4 CRISIS ASSISTANCE

Eligibility - 2604(c), 2605(c)(1)(A) 4.1 Designate the income eligibility threshold used for the crisis component Add Household size Eligibility Guideline Eligibility Threshold 1 1 State Median Income 60.00% 2 2 State Median Income 60.00% 3 3 State Median Income 60.00% 4 4 State Median Income 60.00% 5 5 State Median Income 60.00% 6 6 State Median Income 60.00% 7 7 State Median Income 60.00% 8 8 State Median Income 60.00% 9 9 State Median Income 60.00% 10 10 State Median Income 60.00% 11 11 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 12 12 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 13 13 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 14 14 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 15 15 HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 4.2 Provide your LIHEAP program's definition for determining a crisis. If you administer multiple crisis assistance programs (winter, summer, and/or year-round), Include all program definitions. “Crisis” means utility power at the household’s current residence has been or will be terminated within seven days from the date of application due to nonpayment of bill. Applications for crisis assistance are accepted year-round and households are served under the Energy Crisis Intervention (ECI) component. Service to a household in crisis must be restored within 48 hours of ECI approval, or within 18 hours when the household is in a life-threatening crisis leading to the endangerment of life. A life-threatening situation is where an eligible household contains at least one household member with an illness or medical condition that poses an immediate risk due to the loss of the energy source or has a medical condition requiring the use of an energy source to operate a medical device or store medication. Examples include but are not limited to life support, CPAP, nebulizer, and refrigerated medicines. 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? A life-threatening situation is where an eligible household contains at least one household member with an illness or medical condition that poses an immediate risk due to the loss of the energy source or has a medical condition requiring the use of an energy source to operate a medical device or store medication. Examples include but are not limited to life support, CPAP, nebulizer, and refrigerated medicines. Crisis Requirement, 2604(c) 4.4 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households? 48Hours 4.5 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households in life-threatening situations? 18Hours Crisis Eligibility, 2605(c)(1)(A) Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-Round Crisis 4.6 Do you have additional eligibility requirements for Crisis Assistance? 4.7 Check the appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided 0 Do you require an Assets test? Do you give priority in eligibility to: Older Adults (60 years or older)? Individuals with a disability? Young Children? Households with high energy burdens? Other (Specify): In Order to receive crisis assistance: Must the household have received a shut-off notice or have a near empty tank? Must the household have been shut off or have an empty tank? Must the household have exhausted their regular heating benefit? Must renters with heating costs included in their rent have received an eviction notice? Must heating/cooling be medically necessary? Must the household have non-working heating or cooling equipment? Other (Specify): Do you have additional/differing eligibility policies for: Renters? Renters living in subsidized housing? Renters with utilities included in the rent? Explanations of policies for each "yes" checked above: The household shall meet all the following conditions for ECI: 1. The household shall submit an application form via in-person; drop-off; mail-in; or when the agency allows, via electronic submission; 2. If the household submits a complete application with all required documents and verification, the application can be reviewed and processed via a desk review by an intake worker; 3. The household shall be interviewed when the application is incomplete or required verification is not submitted; 1. The interview can be telephonic to expedite processing time; • 2. Missing documents and verification shall be requested via a Pending Notice stating the required documents and due date; • 3. Failure to submit required items, conduct the interview, and/or provide pended items shall result in denial of application. • 4. The household shall submit a termination notice from the utility company for their residence or verification they are past-due on their rent when rent includes utilities; 5. If service was terminated, submit the final termination bill; 6. The household shall submit verification that they currently reside at the address listed on the termination notice; 7. The household shall submit a current electric bill with usage data; 8. The H-HEAP applicant/household must be paying the utility bill, have their rent include electric/gas, or have electric/gas costs prorated amongst units on a shared meter and owe a share. If the utility bill is paid by a third party not in the household, the household shall not be eligible; 9. Utility power would be restored in the current residence of the eligible household if payment under this section were to be issued; 10. The provider agency shall make arrangements with the utility company to restore service to the household not later than forty-eight hours after the household is determined eligible for ECI, and no later than eighteen hours when the household is in a life-threatening situation. The provider agency shall be responsible to determine whether the situation is life-threatening and notify the utility company of the situation; 11. Payment shall be based upon the amount owed on the final disconnect notice to prevent termination or to restore power, or the household’s prorated share of the utility bill if rent includes utilities or the bill is prorated amongst units. The payment is not to exceed the maximum standard as by the State Plan. Payments may include the past due amount, any current outstanding