Page 36

Chapter 5: Emergency Crisis Intervention Program 3 Emergency Furnace Repair

Clients who own their home, have been approved for energy assistance and have a furnace that is not working properly may qualify for Emergency Furnace Repair.

IF YOU OWN YOUR HOME AND HAVE A FURNACE THAT ISN’T WORKING RIGHT, BEFORE YOU HAVE THE FURNACE REPAIR DONE, CALL 1-800-233-8503 AND THIS OFFICE WILL REFER YOU TO THE APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY SO THEY CAN DETERMINEWHETHER IT IS AN ELIGIBLE REPAIR.

For clients approved for energy assistance who rent their dwelling unit, upkeep and repair of the furnace is the sole responsibility of the landlord and cannot be paid under the Emergency Furnace Repair component of the program.

(E) Re-Connect Program

This program has a capped funding level and once the funds are exhausted or when the ECIP Program ends on March 31st the program ends. If an application and a disconnect notice or eviction notice is received in the office or postmarked by March 31st and additional information is needed to determine eligibility - the reconnect component of the program may still be used once eligibility is determined. The intention of this program is to assist eligible LIEAP households who are not able to utilize their LIEAP assistance due to disconnection of services with their current provider(s) or they are due to be evicted. Payments will not be made for any bill other than electric, heat (ie water, sewer, garbage), or past due rent (eviction notice required, HIR and heat in addition to rent cases only). In addition, payments will not be made for tank rent or cost to set a tank or any fee that is assessed due to past fraud. For example, a revenue protection fee was required because it was determined that the household had turned the gas on and had lit the pilot lights prior to the company connecting.

Contact should be made with the vendor to ensure that the figure they have provided is the minimum they are able to accept to accomplish the reconnection.

The maximum amount that will be authorized to assist with reconnection is $1,200. If the total required to complete the reconnection exceeds $1,200, the $1,200 will NOT be authorized until the household has sufficient funds from other sources to accomplish the reconnection.

If it is determined that more than one bill for more than one individual is involved in the reconnection, only one individual's bill will be paid and that is the individual that is applying for assistance.

• The household must be determined eligible for LIEAP and have an assistance balance remaining. • The household must have a primary heat source of electricity, propane, natural gas or fuel oil. • The household must have their electricity or natural gas disconnected or refusal to deliver for fuel oil or propane, or have a verified disconnection notice. Written or phone verification is needed in all cases.