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EAP Policy Manual FFY24 Chapter 5 Crisis Page 5 • For households on pre-pay energy programs: $300. This is the amount per verified Crisis event. The household can get multiple Crisis benefits, up to the Crisis maximum. If the amount needed to resolve the emergency is less than the maximum crisis benefit, the current amount owed should be rounded up to the nearest dollar to ensure the emergency is resolved. For example, if the amount needed to resolve the emergency is $193.56 the correct current owed amount entered is $194.00. While Crisis payments should not result in a credit on the household account, due to rounding as explained above, Crisis payments to connected fuel energy vendors may result in a small credit of less than $1.00. Credit on an account is also allowable for seniors on budget payment plans. For these seniors, the Crisis benefit amount equals the budget payment amount, i.e. if the household presents a budget/payment plan bill for $200 the Service Provider verifies that is what is owed and makes a Crisis payment for $200. This may temporarily leave a credit on the household account, depending on where the household is in their budget billing cycle. Additional details on calculating correct Crisis benefit amounts are detailed in each individual Crisis reason section (found in the Processing Events by Crisis Reason section below). Primary Heat funds must be applied first to address the household energy emergency before calculating the Crisis benefit amount. If the energy emergency is not resolved after the available Primary Heat benefit is applied, the household is eligible for a Crisis benefit. Household Requests less than the Standard Delivery Amount There are situations where households do not want the full $600 Crisis Benefit for one emergency. Often this is because households want to have Crisis funds remaining for assistance with another emergency. Working with the household to pay a lesser amount is an allowable option and should be documented. Households need to know there may not be Crisis funds available at a later date. Energy Vendor’s Minimum delivery is greater than $600 Service Providers may increase the default $600 ‘Standard Delivery Amount’ only if the energy vendor’s required minimum delivery is over $600 and the Primary Heat benefit is being used as part of the Crisis benefit calculation. In conjunction with the Primary Heat benefit amount, the resulting Crisis Benefit calculation will be equal to the amount needed to get a delivery. The Service Provider should ensure that the calculation would not create a credit on the household’s energy vendor account. For example: • If a household’s Primary Heat benefit is $450. • The energy vendor’s minimum delivery is $650. • The household would need a Crisis benefit in the amount of $200.