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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT

OF SOCIAL SERVICES ENERGY ASSISTANCE

06/16 3) VOLUME IX, CHAPTER G, PAGE 14 Assistance cannot pay charges for unauthorized usage. 4) For households that received a direct payment for their Fuel Assistance benefit, verification that the Fuel Assistance benefit was used to pay their primary heat bill is required prior to approval of Crisis Primary Utility. Authorize only the amount needed to restore service or avoid cut- off/disconnection (as verified per guidance at item 1c above). This amount cannot exceed the current year’s maximum for the appropriate utility type. Home Office will advise annually the maximum benefit amounts via broadcast.

8. HEATING EQUIPMENT BENEFITS

Assistance with heating equipment repair, heating equipment replacement, and supplemental equipment and maintenance may be received in combination and/or more than once per program year to meet a crisis need. The State Board of Social Services has established benefit caps on heating equipment repair/replacement. The system will edit authorizations/payments to ensure adherence to the caps. The maximums are as follows:

a. Up to $500 - repair of heating equipment or combination of repair, trip charge.

b. Up to $800 - maintenance or supplemental equipment (oil tank, tank stand, fuel lines, etc.)

NOTE: Supplemental equipment/maintenance or combination of repair of heating equipment, trip charge, maintenance or supplemental equipment cannot exceed $800.

c. Up to $1700 - heating equipment replacement or purchase

d. Up to $2500- maximum that can be received for entry of multiple types of assistance with purchase/replacement, supplemental equipment, or repair of heating equipment. The maximum for each type of assistance applies.

e. Up to $50 - can be charged per trip when no work is performed. A trip charge cannot be paid if the vendor returned or will return to repair or replace the equipment. To enter this in the system, use type of assistance code “R”.

9. PAYMENTS

Payments will usually be made to the vendor upon receipt of a bill. Payments will be provided to the vendor in accordance with the Virginia Prompt Pay Act. All repair bills must be itemized with a breakdown of the costs for parts and labor. Virginia state taxes on the itemized bill will not be paid. Local taxes and other states’ taxes should be paid. Bills for unauthorized repairs or purchases and bills for repairs or purchases incurred prior to

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