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260 (07/2026) Chapter 2:Eligibility • Section 5: Financial eligibility

Š Some applicants have low-income housing and receive a HUD payment for utility expenses. The HUD utility reimbursement (paid directly to the individual or to the utility company) may cover all or most of the heating bill. If the individual is responsible for the balance of the utility bill, they are also eligible for FUA.

Š Filing groups that receive energy assistance payments (must be at least $20 per year and have been received by the filing group in the month of the filing date or the previous 12 months) are eligible for FUA only if the filing group includes someone who is elderly or disabled.

Š Filing groups which receive energy assistance who do not include someone who is elderly or disabled are only eligible for FUA if the filing group is responsible for the balance of the utility bill.

Š If a filing group is sharing a dwelling with another group and they share utility expenses, FUA may be given to each group paying a share of the heating expenses. There is no proration.

Š FUA is not allowed for the use of cooking stoves or electric blankets as a heat source.

Š Space heaters and stoves (wood, pellet, coal, etc. used for heating purposes only) are utility expenses but do not qualify the household for FUA if it is a supplement to the main source of heat. If it is the only source of heat, the household does qualify for FUA.

Š FUA is not allowed for filing groups that are charged a flat amount for rent and utilities that do not separately identify heating and cooling expenses. • Limited utility allowance (LUA): The limited utility allowance is given when the filing group is paying for at least two allowable non-heating utility expenses. Oregon allows the cost of recurring monthly expenses such as water, sewage, garbage, and electricity/gas not used for heating/ cooling.

Š One cost may be for a telephone. More than one phone does not count as more than one utility expense.

Š Cable and internet are not allowable utility expenses. • Telephone utility allowance (TUA): The telephone utility allowance is given when the filing group is paying for a telephone or prepaid cell phone and has no additional utility expenses.

Š The telephone may be a landline, a cell phone or an internet phone service.

Š A filing group that pays only for a cell phone qualifies for TUA even if another filing group in the household has a landline available.

Š The cost for phone cards are not allowable utility expenses unless associated with a specific device and are ongoing monthly costs. Ask the individual if it is an ongoing expense, and how they use the prepaid phone card. • Individual utility allowance (IUA): The individual utility allowance is given when the filing group is billed on a regular basis for one allowable non-heating cost, such as a water, sewer, garbage, and electricity/heating not used for heating or cooling.

Š This cost cannot be for a telephone.

Š Cable and internet are not allowable utility expenses.