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pg. 21 Family member is defined as:  Husband or wife  Father or Mother (In-law or step)  Children (In-law or step)  Siblings (In-law, step, or half)  Aunt or Uncle  First cousins  Nieces or nephews Agency employees are entitled to apply for LIHEAP services without fear of repercussion or loss of employment. Employee and employee-related applications follow the same eligibility requirements as any other LIHEAP applicant. Agency employees and-or family members will not receive preferential treatment and should be treated the same as any other applicant for services. Employee or employee-related applications must be:  Processed and determined eligible-ineligible by a Manager-Supervisor.  Reviewed and validated for correct eligibility determination by a second Manager-Supervisor.  Document the validation (using a check sheet, initials, etc.). The validating manager is responsible for ensuring the application is in accordance with LIHEAP Policy and Procedure.  Stored and maintained in a confidential-secure area separate from the general filing area where all other LIHEAP applications are stored. Agencies may assign no more than one (1) LIHEAP staff member as a “confidential processor” who may process employee-employee-related cases. The confidential processor will not validate cases. A manager or supervisor must complete all validations. The Manager-Supervisor or confidential processor must handle all future case decisions or follow-up. This includes any ECIP determinations, pledges, etc. At no time should any other staff members be involved in processing the employee- employee-related case. Employee-employee-related cases must remain in the confidential-secure area until the designated employee has not worked for the agency one full year. The agency may return the case to the general filing area after the full year has passed. Agencies choosing to designate a confidential processor must determine the designee prior to the start of each LIHEAP season. The agency will submit the designee’s name in the work plan each season during the contracting process. Agencies will not change the confidential processor designation without notifying