|
ACYF
Administration on Children,
Youth and Families
|
U.S. DEPARTMENT
OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Administration for Children and Families |
| 1. Log No. ACYF-IM-HS-96-04 |
2. Issuance Date: 03/20/96 |
| 3. Originating Office: Head Start Bureau |
| 4. Key Word: Guidelines |
INFORMATION MEMORANDUM [See Attachments at the bottom]
TO: All Head Start Grantees and Delegate Agencies
SUBJECT: The 1996 Family Income Guidelines
INFORMATION: Section 645 of the Head Start Act (42 U.S.C. 9840) establishes income eligibility for participation in Head Start programs by reference to the official poverty line, adjusted annually in accordance with changes in the Consumer Price Index. The attached 1996 Family Income Guidelines reflect recently revised poverty data and must be used to determine Head Start eligibility for low-income families.
The definition of "income," printed on the back of the attached income guidelines, is derived from the U.S. Bureau of the Census, Current Population Reports, Series P-60-185 and earlier reports in the same series. It provides a more detailed explanation of the term "income" than is found in 45 CFR 1305.2(i). The definition of "family" to be used in determining eligibility is found in 45 CFR 1305.2(e) which defines family as all persons living in the same household who are:
Supported by the income of the parent(s) or guardian(s) of the child enrolling or participating in the program, and (2) related to the parent(s) or guardian(s) by blood, marriage or adoption.
Questions about the Income Guidelines should be addressed to your ACF Regional Office or the American Indian or Migrant Programs Branches. This memorandum replaces ACYF-IM-95-14.
/S/
Helen H. Taylor
Associate Commissioner
Head Start Bureau
ATTACHMENT: The 1996 Family Income Guidelines
CC: Regional Administrators, ACF, Regions I-X American Indian and Migrant Programs Branches
1996 FAMILY INCOME GUIDELINES
FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS
(EXCEPT FOR HEAD START PROGRAMS IN ALASKA AND HAWAII)
Size of Family Unit |
Income |
1 |
$7,740 |
2 |
10,360 |
3 |
12,980 |
4 |
15,600 |
5 |
18,220 |
6 |
20,840 |
7 |
23,460 |
8 |
26,068 |
For Family units with more than 8 members, add $2,620 for each additional member.
Family Income Guidelines for Hawaii
| Size of Family Unit |
Income |
1 |
$8,910 |
2 |
11,920 |
3 |
14,930 |
4 |
17,940 |
5 |
20,950 |
6 |
23,960 |
7 |
26,970 |
8 |
29,890 |
For family members with more than 8 members, add $3,010 for each additional member.
Family Income Guidelines for Alaska
| Size of Family Unit |
Income |
1 |
$9,660 |
2 |
12,940 |
3 |
16,220 |
4 |
19,500 |
5 |
22,780 |
6 |
26,060 |
7 |
29,340 |
8 |
32,620 |
For family members with more that 8 members, add $3,280 for each additional member.
DEFINITION OF INCOME
Income means total cash receipts before taxes from all sources, with the exceptions noted below. Income includes money wages or salary before deductions; net income from non-farm self-employment; net income from farm self-employment) regular payments from Social Security or railroad retirement; payments from unemployment compensation, strike benefits from union funds, workers' compensation, veterans benefits, public assistance (including Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Supplemental Security Income, Emergency Assistance money payments, and non-Federally funded General Assistance or General Relief money payments); training stipends; alimony, child support, and military family allotments or other regular support from an absent family member or someone not living in the household; private pensions, government employee pensions (including military retirement pay), and regular insurance or annuity payments; college or university scholarships, grants, fellowships, and assistantships; and dividends, interest, net rental income, net royalties, and periodic receipts from estates or trusts; and net gambling or lottery winnings.
As defined here, income does not include capital gains; any assets drawn down as withdrawals from a bank, the sale of property, a house or a car; or tax refunds, gifts, loans, lump-sum inheritances, onetime insurance payments, or compensation for injury. Also excluded are noncash benefits, such as the employer-paid or union-paid portion of health insurance or other employee fringe benefits; food or housing received in lieu of wages; the value of food and fuel produced and consumed on farms; the imputed value of rent from owner-occupied non-farm or farm housing; and such Federal noncash benefit programs as Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps, school lunches, and housing assistance.
The period of time to be considered for eligibility is the twelve months immediately preceding the month in which application or reapplication for enrollment of a child in a Head Start program is made, or for the calendar year immediately preceding the calendar year in which the application or reapplication is made, whichever more accurately reflects the family's current needs.
