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DEO LIHEAP Policies and Procedures Manual Page 69

EXHIBIT 6 Weather Related / Supply Shortage funds policies, usage, and per-household benefit limit

1. Benefit Limits: A maximum of $2,000 in emergency energy related benefits may be awarded per applicant household for expenses incurred as a result of a declared disaster event within the date range as outlined in the Information Memorandum that would be provided to subrecipient(s) that cover the affected area. a. A client may not be issued a disaster related benefit solely to supplement the regular home energy and crisis benefits. 2. Subrecipient Responsibilities: a. Assess the unmet needs of households within your affected service area. b. Target the top identified needs for which your funds will be used. c. Determine that all households receiving services are program eligible. d. Keep track of services provided and amount per service. e. Accurately document the client files with proof that the assistance is both energy and storm event related. f. Pay vendors and contractors directly. Clients may not be paid or reimbursed directly, except as provided for in the Subgrant Agreement. g. Establish a written policy for determining the conditions under which an applicant is eligible based on need for the purchase and/or repair of heating/cooling equipment. Preference should be given to households containing elderly, young children, and persons with disabilities. The written policy must be submitted to DEO for approval for funds to be released. h. Ensure that all weather-related expenditures must be incurred between the beginning day of the declared disaster event the last day of the Weather Related / Supply Shortage fund usage timeframe. i. Funding usage timeframe will be outlined in the Information Memorandum provided to the subrecipient(s) in the event of a declared disaster. i. Maintain all weather-related client documentation for special review during next on-site monitoring. j. Continue to serve clients with regular Home Energy and Crisis benefits. The agency may not decrease the Home Energy line item to below 25% of the total allocation.

3. Client Eligibility: Because of the nature of the declared disaster, many affected low-income individuals and families will not have in their possession customary documentation of their economic status to substantiate eligibility for LIHEAP supported assistance. Also, due to the devastation these events may have caused, many individuals or families that may not have been eligible for assistance prior to the events, may be eligible now. In either case, Subrecipients are encouraged to use the following possible approaches: a. “Presumptive eligibility” determinations are based on all residents affected by the declared disaster event; b. Have a total household income at or below the 60 percent State Median Income (SMI) guidelines for households of 1-to-7 individuals and/or 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guideline (FPG) income guidelines for households of 8-or-more individuals; c. Provide current proof of income;