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424.

Subsidized Households/Heat Included in Rent Income eligible households who reside in subsidized housing where the heat is included in the rent are ineligible to receive a DEAP heating benefit. The program is designed to protect vulnerable households and because subsidized heat-in-rent- households pay only a portion of their income for rent, they are not considered as vulnerable to high heating costs as other households. Therefore, while a household could be income eligible, there benefit for this service is zero.

425.

Special Food Stamp Benefit (SNAP) Some low income households may not be eligible for LIHEAP (DEAP) but are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Some of the reasons why a SNAP household may not be eligible for a DEAP benefit is that household may have their own cooking facilities, but not be responsible for heating costs; or a household member may receive SNAP benefits independent of the total household, however when the total household income is used, they are not eligible for a DEAP benefit.

Since it was discovered that recipients of SNAP that receive a DEAP benefit may be eligible for a higher SNAP benefit on a monthly basis, DSSC has partnered with the Division of Social Services (DSS), the agency that administers, SNAP; and the Food Bank of Delaware to encourage these households to apply for DEAP. DEAP cannot fund all of SNAP eligible households with the limited federal funding we receive, but in order to potentially increase the SNAP benefit to these households, DEAP will provide a nominal benefit of $5 to any household receiving SNAP if they complete a DEAP application.

Some SNAP households are eligible for the regular DEAP benefit and will receive a benefit based on the benefit matrix. Others will receive the minimal benefit of $5, provided funding is available and they apply during the DEAP application period.

426.

Non-Qualified Aliens Non-qualified aliens are defined as foreign born people who do not possess valid visas or other immigration documents required of qualified aliens. Non-qualified aliens are not eligible to receive a DEAP benefit…unless; at least one household member is a U.S. citizen or qualified alien. For example, if a married couple, who are non-qualified aliens, has a child born in the United States they may apply for assistance using the child’s Social Security Number to apply. The total household income is counted; however, the benefit is only based on the number of eligible household members. So when assigning a DEAP benefit, the benefit matrix amount for a one person household is used. If it’s a 6 person household and 3 of the members are ‘qualified aliens’ or U.S. citizens, again the entire household income is counted, however, the benefit is assigned based on only the 3 eligible household members. These households must have their payments to vendors processed manually. See Section 600, Vendors and Payment Procedures for details.