1 Program Components

THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)Use of this model plan is optional. However, the information requested is required in order to receive a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant.Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Section 1 Program Components Program Components, 2605(a), 2605(b)(1) - Assurance 1, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.1 Check which components you will operate under the LIHEAP program. (Note: You must provide information for each component designated here as requested elsewhere in this plan.) Dates of Operation Start Date End Date Heating assistance 10/01/2025 04/30/2026 Cooling assistance 05/01/2025 09/30/2026 Summer crisis assistance Winter crisis assistance Year-round crisis assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Weatherization assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Provide further explanation for the dates of operation, if necessary For Fiscal Year 2026, we will be starting the year on November 1, 2025 to allow additional time for testing and training on our new software system that will be replacing THO, and to confirm receipt of an FY 2026 LIHEAP award. Estimated Funding Allocation, 2604(C), 2605(k)(1), 2605(b)(9), 2605(b)(16) - Assurances 9 and 16 1.2 Estimate what amount of available LIHEAP funds will be used for each component that you will operate: The total of all percentages must add up to 100%. Percentage ( % ) Prior year totals Heating assistance 45.00% 51.00% Cooling assistance 13.00% 17.00% Summer crisis assistance 0.00% 0.00% Winter crisis assistance 0.00% 0.00% Year-round crisis assistance 10.00% 10.00% Weatherization assistance 10.00% 10.00% Carryover to the following federal fiscal year 10.00% 0.00% Administrative and planning costs 10.00% 10.00% Services to reduce home energy needs including needs assessment (Assurance 16) 2.00% 2.00% Used to develop and implement leveraging activities 0.00% 0.00% TOTAL 100.00% 100.00% Tribal grant recipients: direct-grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments of $20,000 or less may use for planning and administration up to 20% of the funds payable. Grant recipients that are direct grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments over $20,000 may use for planning and administration purposes up to 20% of the first $20,000 (or $4,000) plus 10% of the funds payable that exceeds $20,000. Any administrative costs in excess of these limits must be paid from non-federal sources. Alternate Use of Crisis Assistance Funds, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.3 The funds reserved for winter crisis assistance that have not been expended by March 15 will be reprogrammed to: Heating assistance Cooling assistance Weatherization assistance Other (specify:) Subgrantees offer year-round crisis assistance. If they request to reallocate funds after March 15 to direct assistance, we will approve. Categorical Eligibility, 2605(b)(2)(A) - Assurance 2, 2605(c)(1)(A), 2605(b)(8A) - Assurance 8 1.4 Do you consider households categorically eligible if at least one household member receives at least one of the following categories of benefits in the left column below? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.4, you must complete the table below and answer questions 1.5 and 1.6. Heating Cooling Crisis Weatherization TANF Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SSI Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SNAP Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Means-tested Veterans Programs Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No 1.4a. Provide your definition of categorical eligibility. Please explain how households are categorically eligible (i.e, do all household members need to receive the benefits or just one member, is there a data exchange in place?) and how categorical eligibility streamlines the LIHEAP application process. 1.5 Do you automatically enroll households without a direct annual application? Yes No If Yes, explain: 1.6 How do you ensure there is no difference in the treatment of categorically eligible households from those not receiving other public assistance when determining eligibility and benefit amounts? SNAP Nominal Payments 1.7a Do you allocate LIHEAP funds toward a nominal payment for SNAP households? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.7a, you must provide a response to questions 1.7b, 1.7c, and 1.7d. 1.7b Amount of Nominal Assistance: $0.00 1.7c Frequency of Assistance Once Per Year Once every five years Other - Describe: 1.7d How do you confirm that the household receiving a nominal payment has an energy cost or need? Determination of Eligibility - Countable Income 1.8. In determining a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP, do you use gross income or net income? Gross Income Net Income Other - Describe 1.9. Select all the applicable forms of countable income used to determine a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP Wages Self - Employment Income Contract Income Payments from mortgage or Sales Contracts Unemployment insurance Strike Pay Social Security Administration (SSA ) benefits Including MediCare deduction Excluding MediCare deduction Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) Retirement / pension benefits General Assistance benefits Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits Loans that need to be repaid Cash gifts Savings account balance One-time lump-sum payments, such as rebates/credits, winnings from lotteries, refund deposits, etc. Jury duty compensation Rental income Income from employment through Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Income from work study programs Alimony Child support Interest, dividends, or royalties Commissions Legal settlements Insurance payments made directly to the insured Insurance payments made specifically for the repayment of a bill, debt, or estimate Veterans Administration (VA) benefits Earned income of a child under the age of 18 Balance of retirement, pension, or annuity accounts where funds cannot be withdrawn without a penalty. Income tax refunds Stipends from senior companion programs, such as VISTA Funds received by household for the care of a foster child Ameri-Corp Program payments for living allowances, earnings, and in-kind aid Reimbursements (for mileage, gas, lodging, meals, etc.) Other Railroad retirement, workers compensation, training stipends, military allotments or regular support from an absent family member, or someone not living in the household. Also, if an applicant receives regular cash assistance, or direct bill payments from anyone not associated with the household. 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. 1.10 Do you have an online application process Yes No 1.10a If yes, describe the type of online application (Select all boxes that apply) A PDF version of the application is available online and can be downloaded, filled out and mailed in for processing. A state-wide online application that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. One or more locally available online applications that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. Online application that is also mobile friendly Other, please describe Please include a link(s) to a statewide application, if available: Tennessee Housing Development Agency | Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for Administrators (thda. org) 1.10b Can all program components be applied for online? Yes No If no, explain which components can and cannot be applied for online. Heating and Cooling, Regular and Crisis assistance can be applied for online. Weatherization assistance can not be applied for online. 1.11 Do you have a process for conducting and completing applications by phone Yes No 1.12 Do you or any of your subrecipients require in person appointments in order to apply Yes No If yes, please provide more information regarding why in-person appointments are required and in what circumstances they are required. 1.13 How can applicants submit documentation for verification? Select all that apply: In-person Mail Email Portal application Other, please describe Verbal verification via phone can be taken for applications, signatures, and form verification. The person obtaining verbal verification must document the following on each item verified: date of intial contact by client, name of person taking the information (subgrantee), person calling to provide the information (applicant), date and time verified, method of receipt (i.e.: mobile phone). The subgrantee must receive consent from the applicant to allow verification on each form which must be documented and noted in the client database system. If an applicant refuses to allow verbal verification, another intake method must be provided (i.e.: mail, drop off, electronic). Hidden for Section 1