Department of Health and Human Services
Administration on Aging

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The Aging Network

SUBJECT : 2003 Poverty Guidelines

LEGAL AND RELATED : Older Americans Act, As Amended

REFERENCES:  Older Americans Act, As Amended Section 102

Purpose

This Information Memorandum transmits the 2003 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 February 7, 2003.  A copy of the 2003 poverty guidelines from this notice is attached to this memorandum.

These guidelines provide guidance about the definition of "greatest economic need" as used in section 102(27) of the Older Americans Act, as amended.  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 2003 poverty guidelines represent income standards expressed in 2002 dollars (the reference to "2003" in the 2003 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-02-03.

EFFECTIVE DATE : None

INQUIRIES TO : State agencies should address inquiries to Regional Administrators on Aging, DHHS regional offices

Josefina G. Carbonell
Assistant Secretary for Aging

ATTACHMENTS :  

• 2003 Poverty Guidelines

• HHS Federal Register Notice: Annual Update of the HHS Poverty Guidelines [PDF version]

Attachment 1

2003 HHS Poverty Guidelines

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