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The Aging Network

Information Memoranda

March 26, 1999
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
AoA-IM-99-02

TO : STATE AND AREA AGENCIES ADMINISTERING PLANS UNDER TITLE III AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS ADMINISTERING PLANS UNDER TITLE VI OF THE OLDER AMERICANS ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED
SUBJECT : 1999 Poverty Guidelines
LEGAL AND RELATED REFERENCES: Older Americans Act, As Amended,   Section 102

Purpose

This Information Memorandum transmits the 1999 update of the poverty guidelines issued annually in the Federal Register by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. The most recent guidelines were published in the Federal Register of March 18, 1999. A copy of the 1999 poverty guidelines from this notice is attached to this memorandum.

As set forth in Part 41 of Section 102 of the Older Americans Act, as amended, these guidelines provide guidance concerning the definition of "greatest economic need" in Part 29 of this section. The Secretary's guidelines vary by family size and are updated annually to account for changes in the cost of living (as measured by the change in the average annual value of the Consumer Price Index or CPI-U). The 1999 poverty guidelines represent income standards expressed in 1998 dollars (the reference to "1999" in the 1999 guidelines is to the year of issuance).

The Secretary's guidelines are based on the definition of poverty maintained by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Bureau of the Census. However, OMB's poverty thresholds are adjusted by the Secretary before being converted into poverty guidelines. The Secretary's guidelines include higher poverty levels for Hawaii and Alaska (115 percent and 125 percent, respectively).

The information in this memorandum supersedes AoA-IM-98-10.

EFFECTIVE DATE: None
INQUIRIES TO: State agencies should address inquiries to Regional Administrators on Aging, DHHS regional offices
ATTACHMENTS: 1999 Poverty Guidelines;
HHS Federal Register Notice: Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines

/s/
Jeanette C. Takamura
Assistant Secretary for Aging


Size of family unit

1999 DHHS Poverty Guidelines

 

Contiguous (48) states and District of Columbia

 

Alaska

 

Hawaii

1

$8,240

10,320

9,490

2

11,060

13,840

12,730

3

13,880

17,360

15,970

4

16,700

20,880

19,210

5

19,520

24,400

22,450

6

22,340

27,920

25,690

7

25,160

31,440

28,930

8

27,980

34,960

32,170

For family units with more than eight members, add the following amounts for each additional family member: $2,820 (contiguous states and the District of Columbia); $3,520 (Alaska); and $3,240 (Hawaii). In each case, the same increment applies to smaller family sizes also, as can be seen in the figures above.

The information in this table was originally published in the Federal Register, March 18, 1999, (Volume 64, Number 52)] [Notices] [Pages 13428-13430].

Table compiled by the U.S. Administration on Aging.

 



Last Modified: 7/16/2009 8:54:01 AM