Percent of Poverty Guidelines for LIHEAP Components

Note: The LIHEAP statute  (Section 2605(b)(2)(b) of Public Law 97- 35) established 150 percent of the poverty guidelines(FPG) as a maximum income level allowed in determining LIHEAP eligibility, except where 60 percent of a state's median income (SMI) is higher. Effective in FY 1995, income eligibility criteria for LIHEAP may not be set lower than 110 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines, but priority may be given to households with the highest energy costs or needs in relation to income. The federal government sets the poverty guidelines in February of every year and publishes them in the Federal Register.

States may adopt the year's new guidelines at any time between the date of publication in the Federal Register and the first day of the next fiscal year or by the beginning of the grantee's fiscal year, whichever is later. For LIHEAP, the majority of states use the prior year guidelines until the first day of the next fiscal year in order to avoid changing guidelines in the middle of their program year. Most states start their new fiscal year October 1; however, a few states start theirs July 1 and those states, along with several that operate summer cooling programs, adopt the most recent guidelines in June or July.

Tables: As noted above, these income levels are used by most states through September 2014.

The Percent of Poverty Table below, compiled by the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, shows the percent of federal poverty guidelines (FPG) or state's median income (SMI) to be used by states in determining eligibility for LIHEAP components in FY 2014. Although states can have a different poverty level for each component (crisis, cooling and weatherization) the majority use the same poverty level for all components.

Print a pdf copy of the table.

State Heat Crisis Wx Comment
Alabama
150 FPG
150 FPG
 
Alaska
150 FPG
 
Arizona
60 SMI or 150 FPGI
60 SMI or 150 FPG
Households with one to six members use 60 SMI and households with seven or more members use 150 FPG.
Arkansas
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
California
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
Colorado
150 FPG
200 FPG
 
Connecticut
150 FPG / 200 FPG
200 FPG
Heating and crisis: 200 FPG for households with seniors, disabled or children under 6 years
Delaware
200 FPG
200 FPG
 
Dist. of Columbia
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
Florida
150 FPG
125 FPG
 
Georgia
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
Hawaii
150 FPG
 
 
Idaho
150 FPG
200 FPG
 
Illinois
150 FPG
 
Indiana
150 FPG
150 FPG
 
Iowa
150 FPG
 
Kansas
130 FPG
130 FPG  
Kentucky
130 FPG
 
Louisiana
60 SMI
 
Maine
150 FPG

150 FPG
Eligibility is 150 FPG or 60 SMI whichever is less. Eligibility for households with incomes between 150 and 170 FPG is limited to those households with a member who is susceptible to hypothermia, such as elderly, a child twenty-four months of age or under, or with a doctor's diagnosis.
Maryland
175 FPG
175 FPG
 
Massachusetts
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
Michigan
150 FPG
 
 
Minnesota
60 SMI
May use 110 FPG if greater than 60 SMI
Mississippi
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
Missouri
135 FPG
 
 
Montana
60 SMI
150 FPG for households with 8 or more members
Nebraska
116 FPG
200 FPG
 
Nevada
150 FPG
 150 FPG
 
New Hampshire
200 FPG

or

50 SMI
200 FPG

or

50 SMI
Can be raised to 60 SMI if funds available
New Jersey
200 FPG
200 FPG
 
New Mexico
150 FPG
150 FPG
 
New York
60 SMI
60 SMI
Can use 150 FPG if greater than 60 SMI
North Carolina
 
North Dakota
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
Ohio
175 FPG
 
Oklahoma
110 FPG
110 FPG
Once list of LIHEAP recipients exhausted can go up to 60 SMI for Wx if
funding is still available.
Oregon
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
Pennsylvania
150 FPG
 
Rhode Island
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
South Carolina
150 FPG
150 FPG
 
South Dakota
175 FPG
175 FPG
 
Tennessee
150 FPG
 
Texas
125 FPG
125 FPG
 
Utah
150 FPG
200 FPG
 
Vermont
 
Virginia
130 FPG
 
Washington
125 FPG
125 FPG
May use 200 FPG or 60 SMI for weatherization but priority is given to 125 FPG.
West Virginia
130 FPG
 
Wisconsin
60 SMI
60 SMI
 
Wyoming
60 SMI
60 SMI
 

Source: FY 2014 State LIHEAP Plans and interviews with state directors in late 2013



2013/2014 Federal Poverty Guidelines for a Family Size of Four

Poverty Level 100% 110% 125% 150% 175% 200%
48 contiguous states and D.C. $23,550 $25,905 $29,439 $35,325 $41,213 $47,100
Alaska $29,440 $32,384 $36,800 $44,160 $51,520 $58,880
Hawaii $27,090 $29,799 $33,863 $40,365 $47,408 $54,180