section 8 income limits nj section 8 income limits nj

Income-based rents used in the HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME) will also be held harmless. How are maximum rents for Low-Income Housing Tax Credit projects computed from the very low-income limits? A: Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects (MTSPs), a term coined by HUD, are all Low Income Housing Tax Subsidy projects under Section 42 of the I.R.S. The formula used to compute these For areas without local ACS estimates, update factors are generated using a combination of state-level 2000 Census to 2006 ACS MFI change and local area BLS wage change data. The manner in which the ACS data are used depends on the type of data available, which differs by place size. Given the recession that our area has experienced in recent years, why have income limits increased? Income limits have fallen in my area but havent done so in the past, why did this happen? The following table is included for informational purposes only. Effective 12/11/2012. Code and multifamily projects funded by tax-exempt bonds under Section 142. Puerto Rico and other territories are specifically excluded from this adjustment. $53,300 and the 1-8 person 50-percent income limits based on the non-metropolitan median income are listed below: This system provides complete documentation of the development of the FY 2015 Income Limits (ILs) for FMR areas in calculating income limits because FMRs (or 40th percentile rents for 50th When: The open enrollment period is Tuesday, January 17, 2023, 9:00 AM EST., to Friday, February 3, 2023, at 5:00 PM EST. Do not South Dakota The extremely low-income limits therefore are first calculated as 30/50ths (60 percent) of the Section 8 very low-income limits. The documentation system is available at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2019_query. A: There are many exceptions to the arithmetic calculation of income limits. Furthermore, in an effort to minimize disruptions in the operation of the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, HUD instituted maximum thresholds for the amount income limits can change from year to year. By using both the 5-year data and the 1-year data, where available, HUD is establishing a new basis for median family income estimates while also capturing the most recent information available. Area definitions were not changed. Q12. Notice on Estimated Median Family Income For FY 2010, Tables for 1999 and Estimated FY 2010 Decile Distributions by Area in, FY 2010 Income Limits Briefing Material in, Transmittal Notice of FY 2010 Income Limits for the Public Housing and Section 8 Programs in, Transmittal Notice of FY 2010 Income Limits for the Section 221(d)(3) BMIR, Section 235, and Section 236 Programs in, To view the FY 2010 State Extremely Low (30%), Very Low (50%) and Low (80%) Income Limits, please. are linked in statutory history. Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) program, HUD instituted maximum thresholds for the If you are a tax credit developer or resident in an MTSP, please go to the following site to determine what the appropriate income limits are: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/mtsp.html Once the area in question is selected, a summary of the areas median family income estimate, Very Low-Income, Extremely Low-Income, and Low-Income Limits are displayed. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program is a federally funded program that provides housing subsidies to New Jersey residents, so that they can obtain decent, safe, and sanitary housing. Income Limits for rural housing programs will continue their current hold-harmless policy at the request of the Rural Housing Service, because these limits are based on area definitions and program rules specified by the Rural Housing Service of the Department of Agriculture. South Dakota Please also note that Tables 1 and 2 (beginning on page 8) show that most nonmetropolitan area income limits are based on state nonmetropolitan area medians. For additional details concerning the use of the ACS in HUDs calculations of MFI, please see our FY 2011 Income Limits Briefing Materials, Attachment 2 at the following web address: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il11/IncomeLimitsBriefingMaterial_FY11_v2.pdf. (HOME) will also be held harmless. This means you must have been discharged under an honorable or general discharge. In areas where there is a statistically If the term Area Median Income (AMI) is used in an unqualified manner, this reference is synonymous with HUD's MFI. 6. Specifically, for each metropolitan area, subarea of a metropolitan area, and non- metropolitan county, 2009-2013 5-year ACS data is used as the new basis for calculating MFI estimates. For a complete description of the area definitions a used in the FY 2013 Income Limits, please review the Area Definitions report: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il13/area_definitions.pdf. New Jersey's statewide waitlist for Section 8 vouchers, a federally funded housing program, is open through Feb. 3. . How does HUD calculate median family incomes? For all places in the US and Puerto Rico: All estimates (using The formula used to compute these income limits is as follows: take 120 percent of the Very Low-Income Limit. For a complete description of the area definitions a used in the FY 2010 Income Limits, please review the FY 2010 Income Limits Area Definitions report: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2010, 6. These include Kentucky For further information on the exact adjustments made to any area of the country, please see our FY 2012 Income Limits Documentation System. Select a State For the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, users should refer to the FY 2016 Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project income limits available at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/mtsp.html. