4 CRISIS ASSISTANCE

Eligibility - 2604(c), 2605(c)(1)(A) 4.1 Designate the income eligibility threshold used for the crisis component Add Household size Eligibility Guideline Eligibility Threshold 1 All Household Sizes HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 4.2 Provide your LIHEAP program's definition for determining a crisis. If you administer multiple crisis assistance programs (winter, summer, and/or year-round), Include all program definitions. The household must have received a final notice for fuel or electric service disconnection and be within 48 hours of service disconnection. Deliverable/pick-up fuel clients must be out of fuel or within 48 hours of running out of fuel. Households with an electric service disconnection notice within 48 hours of service disconnection are considered to be in crisis regardless of their primary home heating fuel type, since electricity is required to operate home heating systems, water heating systems, well pumps, water filtrations systems, and food preparation and preservation systems (stove, oven, refrigerator, freezer, etc.). 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? A life-threatening crisis means the applicant or a member of the applicant's household uses medical support equipment prescribed by a licensed medical professional that requires fuel or power to operate, and is without or within 48 hours of being without metered or deliverable fuel used to primarily power or heat their dwelling. Client statement is considered to be acceptable verification of use of medical support equipment. Crisis Requirement, 2604(c) 4.4 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households? 48Hours 4.5 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households in life-threatening situations? 18Hours Crisis Eligibility, 2605(c)(1)(A) Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-Round Crisis 4.6 Do you have additional eligibility requirements for Crisis Assistance? 4.7 Check the appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided 0 Do you require an Assets test? Do you give priority in eligibility to: Older Adults (60 years or older)? Individuals with a disability? Young Children? Households with high energy burdens? Other (Specify): In Order to receive crisis assistance: Must the household have received a shut-off notice or have a near empty tank? Must the household have been shut off or have an empty tank? Must the household have exhausted their regular heating benefit? Must renters with heating costs included in their rent have received an eviction notice? Must heating/cooling be medically necessary? Must the household have non-working heating or cooling equipment? Other (Specify): Do you have additional/differing eligibility policies for: Renters? Renters living in subsidized housing? Renters with utilities included in the rent? Explanations of policies for each "yes" checked above: Households who are considered part of Alaska's vulnerable population (age 60 or older, legally disabled, or under age 6) receive an additional point ($175) added to their household's benefit calculation.* In order to receive priority processing** due to crisis, the household must verify they meet the crisis criteria by providing a final fuel or electric service disconnection notice (within 48 hours of shutoff), claim to have 48 hours worth of fuel or an empty fuel tank, or provide an eviction notice for non-payment of rent, if the household’s primary heating fuel expense is included in their rental payment. In order to receive priority processing** due to life-threatening crisis, the household must claim they have medical support equipment prescribed by a licensed medical professional that requires power or fuel to operate AND provide a final fuel or electric service disconnection notice (within 48 hours of shutoff), claim to have 48 hours worth of fuel or an empty fuel tank, or provide an eviction notice for non-payment of rent, if the household’s primary heating fuel expense is included in their rental payment. Renters who have their primary heating fuel expense included in their subsidized rental payment are not eligible to receive assistance through LIHEAP. Renters who pay for their primary heating fuel expense in addition to their subsidized rental payment are eligible to receive assistance through LIHEAP, if they meet all other eligibility criteria. If a renter’s subsidized rental payment includes a utility allowance their benefit is reduced by 50%. • * The vulnerable population point is limited to one per household. **Applications are moved to the front of the processing queue. Determination of Benefits 4.8 How do you handle crisis situations? Separate component Benefit Fast Track, no separate amount of crisis funds is issued. Rather benefits are issued to crisis customers within crisis response time frames. Other - Describe: 4.9 If you have a separate component, how do you determine crisis assistance benefits? Amount to resolve the crisis. $0 Other - Describe: The dollar amount required by the vendor to prevent fuel or electric service disconnection or to reinstate fuel or electric service, up to the total grant amount the household is determined eligible to receive. In the event of a major disaster, the amount of the benefit is dependent on the applicant’s needs vs. available funds and will be addressed on a case-by-case basis. Crisis Requirements, 2604(c) 4.10 Do you accept applications for energy crisis assistance at sites that are geographically accessible to all households in the area to be served? Yes No Explain. Completed applications are accepted in-person, by drop-box at all Public Assistance office locations, by email, telephone, or through the Alaska Connect Portal. DPA is developing an online application that can be completed and submitted electronically via https://alaskaconnect.ilinx.com/engage/ dpa. The go-live date is anticipated to be October 1, 2025. 4.11 Do you provide individuals who are individuals with a disability the means to: Submit applications for crisis benefits without leaving their homes? Yes No If No, explain. Travel to the sites at which applications for crisis assistance are accepted? Yes No If No, explain. DPA accepts completed applications in-person, by drop-box at all Public Assistance office locations, by email, telephone, and through the Alaska Connect Portal. If you answered "No" to both options in question 4.11, please explain alternative means of intake to those who are homebound or physically disabled? Benefit Levels, 2605(c)(1)(B) 4.12 Indicate the maximum benefit for each type of crisis assistance offered. Winter Crisis $6,125.00 maximum benefit Summer Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit Year-round Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit 4.13 Do you provide in-kind (e.g. blankets, space heaters, fans) and/or other forms of benefits? Yes No If yes, Describe 4.14 Do you provide for equipment repair or replacement using crisis funds? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 4.14, you must complete question 4.15. 4.15 Check appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided. Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-round Crisis Heating system repair Heating system replacement Cooling system repair Cooling system replacement Wood stove purchase Pellet stove purchase Solar panel(s) Utility poles / gas line hook-ups Other (Specify): Repair or replacement of hot water heaters that are integrated with a heating system. 4.16 Do any of the utility vendors you work with enforce a moratorium on shut offs? Yes No If you responded "Yes" to question 4.16, you must respond to question 4.17. 4.17 Describe the terms of the moratorium and any special dispensation received by LIHEAP clients during or after the moratorium period. 4.18 If you experience a natural disaster, do you intend to utilize LIHEAP crisis funds to address disaster related crisis situations? Yes No If yes, describe During a governor-declared disaster or state of emergency, a portion of the LIHEAP grant funds may be used for home heating equipment repairs and replacements; and to replace energy supply shortages experienced by affected households. Per LIHEAP regulations at 45 C.F.R. 96. 50(e). Allowable uses of LIHEAP funds to deal with crisis situations, particularly with respect to assistance for home energy related needs resulting from a hurricane or other natural disaster, include: Costs to temporarily shelter or house individuals in hotels, apartments, or other living situations in which homes have been destroyed or damaged, i.e., placing people in settings to preserve health and safety and to move them away from the crisis situation. Costs for transportation (such as cars, shuttles, buses) to move individuals away from the crisis area to shelters when health and safety is endangered by loss of access to heating. Utility reconnection costs, if needed, may also be covered. All related activities must be pre-approved and will be targeted to areas covered by a disaster declaration. A “disaster” may include natural disaster events, public health emergencies, and supply shortage emergencies declared by state or federal government. Expenses, up to a total of $1,500 per household, will be covered to resolve the disaster related crisis. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.