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DEO LIHEAP Policies and Procedures Manual Page 28

LIHEAP benefits at that time. This will allow the applicant to apply for a Crisis Benefit at a later date if needed. B. If the applicant has a verifiable Home Energy Crisis, and the Home Energy Benefit is not enough to resolve the crisis, but a Crisis Benefit is sufficient, then only crisis may be used. This will allow the applicant to receive a Home Energy Benefit at a later date. If the applicant has a verifiable Home Energy Crisis, and only one benefit (either Home Energy or Crisis) will not resolve the crisis, then a Home Energy Benefit and a Crisis Benefit may be combined. There would be one payment to the vendor. These would still count as two separate benefits (one Home Energy and one Crisis), and the applicant would not be eligible for any additional LIHEAP benefits at this time. C. If possible, use just one method of solving the problem so that applicants may have another benefit available at a later date if needed. This also helps the subrecipient aid more households. D. Each subrecipient should have a policy on determining how benefits will be applied so that the policy is applied equally to all applicants. .05 Allowable Categories for Financial Assistance LIHEAP funding may be utilized to provide the following services: A. Utility payments for heating/cooling bill assistance for electric, gas, propane, wood, coal, or refillable fuels B. Temporary emergency shelter (if needed due to energy related crisis) C. Payment to landlords (when utility costs are included in rent) D. Repairs or replacements to heating/cooling units (as long as the amount is within the benefit limits and work is done by a licensed contractor; E. Deposits to connect or restore energy F. Late fees, disconnect and reconnect fees G. Charges from a previous account held by the applicant that is now closed. In some cases, charges for the previously closed account may appear on a new service account bill for the client. Those charges can be paid through LIHEAP funds. Example: The utility vendor may require a payment on the past due amount of a closed account before opening a new account for the client, such requirement can be paid through LIHEAP funds. H. Blankets and fans I. Taxes and fees associated with the Client Utility Bill towards the energy portion. In some cases, where the utility vendor combines all the other fees and taxes