4 CRISIS ASSISTANCE

Eligibility - 2604(c), 2605(c)(1)(A) 4.1 Designate the income eligibility threshold used for the crisis component Add Household size Eligibility Guideline Eligibility Threshold 1 8 State Median Income 60.00% 4.2 Provide your LIHEAP program's definition for determining a crisis. If you administer multiple crisis assistance programs (winter, summer, and/or year-round), Include all program definitions. Eligibility Threshold: Households must be at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG) for households up to eight, and 60% State Median Income (SMI) for households of nine or more receive a benefit in the form of a credit directly to the client’s main energy heating account beginning in the month of January. For Winter Crisis Assistance: a disconnection, notice of disconnection, establishing new service, less than 25% supply of deliverable fuel, or a heating system needing repair to be operable are criteria to be considered in crisis. For Summer Crisis Assistance: a disconnection, notice of disconnection, establishing new service, a medical certification and/or being elderly (age 60 or older) are criteria to be considered in crisis. 4.3 What constitutes a life-threatening crisis? Development’s Energy Assistance Programs Guidelines, in keeping with the LIHEAP statute, require local HEAP providers to, no later than 18 hours after a household applies, provide assistance that will resolve the crisis if the household is eligible to receive such benefits and is in a life-threatening situation. Development and our local provider agencies understand a life-threatening situation to be a situation that is very dangerous or serious with the possibility that death could be the outcome. For example, an eligible household containing a member with a disability or a frail elder who would be more vulnerable to experiencing a serious outcome if heat and light are not expeditiously restored. A household with a newborn baby is another example of how a utility/energy service crisis e.g., imminent shutoff, disconnection or empty fuel tank, can have more dire outcomes, up to and including death, if not quickly remedied. A life-threatening crisis could also exist when a household is without service and is using alternative heating sources such as kerosene heaters or using their oven. Crisis Requirement, 2604(c) 4.4 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households? 48Hours 4.5 Within how many hours do you provide an intervention that will resolve the energy crisis for eligible households in life-threatening situations? 18Hours Crisis Eligibility, 2605(c)(1)(A) Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-Round Crisis 4.6 Do you have additional eligibility requirements for Crisis Assistance? 4.7 Check the appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided 0 Do you require an Assets test? Do you give priority in eligibility to: Older Adults (60 years or older)? Individuals with a disability? Young Children? Households with high energy burdens? Other (Specify): In Order to receive crisis assistance: Must the household have received a shut-off notice or have a near empty tank? Must the household have been shut off or have an empty tank? Must the household have exhausted their regular heating benefit? Must renters with heating costs included in their rent have received an eviction notice? Must heating/cooling be medically necessary? Must the household have non-working heating or cooling equipment? Other (Specify): Do you have additional/differing eligibility policies for: Renters? Renters living in subsidized housing? Renters with utilities included in the rent? Explanations of policies for each "yes" checked above: For Winter Crisis Assistance: a disconnection, notice of disconnection, establishing new service, less than 25% supply of deliverable fuel, or a heating system needing repair to operate are criteria to be considered in crisis. To participate in the Summer Crisis Program, the household must be disconnected, have a disconnection notice, establishing new service, may include an individual with a documented medical condition and/or the household may have at least one-member age 60 or older. If qualified based on age or medical condition, the household may receive a monetary benefit and/or an air conditioner unit or central air repair and/or fan up to the maximum benefit amount per household. Households may receive one air conditioner, provided the household has not received an air conditioner in the prior three years, up to the maximum benefit allowed. Households can be provided with no more than two fans, once every three years, up to the maximum benefit amount. Renters whose bill is in the landlord's name must produce a lease or written documentation from the landlord verifying that the renter is responsible for the electric bill, and/or the gas bill. Determination of Benefits 4.8 How do you handle crisis situations? Separate component Benefit Fast Track, no separate amount of crisis funds is issued. Rather benefits are issued to crisis customers within crisis response time frames. Other - Describe: 4.9 If you have a separate component, how do you determine crisis assistance benefits? Amount to resolve the crisis. $0 Other - Describe: Ohio has a maximum benefit amount and requires a copay if necessary. Also, see Section 4.7. Crisis Requirements, 2604(c) 4.10 Do you accept applications for energy crisis assistance at sites that are geographically accessible to all households in the area to be served? Yes No Explain. Intake centers are located in all 88 counties in Ohio. Additionally, Development launched an online application to allow clients to enter household information at their convenience. While an appointment is required for crisis assistance, the client can enter in their information and upload documentation online to expedite the intake process once at the local agency. All applications can be completed at the 50 local Energy Assistance Provider locations around the 88 counties. 4.11 Do you provide individuals who are individuals with a disability the means to: Submit applications for crisis benefits without leaving their homes? Yes No If No, explain. Travel to the sites at which applications for crisis assistance are accepted? Yes No If No, explain. If you answered "No" to both options in question 4.11, please explain alternative means of intake to those who are homebound or physically disabled? Benefit Levels, 2605(c)(1)(B) 4.12 Indicate the maximum benefit for each type of crisis assistance offered. Winter Crisis $1,200.00 maximum benefit Summer Crisis $800.00 maximum benefit Year-round Crisis $0.00 maximum benefit 4.13 Do you provide in-kind (e.g. blankets, space heaters, fans) and/or other forms of benefits? Yes No If yes, Describe As a last resort funds can be authorized to purchase portable heaters equipped with an automatic shut-off switch and an Underwriters Laboratory (UL) or Electrical Testing Laboratories (ETL) safety approval. 4.14 Do you provide for equipment repair or replacement using crisis funds? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 4.14, you must complete question 4.15. 4.15 Check appropriate boxes below to indicate type(s) of assistance provided. Winter Crisis Summer Crisis Year-round Crisis Heating system repair Heating system replacement Cooling system repair Cooling system replacement Wood stove purchase Pellet stove purchase Solar panel(s) Utility poles / gas line hook-ups Other (Specify): Bulk Fuel, Propane, Fuel Oil, Kerosene, Coal or Wood. Clients are eligible to receive one air conditioner or fans unit every three years. 4.16 Do any of the utility vendors you work with enforce a moratorium on shut offs? Yes No If you responded "Yes" to question 4.16, you must respond to question 4.17. 4.17 Describe the terms of the moratorium and any special dispensation received by LIHEAP clients during or after the moratorium period. It is rare in Ohio for the Governor to issue a moratorium prohibiting regulated utilities from issuing disconnection notices. This only occurs when there is an extreme weather event or a significant economic downturn. However, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), annually issues a Reconnection Order that coincides with the Winter Crisis Program. The annual Reconnect Order requires regulated utilities to stop a disconnection or restore service for a maximum of $175. The Reconnection Order and the Winter Crisis Program is in place from Oct. 15 to April 15. See attached sample in PDF version of 2024-2025 Special Reconnect Order issued by PUCO. When the temperature is predicted to go below 32 degrees (Ohio Rule 4901:1-18-06) utilities can’t disconnect service. 4.18 If you experience a natural disaster, do you intend to utilize LIHEAP crisis funds to address disaster related crisis situations? Yes No If yes, describe If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here.