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limits the use of LIHEAP funds solely to vulnerable households when benefits are provided solely to trigger or increase eligibility for the SNAP Standard Utility Allowance (SUA). As a result, non-vulnerable households, those without elderly, disabled or child under the age of 6, member, are no longer eligible to receive LIHEAP solely for the purpose of qualifying for the SNAP SUA.

Eligible SNAP households will receive a direct cash benefit in the amount of $20.01. This benefit will be issued by the Department to all eligible SNAP households who have not received a CEAP Basic Benefit or Rental Assistance Benefit. Receipt of a LIHEAP benefit qualifies the household to have their SNAP benefits recalculated using the maximum heating/cooling Standard Utility Allowance (SUA). As in prior years, using the SUA in the SNAP benefit calculation simplifies administrative processes and often results in increased SNAP benefits for the household.

XI. CRISIS ASSISTANCE BENEFIT

A. Deliverable Fuel Heated Households

The state will continue to offer up to three Crisis Assistance benefits for all eligible households during the program year. The Crisis Assistance benefit is designed to address the heating needs of deliverable fuel heated households that have exhausted their Basic Benefits and are at imminent risk of losing heat. Eligible deliverable fuel heated households that are unable to secure their primary source of heat and are eligible for energy assistance may receive a Crisis Assistance benefit of $425 per issuance.

A redetermination of income eligibility is not required to receive Crisis Assistance. Households approved for a Crisis Assistance benefit will receive an authorization for a fuel delivery within 48 hours or 18 hours in life-threatening situations.

B. Utility Heated Households

Pursuant to section 16-262c of the Connecticut General Statutes, CEAP utility heated households are protected from winter disconnection and are therefore not eligible to receive the needs-based Crisis Assistance benefit. If a utility heated household’s service has been disconnected, or disconnection is being threatened, the CAA will work directly with the utility vendor to reinstate the service or to prevent the disconnection.

Matching Payment Program The CAAs are required to assist those electric and gas utility heated households with a past due account balance with enrolling in the Matching Payment Program (MPP). Pursuant to section 16- 262c of the Connecticut General Statutes, the MPP enables income eligible households to maximize their energy benefits, reduce and/or eliminate their service arrearages and empower households to gain greater control of their energy costs. Under MPP, income eligible households enter an affordable payment arrangement with their utility vendor.

For all customers on MPP, the utility will provide a dollar-for-dollar match of both the total customer payments made and the amount of CEAP payments provided on behalf of the customer. The resulting match is applied to the customer’s past due account balance, down to a $0 balance.

Since November 2024, customers can participate in MPP for non-heating utilities as the customer meets the eligibility requirements of the program. While customers are always encouraged to apply for CEAP because the utility will match CEAP payments for anyone participating in MPP, customers are no longer required to receive CEAP funds to participate in MPP. Only utilities regulated by PURA are required to offer MPP.