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il17/area-definitions-FY17.pdf, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il16/IncomeLimitsBriefingMaterial-FY16.pdf, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il16/index_il2016.html, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il16/area-definitions-FY16.pdf, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2015, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il14/IncomeLimitsBriefingMaterial_FY14.pdf, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2014, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il14/area_definitions.pdf, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il13/IncomeLimitsBriefingMaterial_FY13.pdf, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2013, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il13/area_definitions.pdf, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il12/IncomeLimitsBriefingMaterial_FY12.pdf, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2012, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il12/area_definitions.pdf. Please also note that Tables 1 and 2 (beginning on page 5) show that most nonmetropolitan area income limits are based on state nonmetropolitan area medians. This system provides complete documentation of the development of the FY 2013 Median Family Income (MFI) estimates for any area of the country selected by the user. Your annual income total for all working adults must not exceed the low-income limit. A: Please consult with the state housing financing agency governing the tax credit project in question for official maximum rental rates. These exceptions are detailed in the FY 2017 Income Limits Briefing Material report, https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il17/IncomeLimitsBriefingMaterial-FY17.pdf. After selecting the desired geography, the user is provided a page containing a detailed account of how the final FY 2014 Louisiana First, income limits are not allowed to decline, so even if the underlying data shows a decrease (in the median family income) income limits would not go down; they would stay at the same level they were at the previous year. After using the 2010 ACS income data, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) is used to update the 2010 data through the end of 2011. Minimal statistical validity is defined as those ACS estimates where the margin of error of the estimate is less than half the size of the estimate. Applicants should select all preferences that apply to them. Unit rents by number of bedrooms are derived from Very This system is available at the same web address. properties base their rents on the income limits that HUD is mandated to publish. For projects placed into service prior to the publication of FY2020 Income Limits and non-impacted projects: Section 3009(a)(E)(i) of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-289) provides a general "hold-harmless" policy for multifamily tax The formula used to compute these income limits is as follows: take 120 percent of the Very Low-Income Limit. What is the relationship between Fair Market Rent areas and Income Limit areas? Is HUD requiring or suggesting rent increases? A: HUD Metro FMR Area. In practice, estimates for areas with small MoERs are almost entirely based on local ACS estimates but, where MoERs are large, state-level estimates more heavily influence results. table: Q14. the median income. 11. For additional details concerning the use of the ACS in HUDs calculations of MFI, please see our FY 2015 Income Limits Briefing Materials, Attachment 2 at the following web address: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2015. metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is in the area to which the income limits (or FMRs) The FY 2020 MFIs and income limits are based on new metropolitan area definitions, any area of the country selected by the user. The documentation system is available at: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2011. Puerto Rico and other territories are specifically excluded from this adjustment. Kansas To see the State Income Limits for FY2006, please. HUD is required by OMB to alter the name of metropolitan geographic entities it derives from the CBSAs when the geography is not the same as that established by OMB. The documentation system is available at: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2010. This system provides complete documentation of the development of the FY 2014 Income Limits (ILs) for any area of the country selected by the user. The FY 2018 MFIs and income limits are based on new metropolitan area definitions, defined by OMB using commuting relationships from the 2010 Decennial Census, as updated through 2015. } Section 3004 of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) specifies that any areas with some exceptions. The FY 2015 non-metropolitan median income is: For areas where income limits are decreasing, HUD limits the decrease to no If you need assistance in another language the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-application is available in 90 languages, which can be found at https://www.WaitlistCheck.com/NJ559 at the top right of the pre-application. of FY 2021. of Agriculture. most recent income experience and the income thresholds for housing assistance. project for residential rental property located in a rural area (as defined in section 520 of the In addition, OMB makes annual area definitional changes that include name changes for primary cities in metropolitan areas, and new subareas of core-based statistical areas, as well as the creation of new nonmetropolitan counties, the splitting of some metropolitan areas and the inclusion of nonmetropolitan counties in metropolitan areas. Local ACS MFI estimates are used in inverse proportion to the size of their margins of error (the numbers computed by adding and subtracting the published margins of error, or MoEs, from the median family income estimates form the "90 percent confidence intervals" for the estimates. How are Low Income Housing Tax Credit maximum rents computed from the very low income limits? To view files in this format you must first download a copy of the Adobe Acrobat Reader and follow the instructions for installation. Please access the FY 2018 Income Limits Documentation System using this link: back to top. HUD eliminated the hold