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. Crisis assistance is intended to aid a household that meets all points of eligibility and is experiencing an energy-related crisis. An energy-related crisis for both summer and winter programs may exist when: (1) a household member's health and/or well-being would likely be endangered--affected by the weather and lack of adequate heat, air conditioning, or ventilation--if crisis assistance is not provided (documented with a Physician/Nurse Medical Statement); (2) when a household has been negatively impacted by a State- or Federally-declared disaster or emergency, or; (3) a household has at least one child under age 18. Special consideration is given to those vulnerable households with elderly members (age 60 and over) or disabled members. A crisis must be resolved within 48 hours of verifying that all required documentation and the application are present and complete. 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? A life-threatening crisis exists when there is clear and present danger to the life of a household member due to extreme weather. It is the local agency’s responsibility to determine whether a household member is in a life-threatening situation due to the effects of severe weather and lack of adequate heat, air conditioning, or ventilation. Verification of required documentation may be waived if such verification cannot be obtained within 18 hours. Instead, the applicant's statements may be accepted and recorded in Customer Notes in the state-wide intake database, FACSPro. A life-threatening crisis must be resolved within 18 hours of the time the client signs a completed application. 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): See Explanation Below 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): See Explanation Below 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: Note for “Do you give priority in eligibility to:” and “In order to receive crisis assistance:” Priority is given to households that have been negatively impacted by a State- or Federally-declared disaster or emergency; households with at least one child under 18; or, when a household member has a weather-related medical condition which would endanger member's health and/or well-being if assistance is not provided. 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: Income eligibility is determined based on the household’s gross income for the month prior to the month of application. Our benefits matrix is included in this State Plan as Attachment A – PY2026 LIHEAP Payment Assistance Chart. For example, if a household applies for assistance any time in August, they must provide verification of the gross monthly income each household member received in July. Each year, ADECA will update the Payment Assistance Chart when the federal poverty guidelines are issued to revise the income ranges. To calculate the income levels on the PY2026 Payment Assistance Chart, the HHS Poverty guidelines mandatory for 2025 from the following website: https://aspe.hhs.gov/topics/poverty-economic-mobility/poverty-guidelines are used. However, ADECA will adopt 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines upon release. The Payment Assistance Chart will be updated when the 2026 Federal Poverty Guidelines are released and subrecipients will be notified. For a one-person household, the maximum annual income based on 100% of HHS Poverty Guidelines is $15,650. To calculate the maximum income for a one- person household at 150% poverty, we multiplied $15,650 by 1.5 = $23,475. To determine the maximum monthly amount as shown on our benefits matrix, we divided $23,475 by 12 = $1,956. Our benefits matrix contains three income categories for each household size. The following is an example of how we calculated the income categories: For a one-person household, we divided $1,956 by 3 = $652. The lowest income category (which receives the highest benefit) has a range of $0 - $652. The formula to calculate the next highest income category for a one-person household (which receives a slightly lower benefit) is $653 + $652 = $1,305. Therefore, the range for that income category is $653 - $1,305. The highest income category for a one-person household starts at $1,306. To not exceed the maximum income allowed for a one-person household, we only added $650 to that amount for a maximum monthly income of $1,956. Therefore, the range is $1,306 - $1,956. We used the same method to complete the benefit matrix for households with two to fifteen people. As stated on the matrix, households with more than four people will receive benefits in the same amount as shown for a household of four. If a household has a high energy need (including, but not limited to, those with children under 18, elderly members, or members with a disabling condition), subrecipients may award an additional $50. Determining Crisis Assistance Benefits The amount of the crisis assistance benefit must be the minimum amount necessary to alleviate the crisis and provide utility service or deliverable fuel to the household for the next 30 days. The crisis assistance benefit must not exceed 200% of the benefit the household is eligible for based on the benefits matrix. Subrecipients contact the household's energy vendor at the time of appointment to determine the minimum amount required. If a household has a high energy need (including, but not limited to, those with children under age 18, elderly members, or members with a disabling condition), local administering agencies may award an additional $50. As noted on the benefits matrix, the entire $50 must be awarded; it cannot be issued as a partial amount. Also, if awarding the additional $50 results in the crisis benefit exceeding the minimum amount necessary to alleviate the crisis, then the $50 must not be awarded. Example: A one-person electric household with a gross monthly income of $700 is eligible for a $410 Heating benefit. The household qualifies for crisis assistance; therefore, they are eligible for up to $820 in crisis benefits. The electric vendor was contacted and required $900 to avoid disconnection of services. The applicant is elderly and disabled; therefore, the subrecipient awarded $820 in crisis benefits plus the additional $50 for a total benefit amount of $870. The applicant was responsible for the remaining $30 balance owed. 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. Subrecipients maintain services centers in each of the sixty-seven (67) counties of the state. 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. Subrecipient agencies do not all have the capacity to provide transportation to applicants who are unable to travel on their own; however, elderly and disabled applicants can designate an authorized representative to apply on their behalf. In addition, a number of subrecipient agencies accept applications on their websites or utilize the State’s LITT Lite online application. 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? N/A Benefit Levels, 2605(c)(1)(B) 4.12 Indicate the maximum benefit for each type of crisis assistance offered. Winter Crisis $1,100.00 maximum benefit Summer Crisis $990.00 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 Subrecipients may provide window air conditioner units, fans, portable heaters, and electric blankets, payment for the minor repair/replacement of worn parts on air conditioners and existing heating units and temporary housing for households who qualify for crisis assistance. 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): 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 If yes, describe: Crisis funds can be used to assist households with utility deposits and setup fees to establish service as well as propane tank rental fees, delivery fees, and necessary fees to allow the household to heat their home with propane. 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.