THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)Use of this model plan is optional. However, the information requested is required in order to receive a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant.Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Section 1 Program Components Program Components, 2605(a), 2605(b)(1) - Assurance 1, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.1 Check which components you will operate under the LIHEAP program. (Note: You must provide information for each component designated here as requested elsewhere in this plan.) Dates of Operation Start Date End Date Heating assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Cooling assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Summer crisis assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Winter crisis assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Year-round crisis assistance Weatherization assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Provide further explanation for the dates of operation, if necessary Heating Assistance is offered the first Monday after the New Year holiday and ends the last business day in April. Intake agencies have the option to begin serving priority (elderly, disabled, children under 6) households up to 30 days earlier. Crisis during the Heating Assistance period extends the full duration of the period, whereas rate reduction (Regular) households end the last business day of March. Cooling Assistance begins the first Monday after the July 4 holiday and ends the last business day in September. Intake agencies have the option to begin serving priority (elderly, disabled, children under 6) households up to 30 days earlier. Crisis during the Cooling Assistance period extends the full duration of the period, whereas rate reduction (Regular) households end the last business day of August. If LIHEAP funding significantly varies from what is estimated, AEO may increase or decrease the proposed benefit levels accordingly. Additionally, AEO reserves the right to shorten or extend the program as well as offer supplemental benefits depending on the availability of funds, increased demand, or other factors that impact the expenditure of LIHEAP funds. Estimated Funding Allocation, 2604(C), 2605(k)(1), 2605(b)(9), 2605(b)(16) - Assurances 9 and 16 1.2 Estimate what amount of available LIHEAP funds will be used for each component that you will operate: The total of all percentages must add up to 100%. Percentage ( % ) Prior year totals Heating assistance 40.00% 40.00% Cooling assistance 15.00% 15.00% Summer crisis assistance 7.50% 7.50% Winter crisis assistance 7.50% 7.50% Year-round crisis assistance 0.00% 0.00% Weatherization assistance 15.00% 15.00% Carryover to the following federal fiscal year 0.00% 0.00% Administrative and planning costs 10.00% 10.00% Services to reduce home energy needs including needs assessment (Assurance 16) 5.00% 5.00% Used to develop and implement leveraging activities 0.00% 0.00% TOTAL 100.00% 100.00% Tribal grant recipients: direct-grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments of $20,000 or less may use for planning and administration up to 20% of the funds payable. Grant recipients that are direct grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments over $20,000 may use for planning and administration purposes up to 20% of the first $20,000 (or $4,000) plus 10% of the funds payable that exceeds $20,000. Any administrative costs in excess of these limits must be paid from non-federal sources. Alternate Use of Crisis Assistance Funds, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.3 The funds reserved for winter crisis assistance that have not been expended by March 15 will be reprogrammed to: Heating assistance Cooling assistance Weatherization assistance Other (specify:) We use crisis funds through the whole LIHEAP Season - passed 3/15. Categorical Eligibility, 2605(b)(2)(A) - Assurance 2, 2605(c)(1)(A), 2605(b)(8A) - Assurance 8 1.4 Do you consider households categorically eligible if at least one household member receives at least one of the following categories of benefits in the left column below? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.4, you must complete the table below and answer questions 1.5 and 1.6. Heating Cooling Crisis Weatherization TANF Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SSI Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SNAP Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Means-tested Veterans Programs Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No 1.4a. Provide your definition of categorical eligibility. Please explain how households are categorically eligible (i.e, do all household members need to receive the benefits or just one member, is there a data exchange in place?) and how categorical eligibility streamlines the LIHEAP application process. 1.5 Do you automatically enroll households without a direct annual application? Yes No If Yes, explain: 1.6 How do you ensure there is no difference in the treatment of categorically eligible households from those not receiving other public assistance when determining eligibility and benefit amounts? SNAP Nominal Payments 1.7a Do you allocate LIHEAP funds toward a nominal payment for SNAP households? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.7a, you must provide a response to questions 1.7b, 1.7c, and 1.7d. 1.7b Amount of Nominal Assistance: $0.00 1.7c Frequency of Assistance Once Per Year Once every five years Other - Describe: 1.7d How do you confirm that the household receiving a nominal payment has an energy cost or need? Determination of Eligibility - Countable Income 1.8. In determining a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP, do you use gross income or net income? Gross Income Net Income Other - Describe For work income, we collect data for gross income and subtract 20%. For non-work income, we use gross amount 1.9. Select all the applicable forms of countable income used to determine a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP Wages Self - Employment Income Contract Income Payments from mortgage or Sales Contracts Unemployment insurance Strike Pay Social Security Administration (SSA ) benefits Including MediCare deduction Excluding MediCare deduction Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) Retirement / pension benefits General Assistance benefits Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits Loans that need to be repaid Cash gifts Savings account balance One-time lump-sum payments, such as rebates/credits, winnings from lotteries, refund deposits, etc. Jury duty compensation Rental income Income from employment through Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Income from work study programs Alimony Child support Interest, dividends, or royalties Commissions Legal settlements Insurance payments made directly to the insured Insurance payments made specifically for the repayment of a bill, debt, or estimate Veterans Administration (VA) benefits Earned income of a child under the age of 18 Balance of retirement, pension, or annuity accounts where funds cannot be withdrawn without a penalty. Income tax refunds Stipends from senior companion programs, such as VISTA Funds received by household for the care of a foster child Ameri-Corp Program payments for living allowances, earnings, and in-kind aid Reimbursements (for mileage, gas, lodging, meals, etc.) Other The only one-time lump sum payment counted towards income is lottery winnings. Section 1.2 Pecentage Estimates:The figures reported in Section 1.2 are historically reported and accurate at the beginning of the year. However, they may be adjusted between benefit categories during the year as the need arises. Administration, Assurance 16, and Weatherization are capped, however. 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. 1.10 Do you have an online application process Yes No 1.10a If yes, describe the type of online application (Select all boxes that apply) A PDF version of the application is available online and can be downloaded, filled out and mailed in for processing. A state-wide online application that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. One or more locally available online applications that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. Online application that is also mobile friendly Other, please describe Please include a link(s) to a statewide application, if available: 1.10b Can all program components be applied for online? Yes No If no, explain which components can and cannot be applied for online. One or more local subgrant recipients have an online application that allows a customer to complete data entry and apply electronically for processing. This is not available for the entire state. AEO is currently exploring aquiring a statewide application and data management system for LIHEAP and Weatherization. 1.11 Do you have a process for conducting and completing applications by phone Yes No 1.12 Do you or any of your subrecipients require in person appointments in order to apply Yes No If yes, please provide more information regarding why in-person appointments are required and in what circumstances they are required. There is not a statewide process for conducting and completing applications by phone. However, we provide the agencies the option of doing so if they can collect all of the needed information. AEO only requires in-person appointments when questionable information has been submitted. 1.13 How can applicants submit documentation for verification? Select all that apply: In-person Mail Email Portal application Other, please describe Subgrantees can choose which ways to accept documents that works best for their agency's clients. Policy Excerpt: LIHEAP applications shall be accepted using methods that best meet client needs. Multiple methods to submit an in-person or remote application should be employed to offer accessibility for all households. When offices are not open to the public or have very limited public access, Subgrantees must make applications available to the Arkansas public and accept applications by some alternative means. Methods must be documented in the Subgrantee’s Scope of Work and may include: • Email • Fax • In-person • Mail • Secured drop box • Telephone • Text • Web (online) Hidden for Section 1