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applicant’s application be declared incomplete. Rather, the applicant’s benefit payment will default to being paid by paper check.

Additionally, if an applicant pays one utility directly but one indirectly, the applicant has the opportunity to waive the indirect utility benefit to the utility they pay directly. This arrangement eases burden on the LSP’s QA process and IHCDA’s financial operations department, and avoids the applicant needing to wait for a check. A waiver form is not required; if an applicant is waiving their direct pay benefit to a billed utility, the LSP must only document this in case notes.

Heat/Electric Situation Types of Renters Benefits Tenant pays electric directly but heat is included in the rent The electric utility vendor will be paid directly. The heat benefit will be paid to the client directly by check or direct deposit. Clients may waive heating benefit to electric to avoid waiting for a check. No form is necessary, but LSPs should make notes in the Statewide database. Tenant pays a heating bill directly but electricity is included in the rent The heating benefit will be paid directly to the utility vendor. The electric benefit will be paid to the client directly by check or direct deposit. Clients may waive electric benefit to heating to avoid waiting for a check. No form is necessary, but LSPs should make notes in the Statewide database. Tenant pays all utilities in rent to landlord or property owner Both benefits will be paid to the client directly by check or direct deposit.

Firewood, Pellets, Corn, or Biofuel Clients whose main heating source is firewood, pellets, corn, or biofuel will receive their benefit as a paper check or an ACH direct deposit, allowing them to purchase their fuel at a free market price from the vendor of their choice. Every effort should be made to complete the benefit payment by direct deposit. This will decrease the chances of lost or misplaced checks, replacement check requests, and fraud, waste, and abuse. If an applicant who heats with firewood discloses or is known by the LSP to cut their own firewood, this applicant does not have a heating burden, as their heating expenses are $0. Therefore, such applicants will be eligible for an electric benefit, but not a heating benefit. The LSP must take care to note the reason for the heating benefit denial in the statewide database. LSPs are encouraged to enter into an agreement with local wood, wood pellet, and/or biofuel vendors. Such agreements will allow LSPs to issue vouchers to their clients for the purchase of heating fuel. When the vendor returns a completed voucher, the LSP will pay the vendor for the benefit amount and submit a claim to IHCDA for reimbursement. This results in less burden on LSP QA processes and IHCDA’s fiscal teams, and provides applicants with access to their bulk heating fuel benefits in a more timely manner.