135 FPG
Montana	200 FPG	200 FPG	200 FPG
Nebraska	116 FPG	116 FPG	116 FPG
Nevada	150 FPG	150 FPG	150 FPG
New Hampshire	200 FPG	200 FPG	200 FPG
New Jersey	200 FPG	200 FPG	200 FPG
New Mexico	150 FPG	150 FPG	150 FPG
New York	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI	Can use 150 FPG if greater than 60 SMI
North Carolina	110 FPG	150 FPG	200 FPG
North Dakota	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
Ohio	200 FPG	200 FPG	200 FPG
Oklahoma	130 FPG	130 FPG	60 SMI
Oregon	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
Pennsylvania	160 FPG	160 FPG	160 FPG
Rhode Island	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
South Carolina	150 FPG	150 FPG	150 FPG
South Dakota	200 FPG	200 FPG	200 FPG
Tennessee	200 FPG	125 FPG	125 FPG
Texas	200 FPG	200 FPG	200 FPG
Utah	150 FPG	150 FPG	150 FPG
Vermont	185 FPG	200 FPG	60 SMI
Virginia	130 FPG	130 FPG	130 FPG
Washington	125 FPG	125 FPG	60 SMI
West Virginia	130 FPG	130 FPG	150 FPG
Wisconsin	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI
Wyoming	60 SMI	60 SMI	60 SMI

Source: FY 2011 State LIHEAP Plans and interviews with state directors in late 2010

2011 Federal Poverty Guidelines for a Family Size of Four