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302.1 Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP)

The Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP) provides assistance to eligible households in a crisis situation. This supplemental benefit can be in addition to the regular fuel assistance benefit. ECIP operates from October 1st to April 30th if funds are available (may vary).

ECIP is defined as:

Assistance in the energy crisis situation. Eligible residents of State of Delaware with gross household income less than or equal to 200% of poverty guideline who are responsible for paying an energy bill are considered to be experiencing an energy crisis whenever: A. Contractor deems the weather conditions of the subsequent 72 hours to pose a serious threat to the health or safety of one or more members of the eligible household; AND B. Financial assessment demonstrates the household to be without sufficient resources for alleviating the crisis; AND C. Household has no prospect for receiving resources within forty-eight (48) hours that could alleviate the crisis; AND D. Household utility services for heating have been disconnected; OR E. Household is under the payment arrangement with utility services to avoid disconnection; OR F. Household has received a notice from the utility services for disconnection within five (5) days; OR G. State declares the upsurge in the price of the home energy fuel type to be crisis; OR H. Household is determined to be in a life-threatening situation, which can directly or indirectly lead to death of the member of the eligible household unless some form of assistance has been provided no later than eighteen (18) hours after the household has applied for ECIP benefit; OR I. Division has authorized crisis payment.

The crisis benefit is determined each year and is noted in the current LIHEAP State Plan for Delaware.