Page 25

DEO LIHEAP Policies and Procedures Manual Page 25

4 Use the DEO Benefits Payment Matrix to determine the amount of the benefit the household will receive. D. LIHEAP may pay the actual home energy bills owed by eligible households and/or other necessary energy expenses. E. The amount of the benefit payment must be the minimum amount necessary to resolve the crisis (with the exception of pre-paid energy accounts). The subrecipient must determine the correct amount of each Crisis Assistance benefit based on the minimum needed to resolve the crisis, but not more than the maximum set by DEO. The maximum crisis benefit is $5000.00 per applicant per program year. F. Subrecipients may make several crisis-benefit payments for a Household to resolve a single crisis. For example, one benefit for blankets and another for LP gas is acceptable if the applicant is determined eligible for both at the same time and the total benefit does not exceed the maximum. The maximum benefit per program year for crisis assistance is $5000. This includes any approved purchases or repairs. G. For Crisis Assistance only, the subrecipient must coordinate with the Emergency Home Energy Assistance for the Elderly Program (EHEAP) and compare records for households with elderly members to avoid duplicate Crisis Assistance payments during the same eligibility period. H. Based on local need for LIHEAP services and other non-LIHEAP energy assistance resources in its service area, a subrecipient may limit Crisis Assistance benefits, but must provide for at least one Crisis Assistance benefit per year. I. Crisis Assistance Time Frames In accordance with section 2604(c) of the LIHEAP statute, if the application involves a household in a life-threatening energy crisis related situation, the subrecipient will: 1 Provide some form of assistance that will resolve the energy crisis No later than forty-eight (48) hours after a household applies for energy crisis benefits, and 2 Provide some form of assistance that will resolve the energy crisis if such household is eligible to receive such benefits in a life- threatening situation no later than eighteen (18) hours after a household applies for crisis benefits, J. When an applicant applies for a Crisis Assistance Benefit (life threatening or non- life threatening), the subrecipient must take one or more Eligible Actions that will resolve the emergency within eighteen (18) hours of Application Receipt for a