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SECTION 100 PROGRAM OVERVIEW
LIHEAP MANUAL JANUARY 2022 5
REGULAR ENERGY ASSISTANCE Regular Energy Assistance is provided to households who meet eligibility criteria and are not experiencing an energy related emergency or life-threatening crisis situation. CRISIS ENERGY ASSISTANCE OHS designates funds for Energy Crisis Intervention for each program year. States and local agencies providing LIHEAP are required to have Crisis Intervention funds available until March 15th for Heating assistance. Agencies cannot exhaust Crisis funds prior to March 15th. It is required that 10% of funding allocated for Crisis, fund source (FS 06), must be available until March 15th for the Heating Assistance component. Crisis assistance is provided to households who meet eligibility criteria and are in arrearage with their energy provider.
CRISIS Energy Assistance provides for three types of interventions: 1. Crisis Assistance (Non-Life-Threatening) - A household whose energy service has been disconnected or can reasonably anticipate imminent disconnection of energy service within 7 days of the application date due to nonpayment of the energy bill. Assistance to reconnect the service or prevent disconnection of the service is provided within 48 hours of the application being made. 2. Life-Threatening Crisis Assistance – A household whose energy service have been disconnected or can reasonably anticipate imminent disconnection of energy service due to nonpayment and the disconnection creates a life- threatening situation for a household member. Assistance to reconnect service or prevent disconnection of the service is provided within 18 hours of application being made. 3. Severe weather-related conditions and the crisis are declared by the Governor or designee, or by Federal Emergency Management Authority, Homeland Security or Health and Human Services. 101.4 BENEFIT AMOUNT
The amount of available federal funding determines the amount of the benefit. The State office reviews and recommends the benefit level each year based on projected federal funding. Financial assistance is provided in the form of a vendor check written at the local level. Client benefits will be offered at a minimum of $350 and maximum of $500 for eligible households, based on 60% of the State Median Income (SMI). Eligible households with the vulnerable population of a senior(s) 60 years of age and older residing in the home will receive the maximum benefit amount of $500. Households may receive a maximum of one heating benefit and one cooling benefit within the same program year.