Page 82

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

4. The applicant is a "high risk" for Emergency Assistance and an interview is appropriate for crisis prevention (see 415-50-02-05). Counties who elect to routinely schedule applications by interview must inform the applicant that the interview can be waived if it will cause undue hardship because of poor health, lack of transportation, age, disability, isolation, or conflicting work schedules. Counties are encouraged to be innovative in providing assistance to applicants who cannot come to the county office. In some cases, if weather conditions are poor and an emergency need for fuel exists, the application might be taken by phone, and if income verifications can be done with collateral contacts, the application could be sent with the fuel vendor when he makes an emergency delivery of fuel so the applicant can sign it.

If alternate methods are not successful in assisting the applicant to complete or understand the application or payment procedures, the county office must arrange a personal contact. This may require a home visit if the applicant cannot come to the office and other arrangements are not practical.