February 5, 2009
Poverty Guidelines Updated
The Department of Health and Human Services issued their annual update notice of poverty guidelines that takes into account last year’s 3.8 percent increase in prices as calculated by the Consumer Price Index. The poverty guidelines are updated annually to determine whether a Title IV borrower is eligible for an economic hardship deferment or has a partial financial hardship under the Income-Based Repayment (IBR) plan. These guidelines also help determine the criteria for the Community Services Block Grant program and a number of other federal programs.
The chart below reflects 150 percent of the poverty line as applicable to the borrower’s actual family size (for use on or after January 23, 2009).
Borrower's Family Size |
48 Contiguous States and District of Columbia |
Alaska |
Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|
1 |
$1,353.75 |
$1,691.25 |
$1,557.50 |
2 |
$1.821.25 |
$2,276.05 |
$2,095.00 |
3 |
$2,288.75 |
$2,861.25 |
$2,632.50 |
4 |
$2,756.25 |
$3,446.25 |
$3,170.00 |
|
For each additional person add: |
$467.50 |
$585.00 |
$537.50 |
View the January 23 Federal Register for more information about the updated poverty guidelines. Future editions of OGSLP’s Online News will provide additional information about pending updates to the Economic Hardship Deferment (HRD) form.