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Iowa LIHEAP Policy and Procedures Manual 15.00 Crisis Assistance

Effective 09/01/2023

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Work cannot be paid until it passes inspection.

Heating units affected by a disaster may be repaired/replaced only after insurance benefits are exhausted.

Tune & cleans are to be reported under “repair”.

When health and safety hazards exist that prohibit work being done in the home (e.g., roaches, bed bugs, feces, broken stairwell going to heating unit) the contractor is to notify the CAA to obtain further guidance.

Purchasing a home with a faulty heating unit does not exclude the customer from receiving a heating unit repair/replacement, even if the customer was aware of the issue at the time they purchased the home.

When the homeowner passes away and other members of the household remain in the home and request a heating unit repair/replacement, they must provide proof that they have been residing in the home, have a legal claim to the home, and that the estate is not in probate. Contact the state LIHEAP office for further guidance.

The following are expenses which the crisis program supports: ● Motor for pellet stove o Replacing a motor for a pellet stove may be more cost-effective than installing a furnace in a home with no existing ductwork. ● Heat pumps may be repaired/replaced, with state LIHEAP office approval ● Radiators may be repaired/replaced

The following are considered unsupported expenses and will not be paid from the crisis program: ● Carbon monoxide (CO) detectors ● Replacement of old or inefficient heating units (there must be an issue with the unit operating properly) ● Installation of used heating units o NO used heating units are to be installed. ONLY heating units purchased by the LIHEAP program may be installed. ● A heating unit cannot be repaired or replaced in a home that is for sale or is uninhabitable. ● Payment on contractor invoices prior to the work being inspected.

15.30 Shelter, Blankets, Electric Portable Space Heaters A maximum payment of $300 per household may be made to obtain temporary shelter (only for households without heat), purchase of blankets (for renters and home-owners) and/or electric, portable space heaters (for renters and home-owners). A waiver may be granted by the state LIHEAP office, via email, in extenuating circumstances.

There is no limit to the number of space heaters a household can receive, except the expenditure limit. Most agencies choosing to provide a household with a space heater do not require that it is returned to the agency when it is no longer needed.

The following are minimum requirements for electric, portable space heaters:

Portable Space Heater Requirements (not wall-mounted) Wattage Output = 1500 Watts Power Source = Electric Safety Features = Auto Shutoff / overheat protection