[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 83 (Monday, April 30, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Page 21308]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-10627]


-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Food and Nutrition Service


Commodity Supplemental Food Program: Elderly Income Guidelines

<BD>AGENCY: <RM>Food and Nutrition Service, USDA.

<BD>ACTION: <RM>Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

<BD>SUMMARY: <RM>This notice announces the adjusted income guidelines 
to be used by State agencies in determining the eligibility of elderly 
persons applying to participate in the Commodity Supplemental Food 
Program. These guidelines are to be used in conjunction with the 
regulations found at 7 CFR part 247.

<BD>EFFECTIVE DATE: <RM>April 30, 2001.

<BD>FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: <RM>Lillie F. Ragan, Assistant 
Branch Chief, Household Programs Branch, U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, 3101 Park Center Drive, Alexandria, Virginia 22302-1594, 
or telephone (703) 305-2662.

<BD>SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

<RM>Regulatory Flexibility Act

    This action is not a rule as defined by the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act (5 U.S.C. 601-612) and thus is exempt from the provisions of that 
Act.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    This notice does not contain reporting or recordkeeping 
requirements subject to approval by the Office of Management and Budget 
in accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 
3507).

Executive Order 12372

    This program is listed in the Catalog of Federal Domestic 
Assistance Programs under No. 10.565 and is subject to the provisions 
of Executive Order 12372, which requires intergovernmental consultation 
with State and local officials (7 CFR part 3015, subpart V, 48 FR 
29112).

Description

    The Food Security Act of 1985 (Pub. L. 99-198) amended section 5 of 
the Agriculture and Consumer Protection Act of 1973 (7 U.S.C. 612c 
note) to require that the Secretary permit agencies administering the 
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) to serve low-income elderly 
persons if such service can be provided without reducing service levels 
for women, infants, and children. The law also mandates establishment 
of income eligibility requirements for elderly participation. Prior to 
enactment of Pub. L. 99-198, elderly participation was restricted by 
law to three designated pilot projects which served the elderly in 
accordance with agreements with the Department.
    To implement the CSFP mandates of Pub. L. 99-198, the Department 
published an interim rule on September 17, 1986 at 51 FR 32895 and a 
final rule on February 18, 1988, at 53 FR 4831. These regulations 
defined ``elderly persons'' as persons who are 60 years of age or older 
(7 CFR 247.2). The final rule further stipulates that elderly persons 
certified on or after September 17, 1986 must have ``household income 
at or below 130 percent of the Federal Poverty Income Guidelines 
published annually by the Department of Health and Human Services.'' (7 
CFR 247.7(a)(3)).
    The Federal Poverty Income Guidelines are revised annually to 
reflect changes in the Consumer Price Index. The revision for 2001 was 
published by the Department of Health and Human Services in the 
<CS>Federal Register <RM>on February 16, 2001 at 66 FR 10695. To 
establish income limits of 130 percent, the guidelines were multiplied 
by 1.30 and the results rounded up to the next whole dollar.
    At this time, the Department is publishing the income limits of 130 
percent of the poverty income guidelines. The table in this notice 
contains the income limits by household size to be used for elderly 
certification in the CSFP. These income guidelines will be effective on 
the date that they are published in the <CS>Federal Register <RM>and 
will remain in effect until notification of revised guidelines in 2002.

 FNS Income Eligibility Guidelines for the Elderly in CSFP (130 Percent
                      of Poverty Income Guidelines)
                       [Effective April 30, 2001]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Family size                     Annual   Month   Week
------------------------------------------------------------------------
1...............................................   11,167     931    215
2...............................................   15,093   1,258    291
3...............................................   19,019   1,585    366
4...............................................   22,945   1,913    442
5...............................................   26,871   2,240    517
6...............................................   30,797   2,567    593
7...............................................   34,723   2,894    668
8...............................................   38,649   3,221    744
For each additional family member add...........   +3,926    +328    +76
------------------------------------------------------------------------


    <CS>Authority: <RM>Pub. L. 93-86 (7 U.S.C. 612c note)

    Dated: April 24, 2001.
George A. Braley,
Acting Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service.
[FR Doc. 01-10627 Filed 4-27-01; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-30-P