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 1 State Median Income 60.00% 2 2 State Median Income 60.00% 3 3 State Median Income 60.00% 4 4 State Median Income 60.00% 5 5 State Median Income 60.00% 6 6 State Median Income 60.00% 7 7 State Median Income 60.00% 8 8 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 9 9 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 10 10 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 11 11 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 12 12 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 13 13 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 14 14 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 15 15 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 an energy-related crisis on the date of the Crisis Assistance application and meet both general eligibility and crisis definition requirements. A household is considered in crisis when the applicant: 1. Has a health-related LIFE-THREATENING SITUATION where a clear and present danger to life exists if power or utility is disconnected. 2. Has a current bill due within seven (7) days of the date of the application. 3. Has a past due amount or arrearage on the utility bill. 4. Has been disconnected from service or received a disconnect notice from the vendor that provides the main source of heat or electricity. 4.1. During the Summer Program, only electric benefits. 4.2. The Subgrantee must verify and document the disconnect status. 5. Has twenty percent (20%) or less of propane or fuel tank capacity and the supplier has refused delivery without payment. 6. Is enrolled in a delayed payment arrangement (DPA). 6.1. If the eligible household has a past-due amount in the DPA that would result in a shutoff or disconnection if the customer defaulted, the Subgrantee may authorize a Crisis benefit. 6.2. The full amount of crisis benefits available may be applied to the amount covered by the DPA, even if the balance of the DPA is more than the available Crisis benefit, unless service will be disconnected even with the LIHEAP assistance. 7. Has a pre-paid electric service that has or will soon exhaust. 7.1. The applicant may be eligible if the household is disconnected, has an outstanding balance/arrearage on the account, has received an alert of a low balance, or has been determined by the Subgrantee to have a low balance. 8. Is using a temporary heating or cooling source due to the supplier’s refusal to deliver. 9. Received an eviction notice due to non-payment of the household’s energy source. 10. Has an inoperable primary heating system, or 11. Has three (3) weeks or less of wood supply remaining or seven (7) days or less of bottled gas/propane. 11.1. Wood burned in a fireplace is not considered a primary energy source. Crisis benefits must be paid directly to the energy supplier except as outlined in Arkansas LIHEAP policy Section 7.2 Household Payments. The Subgrantee should submit an emergency referral to weatherization for applicants without a heating source or whose primary heating source is inoperable. Applicants who use SOLAR POWER or another RENEWABLE ENERGY source are not eligible for Crisis benefits. Life-threatening situation is defined: A situation that causes a person’s health to become susceptible to harm if the household’s home heating or electricity services are discontinued or not restored. 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? A life-threatening crisis exists when interruption of a household’s heating or cooling energy services threatens the health or well-being of at least one household member. To qualify for a life-threatening crisis, the following stipulations are required: a) The household must meet at least one of the conditions defined as crisis in AEO LIHEAP policy. b) The crisis must be imminent, occurring within the past or next eighteen (18) hours, c) The household must meet one of the following conditions: • Extreme Weather Conditions – As defined by the ARKANSAS PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION (APSC), General Services Rule 6.15 and Rule 6.18, extreme weather is when the National Weather Service forecasts that a temperature of 32 degrees Fahrenheit or lower (cold weather) or 95 degrees Fahrenheit or higher (hot weather) will occur at any time during the following 24-hour period. For gas utilities, hot weather protection shall be limited to the elderly or INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES with gas-powered air conditioning units only. Full text of the APSC Rule may be found online at https://apps.apsc.arkansas.gov/rules/general_service_rules_2016.pdf. A summary of the rules may be found online at https://apsc.arkansas.gov/consumer-services/suspension-of-service/. • Medical Conditions – The applicant indicates by any method that one or more household members have a health or medical condition that makes them susceptible to harm if the household’s crisis cannot be resolved. During extreme weather (extreme heat or cold), a household facing any of the crises listed in section 2.2 is considered life-threatening. 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): 5.10.1 GRANTING EXCEPTIONS During LIHEAP pre-and post-seasons, AEO may consider application intake policy exception requests from subgrantees on a case-by-case basis. These off-season exceptions will only be considered under the following circumstances: 1. The home to be weatherized is experiencing an energy shut-off; 2. A household is experiencing an energy shut-off and a member has a documented medical need for energy; or 3. A household has a crisis need for assistance during LIHEAP opening, but benefits are not available for the type of energy needed (i.e., gas in the summer). Each exception request must include: An indication of support from the Subgrantee (i.e., a statement from the Subgrantee in their request) The policy number for which the exception is requested A description of the crisis nature of the situation Any additional justification supporting the request A summary of other resources that have been pursued, including their status or outcomes Documentation or information provided by the verifying community partner Confirmation that LIHEAP funding is available to support the request Verification that the requested action complies with LIHEAP requirements (e.g., the client has not exhausted benefits from the most recent LIHEAP season) All requests must be verified by an external (community) partner. Requests submitted directly by a client to the subgrantee without external verification will not be considered. 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: 4.6 See Crisis Definition in 4.2. 4.7 Priority Eligibility: Application intake for PRIORITY ENROLLMENT APPLICANTS who are seeking a Regular, Crisis, or both benefits will begin accepting applications no more than thirty (30) calendar days before other demographics unless otherwise authorized. Priority Enrollment applicants are applicants who are disabled, elderly (sixty or older), or households with children under six (6) years old. Once the standard LIHEAP season opens to the general public, applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis with an emphasis on applicants who have been disconnected, are in threat of disconnection, or are facing a life-threatening situation. 