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SECTION 1300

BENEFITS PAYMENTS LIHEAP MANUAL JANUARY 2022 71

1300.3 STANDARD OF PROMPTNESS (SOP) (Cont’d)

If the application type is Crisis (Life Threatening), the application must be accepted, processed and the vendor notified within 18 hours of the application date and time. Payment must be made within 10 calendar days of the application being made. If the application type is Crisis (Non-Life Threatening), the application must be accepted, processed and the vendor notified within 48 hours of the application date. Payment must be made within 10 calendar days of the application being made. 1300.4 LOST, STOLEN AND/OR DESTROYED CHECKS

If it is determined that the check has been paid, the local CAA director or designee of the office that issued the check AND the payee must inspect the endorsement on the check. The payee must sign an affidavit stipulating that the payee of the check neither endorsed nor received the proceeds of the check and establish forgery of the endorsement. • The CAA will use the affidavit to obtain recovery through the bank. • Upon receiving the receipt of credit from the bank, the CAA will initiate processes to VOID/REISSUE the check. If it is determined that the check has not been paid: • The local CAA must determine if the applicant's address on the check is accurate. • A Stop Payment must be issued after a period of 10 days from the Check Issue Date. 1300.5 RETURNED CHECKS

If the payee (individual applicant) has moved and still maintains an active account with the original vendor: • Re-mail the original check to the current, correct address.

If the payee (individual applicant) has moved and cannot be located and no credit was extended by the vendor based on the LIHEAP application: • The check must be canceled, and the CAA must begin processes to VOID the application/benefit in the EAP system.

If the individual applicant is deceased and is the only household member, and no credit was extended by the vendor based on the LIHEAP application: • The check must be canceled, and the CAA must begin the process to VOID the application/benefit in the EAP system.

If the individual applicant is deceased but the household is still occupied by member(s) of the original application household: • The ownership of the check should be transferred to the name of another household member. • Document the reasons for the disposition in the case file.