Workforce Investment Act; Lower Living Standard Income Level

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.

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 2007 and references the current 2007 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. Evan Rosenberg, Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room N-4464, Washington, DC 20210.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Please contact Mr. Evan Rosenberg, telephone 202-693-3593; fax 202-693-3532 (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 2007 update of the poverty-level guidelines in the

Federal Register

at 72 FR 3147-3148 on January 24, 2007. The HHS 2007 Poverty guidelines may also be found on the Internet at:

http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/07fedreg.htm.

ETA plans to have the 2007 LLSIL available on its Web site at

http://www.doleta.gov/llsil/

.

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 it develops the LLSIL tables.

ETA published the 2006 updates to the LLSIL in the

Federal Register

of June 1, 2006, at 71 FR 31215. This notice again updates the LLSIL to reflect cost of living increases for 2006, by applying the percentage change in the December 2006, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), compared with the December 2005, CPI-U to each of the June 1, 2006, LLSIL figures. Those updated figures for a family-of-four are listed in Table 1, by region for both metropolitan and non-metropolitan areas. Figures in all of the accompanying tables are rounded up to the nearest tenth. 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 below 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, and Virgin Islands.

Midwest

Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and 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, and West Virginia.

West

Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Additionally, separate figures have been provided for Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam as indicated in Table 2.

For Alaska, Hawaii, and Guam, the year 2006 figures were updated from the June 1, 2006, “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 December 2006. The updated LLSIL figures for these MSAs and 70 percent of the LLSIL are reported in Table 3.

Table 4 below lists each of the various figures at 70 percent of the updated 2007 LLSIL for family sizes 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. Table 5, 100 percent of LLSIL, is used to determine self-sufficiency as noted at 20 CFR 663.230 of 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 Tables 1 through 3. Tables 4 and 5 may be used with any of the levels 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 2007

Under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-220) (WIA), the Secretary of Labor annually determines the Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL). This Notice announces the LLSIL Tables for 2007. WIA requires the Department of Labor to update and publish the LLSIL tables annually. The LLSIL tables are used for several purposes under WIA, determining eligibility for youth and for the Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

Signed at Washington, DC, this 29th day, of May, 2007.

Emily Stover DeRocco,

Assistant Secretary, ETA.

Attachments

Table 1.—Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four Persons) by Region

1

Region

2

2007

adjusted

LLSIL

70 percent

LLSIL

Northeast:

Metro

$36,070

$25,250

Non-Metro

3

34,630

24,240

Midwest:

Metro

32,110

22,480

Non-Metro

30,450

21,320

South:

Metro

30,790

21,550

Non-Metro

29,700

20,790

West:

Metro

35,220

24,660

Non-Metro

4

34,080

23,860

1

For ease of use, these figures have been rounded to the next highest ten dollars.

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.

Table 2.—Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four Persons)—Alaska, Hawaii and Guam

1

Region

2007

adjusted

LLSIL

70 percent

LLSIL

Alaska:

Metro

$43,340

$30,340

Non-Metro

2

42,760

29,930

Hawaii, Guam:

Metro

46,370

32,460

Non-Metro

2

45,650

31,960

1

Rounded to next highest ten dollars.

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.

Table 3.—Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four Persons) 23 MSAs

1

Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)

2007

Adjusted

LLSIL

70 percent

LLSIL

Anchorage, AK

$43,340

$30,340

Atlanta, GA

30,470

21,330

Boston-Brockton-Nashua, MA/NH/ME/CT

39,520

27,670

Chicago-Gary-Kenosha, IL/IN/WI

33,580

23,510

Cincinnati-Hamilton, OH/KY/IN

32,410

22,690

Cleveland-Akron, OH

33,020

23,120

Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX

29,510

20,660

Denver-Boulder-Greeley, CO

34,040

23,830

Detroit-Ann Arbor-Flint, MI

31,710

22,200

Honolulu, HI

46,370

32,460

Houston-Galveston-Brazoria, TX

28,700

20,090

Kansas City, MO/KS

31,250

21,870

Los Angeles-Riverside-Orange County, CA

37,220

26,050

Milwaukee-Racine, WI

31,860

22,300

Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN/WI

32,350

22,640

New York-Northern NJ-Long Island, NY/NJ/CT/PA

38,160

26,710

Philadelphia-Wilmington-Atlantic City, PA/NJ/DE/MD

35,230

24,660

Pittsburgh, PA

38,510

26,960

St. Louis, MO/IL

30,920

21,650

San Diego, CA

39,980

27,990

San Francisco-Oakland-San Jose, CA

37,480

26,240

Seattle-Tacoma-Bremerton, WA

37,810

26,470

Washington-Baltimore, DC/MD/VA/WV

2

38,290

26,800

1

Rounded to next highest ten dollars.

2

Baltimore and Washington are now calculated as a single metropolitan statistical area.

