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427.

Qualified aliens Qualified aliens are defined according to Section 431 of the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 (PRWORA), commonly known as the welfare reform law; “as legal permanent residents, refugees, asylums, individuals paroled in the U.S. for a period of at least 1 year, individuals whose deportation has been withheld, individuals granted conditional entry, and certain individuals who are victims of domestic abuse”. Qualified aliens are eligible to receive assistance and services under the LIHEAP program as long as they meet other DEAP program requirements.

428.

Legal verification Sub grantees can verify citizenship or immigration status of applicants in accordance with the United States Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Interim Guidance on Verification of Citizenship, Qualified Alien Status and Eligibility under Title IV of the PRWORA) Act of 1996. Interviewers may not selectively discriminate when requesting documentation for citizenship and legal status. This information must be asked of all applicants or none of the applicants on a given day.

429.

Household Unit Considerations

429.1

Room and Boarders Room and boarders are not counted as household members and neither is their income counted toward total household income. However, the amount of the weekly, monthly, or otherwise payment the roomer or boarder pays to the head of household is counted as income. A roomer or boarder cannot apply for a DEAP benefit unless they are actually responsible for paying a heating bill.

429.2

Full-Time College Students Full-time college students who are listed as dependents of the head of household are generally counted as household members, however their income is not counted toward the total household income if they are under aged 22. Once a student reaches 22, any income they receive is counted towards the total household income as long as they are considered a member of the household, regardless of their status as a student. If the student attends school out of state, the applicant household may exclude the person as a household member. Of course if the student is excluded, any income, regardless of age, is also excluded.

Proof of the student’s full time status must be provided. A full time student must be enrolled for at least 12 credit hours or more per semester. The student must also be