harmless policy to ensure better alignment between an areas most recent income experience and the income thresholds for housing assistance. What are Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects? The documentation system is available at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il16/index_il2016.html. var y = "/portal/datasets/il/il10/" + href; This system provides complete documentation of the development of the FY 2019 Median Family Income (MFI) estimates for any area of the country These projects may have special income limits established by country, please see our FY 2020 Income Limits Documentation System. While HUD has maintained its HMFA subareas, there is no longer They are then compared to the appropriate poverty guideline and if the poverty guideline is higher, that value is chosen. Unit rents by number of bedrooms are derived from Very Low Income Limits (VLILs) for the different household sizes according to the following table: 50% MFI Unit Maximum Monthly Rent is 1/12 of 30% of: 60% MFI Unit Maximum Monthly Rent is 1/12 of 30% of: NOTE: Maximum rents for larger units are set by assuming an additional 1.5 persons per bedroom. Under the Section 8 income guidelines in New Jersey, you must earn no more than 50 percent of the median income for the area where you live. How are Low Income Housing Tax Credit maximum rents computed from the very low income limits? For the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, users should refer to the FY 2018 Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project income limits available at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/mtsp.html. Once the area in question A list of state housing STATE:ALABAMA -----S E C T I O N 8 I N C O M E L I M I T S----- PROGRAM 1 PERSON 2 PERSON 3 PERSON 4 PERSON 5 PERSON 6 PERSON 7 PERSON 8 PERSON Anniston-Oxford-Jacksonville, AL MSA . Qualifying and Determining Section 8 Eligibility in New Jersey Detailed calculations are obtained by selecting the relevant links. for FY 2007, Tables for 1999 and Estimated FY2007 Decile Distributions Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects (MTSPs), a term coined by HUD, are all Low Income Housing Tax Subsidy projects under Section 42 of the I.R.S. How does HUD calculate median family incomes? To calculate the FY 2017 MFI estimates, HUD incorporates 2010-2014 5-year ACS data. To qualify for the program, however, your income must be under a certain limit. NJDCA has adopted a policy that sets forth in more detail how it complies with said laws and regulations adopted pursuant thereto. Local and Secondary Residency Preference: Local and Residency preference is defined as a preference for admission of families that reside anywhere in a specified area, including families with a member who works or has been hired to work in the area (residency preference area). ADA related questions, complaints, requests for additional information or accommodations related to NJDCA housing programs may be forwarded to the designated ADA/Section 504 Coordinator or their alternate in the event of the Coordinators absence: Jarrett Knight New Jersey Department of Community Affairs Division of Housing and Community Resources 101 South Broad StreetP.O. Detailed calculations are obtained by selecting the relevant links. There is a 90 percent probability that any random sample of the same size from the population will yield an estimate of the median family income in this range). This system is available at this web address: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2011. The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014 further modified and redefined these limits as Extremely Low Family income limits to ensure that these income limits would not fall below the poverty guidelines determined for each family size. How are maximum rents for Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects computed from the very low income limits? For FY 2020, HUD has updated its definition of 2. What are Multifamily Tax Subsidy Projects? Documentation System. Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Code and multifamily projects funded by tax-exempt bonds under Section 142. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2020_query. The effects of the latest recession on local area incomes are most likely to be detected in 2009, but this represents only 20 percent of the survey sample. How can 60 percent income limits be calculated? Why am I unable to access the FY 2022 Income Limits Documentation System using a prior year bookmark, or using the results of web search? The new policy limits annual increases in income limits to 5 percent or twice the change in the national median family income, whichever is greater. Duplicate Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-applications will not be considered. A: For the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program, users should refer to the FY2009 Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project income limits available at https://www.huduser.gov/datasets/mtsp.html. The new policy limits annual increases in income limits to 5 percent or twice the change in the national median family income, whichever is greater. A rent may not exceed 30 percent of this imputed income limitation under 26USC Sec. For further information on the exact adjustments made to any area of the country, please see our FY 2008 Income Limits Documentation System. HUD uses FMR areas in calculating income limits because FMRs are needed for the calculation of some income limits; specifically to determine high and low housing cost adjustments. Furthermore, depending on when OMB releases new area definitions, HUD may be able to incorporate these changes into income limits before they are implemented into FMRs. some income limits; specifically, to determine high and low housing cost adjustments. This term indicates that only a portion of the OMB-defined bonds. to determine high and low housing cost adjustments. Please also note that Tables 1 and 2 (beginning on page 7) show that most nonmetropolitan area income limits are based on state nonmetropolitan area medians. How are Low Income Housing Tax Credit