charges, deposits, surcharges, service charges or rental fees, or not to exceed the maximum annual ECI H-HEAP payment amount. Payment amount is subject to change according to increases or reduction of federal appropriations; 12. The household shall be required to meet with a utility company representative to review the account status and work out a payment schedule when the amount required to restore or prevent termination of utility power exceeds the maximum annual ECI H-HEAP payment amount. Once completed, the utility company representative will complete the H-HEAP form authorizing ECI payment; 13. Applicant and adult household members have not been sanctioned for one federal fiscal year for misrepresenting their household’s circumstances. Household’s circumstances include but are not limited to household composition and/or income; 14. Households shall not qualify for benefits under this section when they are applicants for or have been determined eligible for EC. The provider agency may assist the household in determining this type of assistance being requested. Determination of Benefits 4.8 How do you handle crisis situations? Separate component Benefit Fast Track, no separate amount of crisis funds is issued. Rather benefits are issued to crisis customers within crisis response time frames. Other - Describe: Determine crisis situations by the amount needed to resolve the crisis up to a maximum dollar amount. 4.9 If you have a separate component, how do you determine crisis assistance benefits? Amount to resolve the crisis. $700 Other - Describe: Payments are based upon the past due amount and any current outstanding charge, not to exceed the maximum of $700*. This payment does not have any exclusions. If the amount of bill exceeds the maximum payment allowable, the applicant must meet with utility company to work out a payment plan. The utility company must sign an agreement befor e crisis assistance is approved. *This payment is subject to change according to increases or reductions of federal appropriations. Payments shall be issued to the utility company. Crisis Requirements, 2604(c) 4.10 Do you accept applications for energy crisis assistance at sites that are geographically accessible to all households in the area to be served? Yes No Explain. All CAA have offices in various geographic areas to service the households. If needed, the CAA will provide service to the household via a home visit or communicate via telephonic or electronic means. 4.11 Do you provide individuals who are individuals with a disability the means to: Submit applications for crisis benefits without leaving their homes? Yes No If No, explain. Travel to the sites at which applications for crisis assistance are accepted? Yes No If No, explain. Staffing and resources of the CAA are limited. Not all can provide transportation for applicants. If you answered "No" to both options in question 4.11, please explain alternative means of intake to those who are homebound or physically disabled? CAAs will do outreach, when feasible. Applicant are able to mail or email applications and complete interview over the phone. Benefit Levels, 2605(c)(1)(B) 4.12 Indicate the maximum benefit for each type of crisis assistance offered. Winter Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit Summer Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit Year-round Crisis $700.00 maximum benefit 4.13 Do you provide in-kind (e.g. blankets, space heaters, fans) and/or other forms of benefits? Yes No If yes, Describe 4.14 Do you provide for equipment repair or replacement using crisis funds? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 4.14, you must complete question 4.15. 4.15 Check appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided. Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-round Crisis Heating system repair Heating system replacement Cooling system repair Cooling system replacement Wood stove purchase Pellet stove purchase Solar panel(s) Utility poles / gas line hook-ups Other (Specify): 4.16 Do any of the utility vendors you work with enforce a moratorium on shut offs? Yes No If you responded "Yes" to question 4.16, you must respond to question 4.17. 4.17 Describe the terms of the moratorium and any special dispensation received by LIHEAP clients during or after the moratorium period. 4.18 If you experience a natural disaster, do you intend to utilize LIHEAP crisis funds to address disaster related crisis situations? Yes No If yes, describe An additional H-HEAP payment may be provided to eligible households who are in need because of a natural disaster. 1. Payment must be tied in some way to the household’s energy assistance need or emergency. 2. Applicant’s household income must be below annual income limits, or meet the categorical eligibility requirements. 3. Activities that may be allowable uses of H-HEAP funds to deal with crisis situations: 1. Costs to temporarily shelter or house individuals in hotels, apartments or to other living situation in which homes have been destroyed or damaged, i.e., placing people in settings to preserve health and safety and to move them away from the crisis area. 2. Costs for transportation (such as cars, shuttles, buses) to move individuals away from the crisis area to shelters, when health and safety is endangered by loss of access to heating or cooling. 3. Utility reconnection costs. 4. Repair or replacement costs for furnaces and air conditioners. 5. Insulation repair. 6. Coats and blankets, as tangible benefits to keep individuals warm. 7. Crisis payments for utilities and utility deposits. 8. Purchase of fans, air conditioners and generators. 5. Unallowable uses of H-HEAP funds that are not home energy related: 1. Payments for water/sewage 2. Mortgage or rent assistance unless it a necessary cost to shelter individuals from the crisis situation for a TEMPORARY period of time. 3. Utility assistance or households housing displaced victims UNLESS the household is already low income and qualified for H-HEAP assistance. 4. Ramps and wheelchairs. 5. School uniforms and school supplies. 6. Clothing (except coats) 7. Mattresses, cots, air beds and pillows. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.