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Iowa LIHEAP Policy and Procedures Manual 15.00 Crisis Assistance

Effective 09/01/2023

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15.60 Service Continuity – Energy Eligible customers at imminent risk of disconnection are to receive a benefit in the amount needed to ensure service is not interrupted, up to $700. The benefit is to be paid directly to the vendor; not the customer. This may include payments towards a deliverable fuel LIHEAP customer’s arrearage or deposit, as long as the expense was not incurred by the customer prior to the current program year. Arrearages from prior program years cannot be paid without prior approval from the CAA Unit. Email the state LIHEAP office a completed Energy/Water Crisis Expenditure Limit Waiver Request to exceed the expenditure limit. The form is maintained on the Members Only page of https://humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa.

The following are expenses which the crisis program supports: ● Arrearages ● Deposits

The following are considered unsupported expenses and will not be paid from the crisis program: ● Repair/replacement/installation of an electric pole ● Diversion fees or equipment tampering fees

15.70 Emergency Cooling – Energy No expenditures for the emergency cooling component will be allowed from October 1st through April 30th.

Up to $500 in total per household may be used for the items below. Email the state LIHEAP office a completed Energy/Water Crisis Expenditure Limit Waiver Request to exceed the expenditure limit. The form is maintained on the Members Only page of https://humanrights.iowa.gov/dcaa. ● Central Air Conditioning Unit o Homeowners only (supporting documentation to be maintained in the electronic file) o Where medically necessary ▪ Verbal declaration from the customer stating medical need is acceptable; customer is not required to state the medical situation nor is the agency to determine whether the medical situation is a justifiable one o Repair/Replacement (including tune and clean, when necessary to resolve the crisis), purchase of unit, installation of unit ▪ Energy Crisis Expenditure Limit Waiver may be requested for repairs necessary to restore functionality of the unit ▪ Payment toward a replacement unit is allowed but cannot exceed the expenditure limit. Note – Expenditure limit waivers cannot be approved in this scenario as the intent of a waiver for Emergency Cooling is to address repair costs for existing units that exceed $500 and are necessary to restore functionality of the unit. No new installation is allowed with crisis funds in cases where no existing central air condition unit is present as this is not a replacement or repair. o Weatherization approved HVAC contractor required for repair/replacement work that LIHEAP will coordinate o Customers who have had central air conditioning repaired/replaced by a contractor not approved by the Weatherization Program, and wish to be reimbursed up to the expenditure limit, must present an invoice from a contractor that is registered with Iowa Workforce Development (IWD).

● Window Air Conditioning Unit/Portable Air Conditioning Unit/Evaporative Coolers o Homeowners and renters ▪ When providing a window air conditioning unit, the file must include a signed landlord, owner, or property manager approval statement. Signature is not