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Households that are responsible for a heating or cooling cost that is separate and apart from their rent or mortgage are entitled to the HCSUA. This includes: • households that receive energy assistance under the Low Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), even if LIHEAP has covered the full heating cost; • households that receive direct or indirect energy assistance payments, other than LIHEAP, such as HUD utility reimbursements, that expect to pay some out-of-pocket heating or cooling expense during the certification period; • residents of private rental housing who are billed monthly for heating or cooling costs by their landlords based on individual usage or a flat rate; and • residents in a public or private housing unit that has a central utility meter and charges residents only for excess heating and cooling costs. A household incurring heating or cooling costs on an intermittent basis, but otherwise eligible for the HCSUA, may continue to use it between billing periods. Air conditioning costs do not include the cost of using fans. Heating or cooling costs must be verified to receive the HCSUA. The HCSUA is $305.00 effective October 1, 2013. Effective January 1, 2010 all FS recipients are eligible to receive a $1 “Heat and Eat” payment under the Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) if they are not already eligible for LIHEAP under other provisions. Receipt of LIHEAP, including the $1 “Heat and Eat” payment, makes them eligible for the HCSUA. Any active FS household is reasonably expected to receive the $1 LIHEAP payment effective January 1, 2010, which makes them eligible for the HCSUA even if the $1 payment has not yet been issued. Determine initial eligibility for households who apply for FS without reference to the Heat and Eat program. If the household is otherwise eligible for the HCSUA expense, use the HCSUA in determining eligibility. If the household is not otherwise eligible for the HCSUA, first determine if the FS household is eligible for FS without the HCSUA. If the household is not eligible, deny the application. If the household is eligible for any FS benefit, including households of 2 or more members that meet gross and net income tests but are eligible for a $0.00 benefit, the household is now receiving FS and is eligible for the Heat and Eat program. Redetermine eligibility using the HCSUA, since the household is reasonably expected to receive a LIHEAP payment. FS households who are recertifying for FS are current recipients and are therefore eligible for the HCSUA under the Heat and Eat program. Limited Utility Allowance (LUA) Households that are responsible for paying at least two non-heating or non-cooling utility costs are entitled to the LUA. Non-heating and non-cooling costs include: • electricity, • cooking gas, • water and sewage, • trash removal, and • telephone. Households must verify that they must pay at least two non-heating and non-cooling costs to receive the LUA. The LUA is $242.00 effective October 1, 2013.