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ENERGY PROGRAMS EP-300 LOW INCOME ENERGY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

12 Section 300 Change #2-2026 May 1, 2026 2. Child Support Deductions. a) Determine whether a household member is required to pay legally obligated child support to a non-household member. Legally obligated child support is: i. Court ordered; or ii. Ordered through an administrative process (such as IV-D); or iii. Ordered through a legally enforceable separation agreement. b) Take the following s/teps when a household member report paying legally obligated child support to a non-household member. c) Verify the child support amount actually paid (including arrearages) in the base period by the household member. Verify by ACTS inquiry, statement from receiving parent, canceled checks, and money orders. Document all verifications on the application in the Energy System. d) Allow as a deduction the child support is actually paid (including arrearages) by the household member. This includes court ordered payments or rent, mortgage, or other shelter expenses to the custodial parent and child in lieu of child support and court ordered payments for health insurance coverage for the child. e) Do not allow a child support deduction for alimony payments, spousal support payments, or property settlement payments paid by a household member. f) Enter the allowable amount of the legally obligated child support deduction into the Data Entry System. The system will automatically deduct the amount from the household’s income when determining eligibility. 3. Earned Income Deductions. a) The Energy System allows automatically for each household member with earned income the standard deduction from the table below for all types of earned income including farm, self-employment, and rental income. (The table includes an allowance for hospital insurance premiums, FICA, State retirement, etc.) Gross Income Level Standard Deduction $1 - $50 $10 $51 - $100 $20 $101 - $150 $30 $151 - $200 $40