maximum rents computed from the very low-income limits? A Consumer Price Index (CPI) forecast as published by the Congressional Budget Office is used in the trend factor calculation to bring the 2015 ACS data forward to the middle of FY 2018. The FY 2019 non-metropolitan median income is: A: Although HUD uses the most recent data available concerning local area incomes, there is still a lag between when the data are collected and when the data are available for use. Please access the FY 2020 Income Limits This term indicates that only a portion of the OMB-defined core-based statistical area (CBSA) is in the area to which the income limits (or FMRs) apply. Utah Texas 42(g)(2)) is 60 percent of the MFI. HUDs hold harmless policy sustained Section 8 income limits for certain areas at previously published levels when reductions would otherwise have resulted from changes in median family incomes, housing cost adjustment data, median income update methodology, income limit methodology, or metropolitan area definitions. Q1. Why did the area definitions change for the income limits and median family income estimates? system may not be applicable to projects financed with Section 42 Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) or section 142 tax exempt private equity bonds. HUD uses FMR areas in calculating income limits because FMRs are used in the calculation of certain income limits and the two sets of definitions are linked in statutory history. the estimate. These projects may have special income limits so HUD has published them on a separate webpage. The exception to the similarity between Fair Market Rent areas and Income Limit areas is Rockland County, NY. Additionally, full documentation of all calculations for Median Family Incomes are the previous three years of ACS or PRCS data. HUD averages the minimally statistically valid 5-year data which is adjusted to 2015 dollars using the national change in CPI between the ACS year of the data and 2015. Washington A: Please consult with the state housing financing agency governing the tax credit project in question for official maximum rental rates. Additionally, if beneficiary families have an income greater than 50 percent of the area median income, they will no longer be eligible. There are separate poverty guidelines for Alaska and Hawaii. The FY 2011 non-metropolitan median income is: $51,600. What does the term HMFA mean? https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2019_data. At this site, you can verify if you were selected and placed the waiting list. These include adjustments for high housing cost relative to income, the application of state nonmetropolitan income limits in low-income areas, and national maximums in high-income areas. For additional details concerning the use of the ACS in HUDs calculations of MFI, please see our FY 2012 Income Limits Briefing Materials, Attachment 2 at the following web address: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il12/IncomeLimitsBriefingMaterial_FY12.pdf. As in FY2011, Income Limits for the How can you tell if the entire CBSA or just the subarea (SA) is used to calculate the income limits? Local ACS MFI estimates are used in inverse proportion to the size of their margins of error ratios (the numbers computed by adding and subtracting the published margins of error ratios, or MoERs, from the median family income estimates form the "90 percent confidence intervals" for the estimates. How are maximum rents for Low Income Housing Tax Credit projects computed from the very low income limits? Why is the Extremely Low-Income Limit much higher than in the past and sometimes no different than the Very Low-Income Limit? back to top. How are Low Income Housing Tax Credit maximum rents computed from the very low income limits? Do not calculate income limit percentages based on a direct arithmetic relationship with the MFI; there are too many exceptions made to the arithmetic rule in computing income limits. How: The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-applications will be available only on-line at: https://www.WaitlistCheck.com/NJ559. Additionally, full documentation of all calculations for Median Family Income and Income Limits is available in our FY 2015 Income Limits Documentation System. Please review this report and pay special attention to Attachments 3 and 4 that list the exceptions for metropolitan areas. Once the area in question is selected, a summary of the areas MFI, Very Low-Income, Extremely Low- Income, and Low-Income Limits are displayed. For example, FY 2022 Income Limits are calculated using 2015-2019 5-year American Community Survey (ACS) data, and one-year 2019 data where possible. basis for HUDs median family incomes is data from the American Community Survey, Once the area in question is selected, a summary of the areas median family income estimate, Very Low-Income, Extremely Low-Income, and Low-Income Limits are displayed. The FY 2021 MFIs and income limits are based on new metropolitan area definitions, Families will be required to report names, Social Security numbers, birthdates and income . Minnesota These systems are available at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2022_query. The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program pre-application is available in 90 languages at https://www.waitlistcheck.com/NJ559. bonds. Arkansas These systems are available at https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2021_query. Applying for the program and attempting to determine what your income level must be is a tough and lengthy process. Why do area definitions change for median incomes and income limits? 