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Section 7: Crisis Assistance The LIHEAP statute requires that states reserve a reasonable amount of funds each fiscal year for crisis assistance. In Indiana, these funds make up the Crisis Assistance line item in each LSP’s budget. LSPs are required to set aside at least eight percent (8%) of their budget to assist with crisis applications. Funds budgeted for crisis must be used at the time of application in an energy emergency, as described in Section 2.2: Crisis Intervention. A crisis benefit can be provided at the time of application for households whose regular heating benefit cannot assure continued service for regulated utilities, or guarantee delivery for households who heat with bulk fuels. Crisis assistance funds may only be provided to households if they guarantee continuation of service. The client does not have to provide additional funds to cover the entire amount owed if the utility company will continue service with a partial payment. Although approved applicant households receive moratorium protection between December 1 and March 15, LSPs must extend crisis benefits consistently throughout the entire heating season, including the moratorium period. Approved applicant households may come back once prior to the end of the program year for additional crisis if they experience an energy crisis after the initial application, provided they have not used the entire benefit. 7.1 Crisis Assistance Benefit Crisis benefits may be applied if the household owes money on the heating and/or electric source. To be eligible for the crisis benefit, the household must have lost service or be in danger of losing service. Crisis benefits are distributed as follows: EAP Crisis Calculation Regulated utility Up to $400 The client will present a utility bill Propane, LP gas, Fuel Oil, Wood, wood pellets, biofuels, corn, coal Up to $400 The benefit is to be automatically applied to the utility at the time of initial application in order to ensure as large a delivery as possible.

Crisis benefits awarded at the time of application will be determined and assessed based on the household circumstances at the time of application. As long as the applicant turns in a current utility bill at the time of application, intake is to use the documentation provided by the household to determine crisis benefit eligibility. Intake is not to contact the utility provider to obtain updated billing information at time of eligibility determination, even in cases where the household applies before the beginning of the program year (e.g., the