THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)Use of this model plan is optional. However, the information requested is required in order to receive a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant.Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Section 1 Program Components Program Components, 2605(a), 2605(b)(1) - Assurance 1, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.1 Check which components you will operate under the LIHEAP program. (Note: You must provide information for each component designated here as requested elsewhere in this plan.) Dates of Operation Start Date End Date Heating assistance 01/01/2026 09/30/2026 Cooling assistance Summer crisis assistance Winter crisis assistance Year-round crisis assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Weatherization assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Provide further explanation for the dates of operation, if necessary Heating assistance is administered by Treasury through the Home Heating Credit Program (HHC). HHC follows the tax season, however, an application can be submitted without having to submit a tax return. Estimated Funding Allocation, 2604(C), 2605(k)(1), 2605(b)(9), 2605(b)(16) - Assurances 9 and 16 1.2 Estimate what amount of available LIHEAP funds will be used for each component that you will operate: The total of all percentages must add up to 100%. Percentage ( % ) Prior year totals Heating assistance 25.00% 35.00% Cooling assistance 0.00% 0.00% Summer crisis assistance 0.00% 0.00% Winter crisis assistance 0.00% 0.00% Year-round crisis assistance 50.00% 40.00% Weatherization assistance 10.00% 10.00% Carryover to the following federal fiscal year 0.00% 0.00% Administrative and planning costs 10.00% 10.00% Services to reduce home energy needs including needs assessment (Assurance 16) 5.00% 5.00% Used to develop and implement leveraging activities 0.00% 0.00% TOTAL 100.00% 100.00% Tribal grant recipients: direct-grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments of $20,000 or less may use for planning and administration up to 20% of the funds payable. Grant recipients that are direct grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments over $20,000 may use for planning and administration purposes up to 20% of the first $20,000 (or $4,000) plus 10% of the funds payable that exceeds $20,000. Any administrative costs in excess of these limits must be paid from non-federal sources. Alternate Use of Crisis Assistance Funds, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.3 The funds reserved for winter crisis assistance that have not been expended by March 15 will be reprogrammed to: Heating assistance Cooling assistance Weatherization assistance Other (specify:) Not applicable Categorical Eligibility, 2605(b)(2)(A) - Assurance 2, 2605(c)(1)(A), 2605(b)(8A) - Assurance 8 1.4 Do you consider households categorically eligible if at least one household member receives at least one of the following categories of benefits in the left column below? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.4, you must complete the table below and answer questions 1.5 and 1.6. Heating Cooling Crisis Weatherization TANF Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SSI Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SNAP Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Means-tested Veterans Programs Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No 1.4a. Provide your definition of categorical eligibility. Please explain how households are categorically eligible (i.e, do all household members need to receive the benefits or just one member, is there a data exchange in place?) and how categorical eligibility streamlines the LIHEAP application process. Michigan defines categorical eligibility as one member of the household receiving either TANF, SSI or SNAP benefits. Categorical eligibility is only used with the Energy Direct Program. Energy Direct is streamlined using a cross match exchange between MDHHS and the four major energy providers. No application is needed. 1.5 Do you automatically enroll households without a direct annual application? Yes No If Yes, explain: Michigan administers the Energy Direct Program (including the Critical Care/Medical Energy Direct) in which MDHHS and participating energy providers exchange pertinent information, to identify categorically eligible households for Energy Direct. In previous years, Michigan administered Energy Direct to those who have received an SER payment within the last 60 days, are a recipient of TANF, SSI or SNAP and who are at risk for disconnection are eligible for Energy Direct. For FY25, Michigan updated the Energy Direct to include those who are identified as critical care, to have medical needs or excessive balances and at least one household member is a recipient of TANF, SSI or SNAP to be eligible for Energy Direct. Michigan reserves the right to utilize funds for these programs, funding permitted. There is no application process for this program. All other programs require an application process. See attachments C and E regarding Energy Direct. 1.6 How do you ensure there is no difference in the treatment of categorically eligible households from those not receiving other public assistance when determining eligibility and benefit amounts? Benefit levels/payment maximums are consistent for all households, which ensures consistency regardless of public assistance status. Categorical eligibility is utilized for the Energy Direct Program only and not for other LIHEAP programs. Exceptions to benefit levels/payment maximums are made at the discretion of SER Program Policy based on emergency and need. SNAP Nominal Payments 1.7a Do you allocate LIHEAP funds toward a nominal payment for SNAP households? