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DEO LIHEAP Policies and Procedures Manual Page 9

3. It may be used to pre-pay home energy usage up to the amount the client is eligible to receive. 4. Must follow the current benefit payment matrix provided by DEO. R. Home Energy Crisis – A situation where a household does not have or is in immediate danger of losing home energy for heating or cooling per 42 U.S.C. 8622(6), or there exists an immediate threat to life or health because of any of the following: 1. The applicant’s home cooling or heating energy source has been cut off; 2. The applicant has been notified that the energy source for cooling or heating is going to be cut off; 3. The applicant has received a notice indicating the energy source is delinquent or past due; 4. The applicant is unable to get delivery of fuel for heating, is out of fuel for heating, or is in danger of being out of fuel for heating; 5. The applicant has a bill for which the due date has lapsed; or 6. The applicant has other problems with lack of cooling or heating in the home, such as needing to pay a deposit, needing a repair or purchase of heating or cooling equipment, or needing interim emergency measures to avoid further crisis. S. Homebound - An individual does not have to be bedridden to be considered confined to their home. However, the condition of these individuals should be such that there exists a normal inability to leave home and, consequently, leaving the home would require a considerable and taxing effort. Any absence of the individual from the home attributable to the need to receive health care treatment, including regular absences for therapeutic, psychosocial or medical treatment in an adult day-care program that is licensed or certified by the State should not disqualify an individual from being considered confined to their home. Per the LIHEAP Statute, subrecipients are to provide low-income individuals who are infirm the means to submit applications for energy crisis benefits without leaving their residences, or to travel to the sites at which such applications are accepted by such entity. T. Household – Any individual (or group of individuals living together as one economic unit) whose residential energy is customarily purchased in common, or who make undesignated payments for energy in the form of rent. A standard household unit will consist of every household member who must be included in the eligibility determination for assistance. U. Local Service Area –The geographic area (county or counties) served by a subrecipient. Per the LIHEAP Statute, subrecipients are required to accept applications for energy benefits at sites that are geographically accessible to all households in the area to be served by the subrecipient.