2 HEATING ASSISTANCE

Eligibility, 2605(b)(2) - Assurance 2 2.1 Designate the income eligibility threshold used for the heating component: Add Household size Eligibility Guideline Eligibility Threshold 1 All Household Sizes HHS Poverty Guidelines 150.00% 2.2 Do you have additional eligibility requirements for Heating Assistance? Yes No 2.3 Check the appropriate boxes below and describe the policies for each. Do you require an Assets test? Yes No If yes, describe: Do you have additional/differing eligibility policies for: Renters? Yes No If yes, describe: Renters Living in subsidized housing? Yes No If yes, describe: Renters with utilities included in the rent? Yes No If yes, describe: Do you give priority in eligibility to: Older Adults (60 years or older)? Yes No If yes, describe: 10 TAC §6.307(e) states “Subrecipients must establish a written procedure to serve Households that have a Vulnerable Population Household member, Households with High Energy Burden, and Households with High Energy Consumption. High Energy Burden shall be the highest rated item in sliding scale priority determinations. The Subrecipient must maintain documentation of the use of the criteria.” The state will provide a written procedure to a statewide or regional contractor. Individuals with a disability? Yes No If yes, describe: 10 TAC §6.307(e) states “Subrecipients must establish a written procedure to serve Households that have a Vulnerable Population Household member, Households with High Energy Burden, and Households with High Energy Consumption. High Energy Burden shall be the highest rated item in sliding scale priority determinations. The Subrecipient must maintain documentation of the use of the criteria.” The state will provide a written procedure to a statewide or regional contractor. Young children? Yes No If yes, describe: 10 TAC §6.307(e) states “Subrecipients must establish a written procedure to serve Households that have a Vulnerable Population Household member, Households with High Energy Burden, and Households with High Energy Consumption. High Energy Burden shall be the highest rated item in sliding scale priority determinations. The Subrecipient must maintain documentation of the use of the criteria.” The state will provide a written procedure to a statewide or regional contractor. Households with high energy burdens? Yes No If yes, describe: 10 TAC §6.307(e) states “Subrecipients must establish a written procedure to serve Households that have a Vulnerable Population Household member, Households with High Energy Burden, and Households with High Energy Consumption. High Energy Burden shall be the highest rated item in sliding scale priority determinations. The Subrecipient must maintain documentation of the use of the criteria.” The state will provide a written procedure to a statewide or regional contractor. Other? Households with high energy burden and high energy consumption Yes No If yes, describe: 10 TAC §6.307(e) states “Subrecipients must establish a written procedure to serve Households that have a Vulnerable Population Household member, Households with High Energy Burden, and Households with High Energy Consumption. High Energy Burden shall be the highest rated item in sliding scale priority determinations. The Subrecipient must maintain documentation of the use of the criteria.” The state will provide a written procedure to a statewide or regional contractor. Explanations of policies for each "yes" checked above: 10 TAC §6.307(e) states “Subrecipients must establish a written procedure to serve Households that have a Vulnerable Population Household member, Households with High Energy Burden, and Households with High Energy Consumption. High Energy Burden shall be the highest rated item in sliding scale priority determinations. The Subrecipient must maintain documentation of the use of the criteria.” The state will provide a written procedure to a statewide or regional contractor. Determination of Benefits 2605(b)(5) - Assurance 5, 2605(c)(1)(B) 2.4 Describe how you prioritize the provision of heating assistance to vulnerable populations, e.g., benefit amounts, early application periods, etc. Subrecipients and statewide or regional contractors use a rating system which determines priority based on persons in Households who are particularly vulnerable such as the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities, Households with Young Children, Households with High Energy Burden, and Households with High Energy Consumption. Benefit amounts are determined on a sliding scale based on the Household’s income. Households with the presence of a vulnerable member such as the Elderly, Persons with Disabilities, and Households with Young Children do not have a limit on the number of benefit payments, but adhere to the same benefit amounts. The maximum benefit amount is determined per program year based on the Household’s heating and cooling need and is not required to be applied equally to heating and cooling costs. 2.5 Check the variables you use to determine your benefit levels. (Check all that apply): Income Family (household) size Home energy cost or need: Fuel type Climate/region Individual bill Dwelling type Energy burden (% of income spent on home energy) Energy need Other - Describe: Subrecipient must make utility payments on behalf of Households based on the previous 12 month's home energy consumption history, including allowances for cost inflation. If a 12 month's home energy consumption history is unavailable, Subrecipient must base payments on a Department approved alternative billing method. If neither a 12 month’s home energy consumption history nor an approved alternative billing method exists, then Subrecipient may base payments on current bill. Subrecipient will note such exceptions in customer files. Benefit amounts exceeding the actual bill shall be treated as a credit for the customer with the utility company. The Department recommends an ABM where the Subrecipient determines the average consumption amount (kWh, therms, MCF, gallons, etc.) per month, for each household size and type based on a minimum sample size of 30 files that contain complete billing histories; however, if it is not possible for subrecipients to obtain the recommended 30 file per household sample size to create an average consumption amount, Subrecipients should use all the applicable files to determine the average consumption and document the lack of files for that household size. Subrecipients can propose other types of ABMs. The state will provide statewide or regional contractors other types of ABMs, if required. The ABM proposed by the Subrecipient must be approved by the Department prior to utilization. Benefit Levels, 2605(b)(5) - Assurance 5, 2605(c)(1)(B) 2.6 Describe estimated benefit levels for the fiscal year for which this plan applies. Please note: the maximum and minimum benefits must be shown in the payment matrix. Minimum Benefit $1 Maximum Benefit $12,600 2.7 Do you provide in-kind (e.g., blankets, space heaters) and/or other forms of benefits?2 Yes No If yes, describe. Per §6.310(d), eligible households may receive temporary shelter not to exceed the annual household expenditure limit for the duration of the contract period in the limited instances when Disasters result in energy supply shortages or other energy-related emergencies. Additionally, eligible households that have lost service or are in immediate danger of losing service and fall under an Extreme Weather Condition, a Disaster, or a Life Threatening Crisis as defined under §6.310(a), may receive other types of assistance such as emergency deliveries of fuel up to 250 gallons per crisis per Household, blankets, fans, and generators, if necessary. 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.