Table 4.—Seventy Percent of Updated 2007 Lower Living Standard Income Level (LLSIL), by Family Size

To use the seventy percent LLSIL value, where it is stipulated for WIA programs, individuals must begin by locating the region or metropolitan area where they reside. These are listed in Tables 1, 2 and 3. Individuals must locate their region or metropolitan statistical area and then 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 the table 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 2007 HHS poverty guidelines found in the

Federal Register

, Vol. 72, No. 15, January 24, 2007, pp. 3147-3148 (on the Internet at

http://aspe.hhs.gov/poverty/07fedreg.htm

) 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.

Family of one

Family of two

Family of three

Family of four

Family of five

Family of six

$7,240

$11,860

$16,280

$20,090

$23,710

$27,730

7,440

12,190

16,740

20,660

24,380

28,520

7,490

12,270

16,840

20,790

24,540

28,700

7,680

12,580

17,270

21,320

25,160

29,430

7,680

12,590

17,280

21,330

25,170

29,440

7,760

12,720

17,460

21,550

25,430

29,740

7,800

12,780

17,540

21,650

25,550

29,880

7,880

12,910

17,720

21,870

25,810

30,190

8,000

13,100

17,990

22,200

26,200

30,640

8,030

13,160

18,070

22,300

26,320

30,780

8,100

13,270

18,210

22,480

26,530

31,030

8,160

13,360

18,340

22,640

26,720

31,250

8,170

13,390

18,380

22,690

26,780

31,320

8,330

13,650

18,730

23,120

27,290

31,910

8,470

13,880

19,050

23,510

27,750

32,450

8,580

14,060

19,310

23,830

28,120

32,890

8,590

14,080

19,330

23,860

28,160

32,930

8,730

14,310

19,640

24,240

28,610

33,460

8,880

14,550

19,980

24,660

29,100

34,040

9,090

14,900

20,460

25,250

29,800

34,850

9,380

15,370

21,110

26,050

30,740

35,950

9,450

15,490

21,260

26,240

30,970

36,220

9,530

15,620

21,450

26,470

31,240

36,530

9,620

15,760

21,640

26,710

31,520

36,860

9,650

15,820

21,710

26,800

31,630

36,990

9,710

15,910

21,840

26,960

31,820

37,210

9,970

16,330

22,420

27,670

32,660

38,190

10,080

16,520

22,680

27,990

33,030

38,630

10,780

17,660

24,250

29,930

35,320

41,310

10,930

17,910

24,580

30,340

35,810

41,870

11,510

18,860

25,890

31,960

37,720

44,110

11,690

19,160

26,300

32,460

38,310

44,800

Table 5.—Updated 2007 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. The individual must locate their region or metropolitan statistical area and then find the 2007 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.

Family of one

Family of two

Family of three

Family of four

Family of five

Family of six

$10,340

$16,940

$23,250

$28,700

$33,870

$39,610

10,630

17,420

23,910

29,510

34,830

40,730

10,700

17,530

24,060

29,700

35,050

40,990

10,970

17,970

24,670

30,450

35,940

42,030

10,970

17,980

24,690

30,470

35,960

42,050

11,090

18,170

24,940

30,790

36,340

42,500

11,140

18,250

25,050

30,920

36,490

42,670

11,250

18,440

25,320

31,250

36,880

43,130

11,420

18,710

25,690

31,710

37,420

43,760

11,470

18,800

25,810

31,860

37,600

43,970

11,560

18,950

26,010

32,110

37,890

44,320

11,650

19,090

26,210

32,350

38,180

44,650

11,670

19,130

26,260

32,410

38,250

44,730

11,890

19,490

26,750

33,020

38,970

45,570

12,090

19,820

27,200

33,580

39,630

46,350

12,260

20,090

27,580

34,040

40,170

46,980

12,270

20,110

27,610

34,080

40,220

47,040

12,470

20,440

28,060

34,630

40,870

47,790

12,680

20,780

28,530

35,220

41,560

48,610

12,690

20,790

28,540

35,230

41,580

48,620

12,990

21,290

29,220

36,070

42,570

49,780

13,400

21,960

30,150

37,220

43,920

51,370

13,500

22,120

30,360

37,480

44,230

51,730

13,620

22,310

30,630

37,810

44,620

52,180

13,740

22,520

30,910

38,160

45,030

52,670

13,790

22,600

31,020

38,290

45,190

52,850

13,870

22,730

31,200

38,510

45,450

53,150

14,230

23,320

32,020

39,520

46,640

54,540

14,400

23,590

32,390

39,980

47,180

55,180

15,400

25,230

34,640

42,760

50,460

59,010

15,610

25,580

35,110

43,340

51,150

59,810

16,440

26,940

36,980

45,650

53,870

63,000

16,700

27,360

37,560

46,370

54,720

64,000

[FR Doc. E7-10662 Filed 6-1-07; 8:45 am]

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