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.7a, you must provide a response to questions 1.7b, 1.7c, and 1.7d. 1.7b Amount of Nominal Assistance: $20.01 1.7c Frequency of Assistance Once Per Year Once every five years Other - Describe: 1.7d How do you confirm that the household receiving a nominal payment has an energy cost or need? Households who have an energy expense included in their rent may receive the SNAP nominal payment if they have not already received energy assistance through LIHEAP or MEAP, exceeding $20. Households who have indicated to have a rental obligation for SNAP in which heat is included in their rent qualify for the nominal payment. Determination of Eligibility - Countable Income 1.8. In determining a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP, do you use gross income or net income? Gross Income Net Income Other - Describe 1.9. Select all the applicable forms of countable income used to determine a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP Wages Self - Employment Income Contract Income Payments from mortgage or Sales Contracts Unemployment insurance Strike Pay Social Security Administration (SSA ) benefits Including MediCare deduction Excluding MediCare deduction Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) Retirement / pension benefits General Assistance benefits Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits Loans that need to be repaid Cash gifts Savings account balance One-time lump-sum payments, such as rebates/credits, winnings from lotteries, refund deposits, etc. Jury duty compensation Rental income Income from employment through Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Income from work study programs Alimony Child support Interest, dividends, or royalties Commissions Legal settlements Insurance payments made directly to the insured Insurance payments made specifically for the repayment of a bill, debt, or estimate Veterans Administration (VA) benefits Earned income of a child under the age of 18 Balance of retirement, pension, or annuity accounts where funds cannot be withdrawn without a penalty. Income tax refunds Stipends from senior companion programs, such as VISTA Funds received by household for the care of a foster child Ameri-Corp Program payments for living allowances, earnings, and in-kind aid Reimbursements (for mileage, gas, lodging, meals, etc.) Other Crisis Assistance: DHHS policy manual item, ERM 206, provides a complete list of countable and excluded income for crisis assistance. Federal Income Tax refunds are excluded as income; however, other refunds are countable. Heating Assistance: Total Household Resources are counted for the Home Heating Credit which includes interest, dividends, or royalties and excludes all Income Tax refunds. 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. 1.10 Do you have an online application process Yes No 1.10a If yes, describe the type of online application (Select all boxes that apply) A PDF version of the application is available online and can be downloaded, filled out and mailed in for processing. A state-wide online application that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. One or more locally available online applications that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. Online application that is also mobile friendly Other, please describe An online application is available for crisis assistance through MI Bridges by completing an SER application for year round assistance. Heating assistance is provided by Treasury as noted below and can be applied for online if filing a tax return. The HHC is incorporated as part of the online tax return, if not filing a tax return, a paper application is available. Please include a link(s) to a statewide application, if available: MI Bridges (michigan.gov) 1.10b Can all program components be applied for online? Yes No If no, explain which components can and cannot be applied for online. Heating assistance is administered by Treasury which accepts HHC applications during tax season through September 30th of each calendar year. An individual completing online tax returns can apply directly for HHC at that time. For those that do not file a tax return, a paper application is available. Weatherization is administered by the Bureau of Community Action and Economic Opportunity (BCAEO) who distributes the funds to Community Action Agencies (CAA) that provide the direct service. CAAs are located throughout the State of Michigan. Individuals are serviced by a CAA within their geographic area and paper applications are taken locally. 1.11 Do you have a process for conducting and completing applications by phone Yes No 1.12 Do you or any of your subrecipients require in person appointments in order to apply Yes No If yes, please provide more information regarding why in-person appointments are required and in what circumstances they are required. Crisis assistance is administered through local DHHS offices located in 83 counties statewide. Currently, MDHHS does not support phone applications to be completed, however, Michigan reserves the right for an SER application to be completed during a phone call with the applicant for FY26. Upon SER policy update and approval by leadership, a DHHS specialist, energy provider representative, bridges navigator or other authorized representative can assist the applicant in completing an online SER application over the phone and submit on their behalf with permission of the applicant. Heating assistance and Weatherization must be completed by the applicant or with permission from the applicant a person named to assist in the application process. 1.13 How can applicants submit documentation for verification? Select all that apply: In-person Mail Email Portal application Other, please describe Fax Hidden for Section 1