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 State Median Income 60.00% 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. Winter crisis assistance benefits address the heating needs of deliverable fuel heated households that have exhausted their Basic Benefits and are still at imminent risk of losing heat. A household qualifying for a winter crisis Assistance benefit will receive an authorization for a fuel delivery within 48 hours or 18 hours in life-threatening situations. 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? A crisis is defined as a situation in which a household is unable to secure primary heating, resulting in a life-threatening condition during the program delivery period. A life-threatening situation specifically refers to instances where a household is without primary heating fuel or has less than one-quarter tank of fuel remaining. The difference between a crisis and a life-threatening situation is in the response time required for fuel delivery authorization. In a crisis, a household must receive authorization for fuel delivery within 48 hours of the eligibility determination. In contrast, for life threatening situations, authorization for fuel delivery will be issued within 18 hours. It is important to note that crisis assistance is only available to deliverable fuel heated households. Households that are heated by utility services are protected under a statutory moratorium that prevents shutoffs for electric and gas services from November 1 to May 1 (Conn. Gen. Stat. §16-262c). 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: All eligible deliverable fuel heated households with income from 0% FPG to 60% SMI that exhaust their Basic Benefits and are unable to secure primary heat, will be eligible to receive a winter crisis assistance benefit of $425. During the program year, all eligible households may receive up to three winter crisis assistance benefits. 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. $425 Other - Describe: If a household receives a shut-off notice or has nearly empty heating fuel tank and has already used their basic benefits, they can call to request their winter crisis benefit. This process does not require a redetermination of income eligibility, making it a bit easier for those in urgent need. 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 are taken at community action agencies and through a network of intake sites throughout 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. Crisis assistance can be applied for or requested online, by phone, by mail, or by email. If necessary, home visits can be made by staff from the community action agencies. Travel to the sites at which applications for crisis assistance are accepted? Yes No If No, explain. Crisis assistance can be applied for or requested online, by phone, by mail, or by email. If necessary, home visits can be made by staff from the community action agencies. 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 $425.00 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): 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. The utility moratorium in CT is from November 1st through May 1st for natural gas and electric accounts. Households who use a utility for their primary source of heat and have an arrearage may qualify to participate in the Matching Payment Program (MPP). The MPP will match the amount of a household's LIHEAP benefit plus payments made by the household during the moratorium, and apply this to the household's account down to a zero balance. In addition, once a household is found to be eligible for LIHEAP, the CAAs inform the utility companies and households are automatically enrolled in the Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) for further reductions in their electric bill. 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 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.