4.7 To receive Crisis Assistance: See Crisis Definition in 4.2. 4.7 Additional Eligibility Requirements: If a household in subsidized housing has utilities included in their rent and does not receive a utility bill, that household is not eligible for LIHEAP assistance, unless the household can demonstrate an energy burden. To be eligible for a LIHEAP benefit, a household in subsidized housing with utilities included in rent can demonstrate an energy burden by submitting a lease agreement or statement from the landlord reflecting utilities are included in the rent and also providing proof that the household is responsible for a utility surcharge or other extra cost for energy that exceeds the amount covered in the household’s rent. Unsubsidized households are those households that do not receive assistance as indicated above. Unsubsidized households with utilities included in their rent may be eligible for LIHEAP assistance if they meet other criteria. A member of the household must submit a lease agreement or statement from the landlord reflecting that utilities are included in the rent. A household can also demonstrate an energy burden by showing the household is responsible for a utility bill that exceeds the amount covered in the household’s rent. 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: If the regular benefit is large enough to cover the crisis, an applicant may use it and then later submit different application for crisis if necessary. 4.9 If you have a separate component, how do you determine crisis assistance benefits? Amount to resolve the crisis. $600 Other - Describe: Community based organizations must evaluate the customer’s need and determine whether to use regular and crisis benefits together or separately. If either the regular or crisis benefit is enough to bring the account current, the CBO may choose the best benefit for the household or however the customer chooses. If the regular benefit is not sufficient, the CBO can use the Crisis benefit up to the allowable amount of $600 to alleviate the crisis. However, if the $600 is not enough to aleviate the crisis, it might be necessary for the applicant or CBO to find another resource to help supplement the benefit so that the account is either restored disconnection prevented. 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. Applications for energy assistance are taken by fifteen (15) Community Based Organizations throughout the state. With a few exceptions, the CBOs have outreach offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas. 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. Transportation is not universally provided. However, Arkansas LIHEAP policy accommodates individuals with disabilities, as follows: Subgrantees must not require that an application be made only in person. LIHEAP applications are accepted using methods that best meet client needs. Multiple methods to submit an application should be employed to offer accessibility for all households. Methods must be documented in the Subgrantee's Scope of Work and may include: 1) Email 2) Fax 3) Postal mail 4) Secured drop box 5) Telephone 6) Text 7) Online Subgrantees may consider non-traditional office hours during the LIHEAP season to accommodate applicants who have obstacles to applying. Extended office hours, using adjusted work schedules for Subgrantee staff, may be considered to maximize access to services. Travel to the sites at which applications for crisis assistance are accepted? Yes No If No, explain. Transportation is not universally provided, some of the CBOs offer a "pop-up" option where the agency's staff will post a schedule of when they are in a centralized location within communities to accept walk-in applications. Arkansas LIHEAP policy accomodates by allowing the following: 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) Subgrantees may consider non-traditional office hours during the LIHEAP season to accommodate applicants who have obstacles to applying. Extended office hours, using adjusted work schedules for the Subgrantee staff, may be considered to maximize access to services. 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? Transportation is not universally provided. However, Arkansas LIHEAP policy accommodates individuals with disabilities, as follows: Subgrantees must not require that an application be made only in person. LIHEAP applications are accepted using methods that best meet client needs. Multiple methods to submit an application should be employed to offer accessibility for all households. Methods must be documented in the Subgrantee's Scope of Work and may include: 1) Email 2) Fax 3) Postal mail 4) Secured drop box 5) Telephone 6) Text 7) Online Subgrantees may consider non-traditional office hours during the LIHEAP season to accommodate applicants who have obstacles to applying. Extended office hours, using adjusted work schedules for Subgrantee staff, may be considered to maximize access to services. Benefit Levels, 2605(c)(1)(B) 4.12 Indicate the maximum benefit for each type of crisis assistance offered. Winter Crisis $600.00 maximum benefit Summer Crisis $600.00 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 The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) provides emergency weatherization services for households lacking heat or air conditioning. To provide these emergency services, WAP is authorized to bypass waiting lists and priority points. If a household has previously been weatherized and is not eligible for re-weatherization, WAP is authorized to use LIHEAP funds to address HVAC only. Weatherization agencies can loan window air conditioners until they can make permanent repair or installation of an HVAC unit. 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): Propane tank rental, line repairs, and other required charges. Propane tank rental, line repairs, and other required charges,Cooling & Heating system repair or replacement offered through Weatherization, which can use LIHEAP funds. The Disaster Relief Program is a crisis program. If it is necessary to provide replacement or repair of certain equipment during operation, crisis funding can be used. 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. Energy suppliers of natural gas and electricity who are investor-owned utilities are regulated by the Arkansas Public Service Commission, which may implement a moratorium in extreme low temperatures or extreme high temperatures during a declared emergency. 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 Arkansas LIHEAP does have a disaster relief section in the policy that outlines how benefits can be used contingent upon AEO's approval and availability of funding. 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.