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The Aging Network

Information Memoranda

INFORMATION MEMORANDUM
AoA-IM-02-03

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




SUBJECT2002 Poverty Guidelines

LEGAL AND RELATED : Older Americans Act, As Amended, Section 102

REFERENCES:


Purpose

This Information Memorandum transmits the 2002 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 14, 2002. A copy of the 2002 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 2002 poverty guidelines represent income standards expressed in 2001 dollars (the reference to "2002" in the 2002 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-01-01.

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 :

2002 Poverty Guidelines

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


2002 HHS Poverty Guidelines

Size of Family Unit Contiguous States and D.C Alaska Hawaii
1 $8,860 $11,080 $10,200
2 11,940 14,930 13,740
3 15,020 18,780 17,280
4 18,100 22,630 20,820
5 21,180 26,480 24,360
6 24,260 30,330 27,900
7 27,340 34,180 31,440
8 30,420 38,030 34,980
For each additional person, add 3,080 3,850 3,540

For family units with more than eight members, add the following amounts for each additional family member: $3,080 (contiguous states and the District of Columbia); $3,850 (Alaska); and $3, 540 (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, Vol. 67, No. 31, February 14, 2002, pp. 6931–6933.



Last Modified: 1/21/2011 9:40:59 AM