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Chapter 24 – Home Energy Assistance Program Page 18 of 33 6. Benefit Returns and Transfer:

A. Program benefits may not be sold, transferred, released or otherwise conveyed by the Eligible Household or the Vendor without written authorization from MaineHousing. MaineHousing will only authorize such conveyances when it is in the best interest of the Eligible Household and is consistent with the intent of the HEAP Act. Examples of situations where MaineHousing may authorize such conveyances include, but are not limited to:

1. Relocation of all Household Members within the State;

2. Change in Vendor by Household;

3. Change in Home Energy vendors available to Household;

4. Relocation from a Dwelling Unit with a Direct Energy Cost to a Dwelling Unit with Indirect Determinable Energy Cost (not including Subsidized Housing);

5. Relocation to Subsidized Housing with Direct Energy Cost;

6. Change in Home Energy type; and

7. Primary Applicant passes away and surviving eligible Household Members remain in the Household, including at least one adult.

Program benefits will only be available for reissue or transfer during the Program Year of issue up until March 31st of the Program Year immediately following.

B. In order to reissue or transfer a Benefit MaineHousing may require the Household to provide an Application Update Form bearing the Primary Applicant’s signature and date. Failure to provide the information within 30 days, may result in delay or forfeiture of the Benefit.

C. Program Benefits may not be eligible for reissue or transfer if the Primary Applicant committed Errors and Program Abuse when completing the Application, there was an Overpayment, the Primary Applicant’s primary residence changes to a nursing home or long term care facility and there are no remaining Household Members, the Household moves to Subsidized Housing with heat included, the Primary Applicant moves into another Household that received a Benefit in the current Program Year, the Household moves into an ineligible Dwelling Unit, the Program Benefit was not reissued before the deadline, the Primary Applicant passes away and there are no surviving Household Members or the Household moves out of State.

D. Vendors that receive a Benefit return form requesting the return of Benefits paid to Vendor on behalf of Eligible Households, shall return such Benefits to MaineHousing within fifteen (15) business days of date of Benefit return form. Once the funds are received, MaineHousing will process the reissue or transfer as appropriate within fifteen (15) calendar days of receiving all required documentation. 7. Energy Crisis Intervention Program (ECIP).

All ECIP services will be conducted by Subgrantees within their Service Area, unless otherwise authorized by MaineHousing, and will be subject to the availability of ECIP funds