Page 50

Louisiana LIHEAP Service Delivery Guide 50 | P a g e

A p r i l 1 , 2 0 2 6

CHAPTER 5: CRISIS ASSISTANCE

In accordance with Section 2604(c)(1) of Public Law 97-35, the Crisis Intervention Program shall be administered by LIHEAP Subgrantees to provide energy crisis intervention to eligible low-income households whose social or economic hardships are compounded by a home heating or cooling energy crisis. A crisis assistance benefit may be in the form of bill payment assistance, disaster assistance, or equipment repair/replacement. The total benefit cannot exceed the maximum benefit amount per household per the current year’s Model Plan. 5.1 Crisis Bill Payment Assistance A crisis exists when a household's energy source for heating and/or cooling has been disconnected or scheduled for disconnection, depleted, and there are insufficient resources to resolve the situation. A crisis may also include natural disaster events, public health emergencies, and supply shortage emergencies declared by state or federal government. A. Eligibility

Requirements for the LIHEAP Crisis assistance benefits are:

 Proof of Identity  Social Security Numbers  Income eligibility determination  Citizenship verification  Vulnerability (Responsibility for the household energy account)  Threatened or actual interruption of services or lacking a cooling/heating source  Faced with a health and/or medical safety risk (applies to life threatening assistance) B. Documentation  To qualify, the applicant must have some type of Utility Vendor(s) documentation that demonstrates that:  A disconnection is scheduled,  A disconnection has already occurred,  Be without service, or  Be without a heating or cooling source.