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Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program Division 10 Service 415 Program 415 Chapters 05 - 65 North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services

When the county is responsible for emergency furnace repairs the county needs to take the following steps: 1. Insure that the furnace is not functional or poses a threat to the household’s health and safety. 2. Have the household fill out an application for emergency assistance 3. Determine whether the household is eligible (income eligibility) 4. Contact a vendor to repair the furnace (two bids are not needed for furnace repair) 5. When the furnace has been repaired it should be determined that the household is satisfied with the repair and the vendor’s costs are reasonable. Furnace breakdowns on a weekend may be reimbursed if an eligible household reports to the county immediately on Monday. Households should contact the office in a timely manner to have emergency furnace repair bills paid or reimbursed. Prudent judgment will enter into the decision of whether or not to make a payment. Example: A very elderly person living alone may not realize that the county needs to be contacted about a furnace repair that has been completed during the week. 6. Bills should be paid in the LIHEAP system by the county if steps 1 – 5 are completed.