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Iowa LIHEAP Policy and Procedures Manual 5.00 Program Eligibility Requirements

Effective 09/01/2023

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household is eligible for LIHEAP and the income of all household members must be counted.) ● Community-based residential facilities (e.g., skilled nursing, assisted living, nursing homes, addiction treatment center) o Residents of community-based residential facilities may be eligible for assistance if they return to their home and apply during the program application period. o Independent living facilities are ineligible for LIHEAP unless the customer has an energy burden. ● Publicly or privately-operated community residence o Ineligible unless the LIHEAP customer is paying the vendor directly for their primary heating source or is responsible for paying the bill, which can fluctuate ● Government or institutional facility (e.g., jail, hospital, care institution) ● Abandoned building or space ● Emergency shelter ● Any structure not designed or intended for primary residency (such as standard vehicles, sheds, tents, etc.) ● Residents/roomers of Single Room Only (SRO) facilities o A roomer is a person who has proof of a permanent address (the same address as the other residents) and occupies a single room within the rooming house. o The resident is NOT considered a roomer when: ▪ The resident shares in providing or being provided for, the necessities of life with other residents of the structure. In this case, the resident is part of a household with other members and eligibility must be assessed for the whole group as an economic unit. ▪ The resident shares any common spaces, including but not limited to bathrooms, kitchens, and living rooms. In this case, the resident is part of a household with other members and eligibility must be assessed for the whole group as an economic unit. ▪ All three of the following conditions are met. In this case, the resident is in a separate household. o Living space must be separately metered. o Living space must have a separate exterior entrance. o Living space must have its own kitchen and own bath facilities and must be verified by the CAA (phone call or other supporting documentation) or property must be registered/listed as a multi-family dwelling.

Contact the state LIHEAP office with housing situations not falling within the above guidelines.

5.50 Energy Burden To be eligible for energy assistance, the household must have an energy burden on the date of application. In other words, the household must be vulnerable to increases in energy costs. The Energy Burden Table in the Appendix D provides examples of situations and determinations of energy burden.

5.60 Water Burden To be eligible for water assistance, the household must have a water burden on the date of application and meet the definition of “water crisis”. In other words, the household must be vulnerable to service disconnection, or already have experienced disconnection, and are unable to resolve the account without assistance. The Water Burden Table in Appendix E provides examples of situations and determinations of water burden. 5.70 Social Security Number (SSN)