2 HEATING ASSISTANCE

Eligibility, 2605(b)(2) - Assurance 2 2.1 Designate the income eligibility threshold used for the heating component: Add Household size Eligibility Guideline Eligibility Threshold 1 All Household Sizes State Median Income 60.00% 2.2 Do you have additional eligibility requirements for Heating Assistance? Yes No 2.3 Check the appropriate boxes below and describe the policies for each. Do you require an Assets test? Yes No If yes, describe: Do you have additional/differing eligibility policies for: Renters? Yes No If yes, describe: A renter that does not live in a subsidized building or a Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) building, that pays their vendor directly for their heat is eligible for a full HEAP benefit. Renters Living in subsidized housing? Yes No If yes, describe: A renter living in a subsidized building or living in a LIHTC building who pays a vendor directly for their heat, or who lives in a subsidized building or a LIHTC building, as described above, with heat included in rent where the monthly rent is more than 30% of the gross HEAP monthly income, may be eligible for a partial HEAP benefit. Those renters living in subsidized housing or in a LIHTC building with heat included in their rent that pay 30% or less of their gross HEAP monthly income towards rent are not eligible for home energy assistance. Renters with utilities included in the rent? Yes No If yes, describe: A renter that does not live in a subsidized building or a Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) building, whose heat is included in the rent is eligible for a full HEAP benefit. Do you give priority in eligibility to: Older Adults (60 years or older)? Yes No If yes, describe: Individuals with a disability? Yes No If yes, describe: Young children? Yes No If yes, describe: Households with high energy burdens? Yes No If yes, describe: Other? Yes No If yes, describe: Explanations of policies for each "yes" checked above: The application must establish the following to determine eligibility Household members’ U.S. Citizenship and/or Qualified Alien status • Identity of the Applicant • Address verification • Occupancy at address during the heating season • Household size • Income sources or the lack of income for every member of the household 18 years or older • Student status for any member of the household 18 years or older • Housing costs (e.g., rent, condo fee, mortgage, insurance, taxes) • Housing situation (rental, owned, or other) • Household energy burden. • Determination of Benefits 2605(b)(5) - Assurance 5, 2605(c)(1)(B) 2.4 Describe how you prioritize the provision of heating assistance to vulnerable populations, e.g., benefit amounts, early application periods, etc. Subgrantees target their outreach to vulnerable populations including but not limited to the disabled, elderly and those on fixed incomes. The benefit amount is determined in the same manner regardless of the source of income or vulnerable status; the determining factors are family income level and size. Those factors place the household in the Massachusetts HEAP benefit matrix and there may additionally be proration of benefit due to household members’ U.S. Citizenship/Qualified Alien Status. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts maintains a mail-in recertification process, by which most households, including vulnerable households, utilize when applying for assistance. An online recertification process is offered as well. Eligibility is often determined before the beginning of the heating season (November 1) for returning applicants. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts uses a mixture of a fixed benefit determined by poverty level, and offers an additional benefit, the High Energy Cost Supplement (HECS), to households that surpass the previous year’s heating cost thresholds. This process assures that households with the lowest income and the highest energy costs receive the most benefits. 2.5 Check the variables you use to determine your benefit levels. (Check all that apply): Income Family (household) size Home energy cost or need: Fuel type Climate/region Individual bill Dwelling type Energy burden (% of income spent on home energy) Energy need Other - Describe: Benefit Levels, 2605(b)(5) - Assurance 5, 2605(c)(1)(B) 2.6 Describe estimated benefit levels for the fiscal year for which this plan applies. Please note: the maximum and minimum benefits must be shown in the payment matrix. Minimum Benefit $200 Maximum Benefit $600 2.7 Do you provide in-kind (e.g., blankets, space heaters) and/or other forms of benefits?2 Yes No If yes, describe. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.