[Federal Register Volume 75, Number 88 (Friday, May 7, 2010)]
[Notices]
[Pages 25296-25300]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2010-10794]


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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 2010 and references the current 2009 Health and Human 
Services ``Poverty Guidelines.'' Congress has taken action to keep the 
2009 HHS poverty guidelines in effect until at least May 31, 2010.

DATES: Effective Date: This notice is effective on the date of 
publication in the Federal Register.

ADDRESSES: Send questions about the Lower Living Standard Income Level 
calculations: Mr. Samuel Wright, Department of Labor, Employment and 
Training Administration, 200 Constitution Avenue, NW., Room S-4231, 
Washington, DC 20210.
    Send written youth program 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 on LLSIL: Please contact Mr. Samuel Wright, 
Telephone 202-693-2870; Fax 202-693-3015 (these are not toll free 
numbers); e-mail address <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#fd8a8f949a9589d38e9c90889891d398bd999291d39a928b"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="097e7b606e617d277a68647c6c65276c496d6665276e667f">[email protected]</span></a>.
    For Further Information on Federal Youth Programs: 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

[[Page 25297]]

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 most current poverty-level guidelines in the 
Federal Register at 74 FR 4199-4201 on Jan. 23, 2009. 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 2010 LLSIL 
available on its Web site at [http://www.doleta.gov/llsil/2010/].
    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 2009 updates to the LLSIL in the Federal Register 
of March 26, 2009, at 74 FR 13262. This notice again updates the LLSIL 
to reflect cost of living increases for 2009, by applying the 
percentage change in the most recent 2009 Consumer Price Index for All 
Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for an area, compared with the 2008 CPI-U to 
each of the March 26, 2009 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. 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 2009 figures were updated 
from the April, 2009 ``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 2009. 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 2009 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/2010/]. 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, which adjusts a 
family of four figure for larger and smaller families, 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

[[Page 25298]]

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 2010

    Under Title I of the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 (Pub. L. 105-
220), the Secretary of Labor annually determines the Lower Living 
Standard Income Level (LLSIL). This Notice announces the LLSIL Tables 
for 2010. 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 30th day of April 2010.
Jane Oates,
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration.

Attachments

Appendix A

    Table 1--Lower Living Standard Income Level (for a Family of Four
                         Persons) by Region \1\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2010
                  Region \2\                      adjusted    70 percent
                                                   LLSIL        LLSIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northeast:
  Metro.......................................      $38,759      $27,131
  Non-Metro \3\...............................       37,060       25,942
Midwest:
  Metro.......................................       34,161       23,913
  Non-Metro...................................       33,026       23,118
South:
  Metro.......................................       33,043       23,130
  Non-Metro...................................       32,318       22,623
West:
    Metro.....................................       37,471       26,230
    Non-Metro \4\.............................       35,758       25,031
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2010
                    Region                        adjusted    70 percent
                                                   LLSIL        LLSIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alaska:
  Metro.......................................      $45,047      $31,533
  Non-Metro \2\...............................       44,866       31,406
Hawaii, Guam:
  Metro.......................................       48,432       33,902
  Non-Metro \2\...............................       47,898       33,529
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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\
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2010
     Metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs)        Adjusted    70 Percent
                                                   LLSIL        LLSIL
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anchorage, AK.................................      $46,172      $32,320
Atlanta, GA...................................       31,353       21,947
Boston--Brockton--Nashua, MA/NH/ME/CT.........       41,891       29,324
Chicago--Gary--Kenosha, IL/IN/WI..............       35,821       25,075
Cincinnati--Hamilton, OH/KY/IN................       34,327       24,029
Cleveland--Akron, OH..........................       35,129       24,590
Dallas--Ft. Worth, TX.........................       31,646       22,152
Denver--Boulder--Greeley, CO..................       35,695       24,987
Detroit--Ann Arbor--Flint, MI.................       32,916       23,041
Honolulu, HI..................................       49,497       34,648
Houston--Galveston--Brazoria, TX..............       30,562       21,393
Kansas City, MO/KS............................       33,064       23,145
Los Angeles--Riverside--Orange County, CA.....       39,521       27,665
Milwaukee--Racine, WI.........................       34,073       23,851
Minneapolis--St. Paul, MN/WI..................       34,156       23,909
New York--Northern NJ--Long Island, NY/NJ/CT/        41,130       28,791
 PA...........................................
Philadelphia--Wilmington--Atlantic City, PA/NJ/      37,407       26,185
 DE/MD........................................
Pittsburgh, PA................................       41,025       28,718
St. Louis, MO/IL..............................       32,268       22,588
San Diego, CA.................................       43,298       30,309
San Francisco--Oakland--San Jose, CA..........       39,916       27,941
Seattle--Tacoma--Bremerton, WA................       40,784       28,549
Washington--Baltimore, DC/MD/VA/WV \2\........       41,669       29,168
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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.