12. The formula used to compute these income limits is as follows: take 120 percent of the Very Low-Income Limit. low-income limits. The two exceptions to the similarity between Fair Market Rent areas and Income Limit areas are Columbia, MD and Rockland County, NY. Transmittal Notice on Estimated Median Family Incomes HUD continues to encourage property owners to exercise compassion with respect to tenants affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and would be surprised that an owner would be so out of step with the moment in which we are living to raise rents at this time. If the poverty guideline is above the very low income limit at that family size, the extremely low income limit is set at the very low income limit because the definition of extremely low income limits caps them at the very low-income levels. The documentation system is available at: https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il.html#2015. HUD is required by OMB to alter the name of metropolitan geographic entities it valid survey estimate using 2017 one-year ACS or PRCS data, that is used. Income-based rents used in the HOME Investment Partnerships program Irvington Housing Authority Income Limit. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/mtsp.html. Why do area definitions change for the income limits and median family income estimates? To calculate the FY 2013 MFI estimates, HUD incorporates 2006-2010 5-year ACS data. However, if the term AMI is qualified in some way - generally percentages of AMI, or AMI adjusted for family size, then this is a reference to HUD's income limits, which are calculated as percentages of median incomes and include adjustments for families of different sizes. West Virginia FY2009 Income Limits are based on American Community Survey data collected in 2007 when the economy was in much better shape and unemployment was much lower. A list of state housing finance agencies can be found at https://lihtc.huduser.gov/agency_list.htm. These exceptions are detailed in the FY 2020 Income Limits Methodology Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project Income Limits. Paper pre-applications will not be accepted unless a reasonable accommodation is necessary. Incomes in my area have gone up in recent years, why hasnt the income limit for our area gone up? They are then compared to the appropriate poverty guideline and if the poverty guideline is higher, that value is chosen. The FY 2020 non-metropolitan median income is: nonmetropolitan income limits in low-income areas, and national maximums in high-income areas. There are many exceptions to the arithmetic calculation of income limits. When local MFI estimates are available, HUD MFI estimates are based partly on local ACS estimates and partly on state-level ACS estimates. window.location.href = x; A total of 20,000 households will be selected through a random lottery system and be placed on the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list. function getStateFile13(stateName) { incomes as the basis for FY 2020 medians for all areas designated as Fair Market Rent Income guidelines are divided into three categories to determine the level of assistance provided: low-income, very low-income and 30 percent of . for FY 2009, Tables for 1999 and Estimated FY2009 Decile Distributions Local ACS MFI estimates are available for areas with populations of 65,000 or more, but the statistical reliability of these estimates differs. A: Section 3004 of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) specifies that any project for residential rental property located in a rural area (as defined in section 520 of the Housing Act of 1949) use the maximum of the area median gross income or the national non-metropolitan median income. For all places in the US and Puerto Rico: All estimates (using $52,400)? The FY 2016 non-metropolitan median income is: A: There are many exceptions to the arithmetic calculation of income limits. New for FY2010, Income Limits for the is still a lag between when the data are collected and when the data are available for use. The formula used to compute these income limits is as follows: take 120 percent of the Very Low-Income Limit. What is the relationship between Fair Market Rent areas and Income Limit areas? Multifamily Tax Subsidy Project income limits available at The policy is accessible through the NJDCA website or upon request to the ADA Coordinator. Why does my very low income limit not equal 50% of my median family income (MFI) (or my low-income limit not equal 80% of my MFI)? as Extremely Low Family income limits to ensure that these income limits would not fall Additionally, full documentation of all calculations for Median Family Income and Income Limits is available in our FY2010 Income Limits Documentation System. The Section 8 Program is a rental assistance program where the tenant is to pay 30% of their income toward rental payments. Please consult with the state housing financing agency that governs the tax credit project in question for a determination of official maximum rental rates. A: The FY 2009 MFI estimation relies on three-year American Community Survey (ACS) data (collected in 2005, 2006 and 2007). The ADA does not require NJDCA to take any action that would fundamentally alter the nature of its programs or services, or impose on it an undue financial or administrative burden. A: Either your income limit has been "held harmless" sometime in the past or your incomes are currently falling. HUD develops income limits based on Median Family Income estimates and Fair Market Rent area definitions for each metropolitan area, parts of some metropolitan areas, and each non-metropolitan county. Rent from any private owner willing to be a part of the program. 103. HUD is required by OMB to alter the name of metropolitan geographic entities it derives from the CBSAs when the geography is not the same as that established by OMB. https://www.huduser.gov/portal/datasets/il/il17/IncomeLimitsBriefingMaterial-FY17.pdf. Revised Income Limits for San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA were posted on March 10, 2015. SECTION 8 INCOME LIMITS PROGRAM 1 PERSON 2 PERSON 3 PERSON 4 PERSON 5 PERSON 6 PERSON 7 PERSON 8 PERSON Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton,PA-NJ MSA Warren County,NJ HMFA FY 2017 MFI: 94500 EXTR LOW 2INCOME 18850 21 50 24250 6900 291 0 3960 37140 41 20 . The term Area Median Income is the term used more generally in the industry. The income limits documentation calculates median family incomes and income limits for each area of the country; therefore, certain parameters must be set for these calculations to be performed correctly.