3 COOLING ASSISTANCE

Eligibility, 2605(c)(1)(A), 2605 (b)(2) - Assurance 2 3.1 Designate The income eligibility threshold used for the Cooling component: Add Household size Eligibility Guideline Eligibility Threshold 1 All Household Sizes State Median Income 60.00% 3.2 Do you have additional eligibility requirements for Cooling assistance? Yes No 3.3 Check the appropriate boxes below and describe the policies for each. Do you require an Assets test? Yes No If yes, describe: Do you have additional/differing eligibility policies for: Renters? Yes No If yes, describe: Renters Living in subsidized housing? Yes No If yes, describe: Renters with utilities included in the rent? Yes No If yes, describe: Do you give priority in eligibility to: Older Adults (60 years or older)? Yes No If yes, describe: Individuals with a disability? Yes No If yes, describe: Young children? Yes No If yes, describe: Households with high energy burdens? Yes No If yes, describe: Other? Yes No If yes, describe: Explanations of policies for each "yes" checked above: The Summer Cooling Assistance Program (SCAP) has two components: Electricity and Air Conditioning (A/C). SCAP provides cooling assistance to eligible low-income households to reduce their energy burden by subsidizing the cost of their summer home energy bills and/or paying for the purchase, delivery and installation of room-sized air conditioners (A/C). The purpose of SCAP is to assist low-income households that are especially vulnerable to high temperatures, heat, and humidity. Therefore, t he SCAP is targeted to households with members sixty or older, disabled, children five and under, and members that suffer from chronic breathing conditions, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases of chronic bronchitis or emphysema. Ho wever, there can be exceptions to the targeted households depending on the availability of funding. In addition, since FFY 2016, the SCAP A/C requires that the household has not received an air conditioner under SCAP A/C during the last ten (10) years. If the household is requesting an A/C during this period, they must provide bona fide justification for requesting another air conditioner. (For example, to receive a replacement for a stolen A/C, the applicant has to submit the police report). 3.4 Describe how you prioritize the provision of cooling assistance to vulnerable populations, e.g., benefit amounts, early application periods, etc. The cooling assistance is only provided to the vulnerable population, unless there is sufficient funding to extend the eligibility for the assistance to other portions of the population. The SCAP Electric benefits are flat benefits and everyone who is eligible, receives the same amount. If SCAP Electric assistance is extended to entire eligible population, everyone who has applied for LIHEAP during the program year, will receive the same SCAP Electric benefit. Determination of Benefits 2605(b)(5) - Assurance 5, 2605(c)(1)(B) 3.5 Check the variables you use to determine your benefit levels. (Check all that apply): Income Family (household) size Home energy cost or need: Fuel type Climate/region Individual bill Dwelling type Energy burden (% of income spent on home energy) Energy need Other - Describe: Cooling Benefit Matrix is not provided because the Cooling Electric Benefit amount depends on the funds available during the summer and it is distributed only to the LIHEAP eligible households. Cooling Electric Benefit is calculated equally between all the eligible households. Hence, all the eligible households usually receive the same amount for the benefit. Air Conditioners are provided only to the LIHEAP eligible households that include vulnerable population members. The households are considered categorically eligible for SCAP AC if they have received LIHEAP assistance during the same program year than they are requesting SCAP AC benefit, as long as the additional requirements of SCAP AC eligibility have been fulfilled. Hence, the same matrix is relevant for heating and cooling. Benefit Levels, 2605(b)(5) - Assurance 5, 2605(c)(1)(B) 3.6 Describe estimated benefit levels for the fiscal year for which this plan applies. Please note: the maximum and minimum benefits must be shown in the payment matrix. Minimum Benefit $1 Maximum Benefit $1,000 3.7 Do you provide in-kind (e.g., fans, air conditioners) and/or other forms of benefits? Yes No If yes, describe. Yes, we provide fans if they are purchased by the contractor or community-action agency. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.