[[Page 25299]]

Appendix D

Table 4--Seventy Percent of Updated 2010 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.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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
         7,708             12,628             17,332             21,393             25,248             29,527
         7,902             12,951             17,784             21,947             25,901             30,289
         7,980             13,077             17,949             22,152             26,146             30,575
         8,138             13,332             18,299             22,588             26,657             31,172
         8,151             13,353             18,326             22,623             26,697             31,222
         8,298             13,595             18,667             23,041             27,190             31,796
         8,329             13,644             18,730             23,118             27,287             31,910
         8,331             13,650             18,736             23,130             27,299             31,928
         8,331             13,658             18,753             23,145             27,314             31,944
         8,587             14,074             19,322             23,851             28,148             32,918
         8,611             14,110             19,372             23,909             28,218             33,000
         8,609             14,112             19,370             23,913             28,217             33,006
         8,653             14,183             19,469             24,029             28,358             33,163
         8,854             14,515             19,921             24,590             29,021             33,936
         8,999             14,747             20,245             24,987             29,486             34,486
         9,013             14,770             20,279             25,031             29,541             34,550
         9,028             14,800             20,311             25,075             29,593             34,610
         9,342             15,312             21,020             25,942             30,617             35,801
         9,431             15,453             21,213             26,185             30,904             36,138
         9,443             15,476             21,247             26,230             30,951             36,201
         9,771             16,014             21,978             27,131             32,020             37,444
         9,960             16,322             22,409             27,665             32,645             38,182
        10,064             16,491             22,633             27,941             32,974             38,564
        10,284             16,846             23,128             28,549             33,692             39,400
        10,344             16,950             23,267             28,718             33,893             39,635
        10,366             16,991             23,321             28,791             33,974             39,738
        10,505             17,216             23,631             29,168             34,425             40,261
        10,559             17,303             23,759             29,324             34,607             40,468
        10,917             17,884             24,555             30,309             35,768             41,832
        11,311             18,530             25,442             31,406             37,062             43,341
        11,358             18,606             25,546             31,533             37,212             43,522
        11,641             19,076             26,183             32,320             38,146             44,604
        12,074             19,787             27,161             33,529             39,565             46,271
        12,212             20,005             27,466             33,902             40,008             46,792
        12,478             20,444             28,065             34,648             40,886             47,821
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Appendix E

Table 5--Updated 2010 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 2010 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
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
       $11,011            $18,040            $24,760            $30,562            $36,069            $42,182
        11,289             18,501             25,406             31,353             37,002             43,270
        11,400             18,681             25,641             31,646             37,352             43,678
        11,625             19,045             26,142             32,268             38,081             44,531
        11,644             19,075             26,180             32,318             38,139             44,603
        11,854             19,421             26,667             32,916             38,843             45,423
        11,899             19,491             26,757             33,026             38,981             45,586
        11,901             19,500             26,765             33,043             38,999             45,611

[[Page 25300]]

 
        11,902             19,511             26,790             33,064             39,020             45,634
        12,267             20,106             27,603             34,073             40,211             47,025
        12,301             20,157             27,674             34,156             40,312             47,143
        12,299             20,160             27,671             34,161             40,310             47,151
        12,361             20,261             27,813             34,327             40,511             47,375
        12,649             20,736             28,459             35,129             41,459             48,480
        12,856             21,067             28,922             35,695             42,123             49,265
        12,875             21,100             28,970             35,758             42,201             49,357
        12,897             21,143             29,015             35,821             42,275             49,443
        13,345             21,874             30,028             37,060             43,739             51,144
        13,473             22,075             30,304             37,407             44,149             51,625
        13,490             22,108             30,353             37,471             44,216             51,716
        13,958             22,877             31,397             38,759             45,743             53,491
        14,229             23,317             32,013             39,521             46,636             54,546
        14,377             23,558             32,333             39,916             47,105             55,092
        14,692             24,065             33,040             40,784             48,131             56,285
        14,777             24,214             33,238             41,025             48,418             56,622
        14,809             24,273             33,316             41,130             48,534             56,769
        15,007             24,594             33,758             41,669             49,179             57,515
        15,084             24,719             33,941             41,891             49,438             57,811
        15,596             25,548             35,078             43,298             51,097             59,760
        16,159             26,472             36,346             44,866             52,945             61,916
        16,225             26,580             36,494             45,047             53,160             62,174
        16,630             27,252             37,404             46,172             54,494             63,720
        17,249             28,267             38,801             47,898             56,522             66,102
        17,445             28,578             39,237             48,432             57,154             66,845
        17,826             29,205             40,093             49,497             58,409             68,316
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


[FR Doc. 2010-10794 Filed 5-6-10; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4510-FT-P


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