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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT

OF SOCIAL SERVICES ENERGY ASSISTANCE

06/11 d. VOLUME IX, CHAPTER J, PAGE 2 Community Resource Coordination Each LDSS must identify what resources are available either in or outside their LDSS that provide assistance for cooling. Other resources are defined as resources from other LDSS programs, such as local emergency funds and other community programs, such as those administered by churches, community action agencies, utility companies, etc. Knowing in advance what resources are or are not available will enable the LDSS to better assist the applicant. Cooling Assistance can be provided along with another resource if the combination of those resources will provide cooling to the home. 3. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA In order to be eligible for Cooling Assistance, a household must meet all of the following criteria. a. All the criteria in Chapter B sections 6-8 are applied to the individual or group of individuals who function as one economic unit and who share residential energy. b. If the household has already been determined eligible for Fuel or Crisis Assistance benefits, income does not need to be verified, unless a significant change (see Chapter C.2) has occurred. If eligibility for Fuel or Crisis Assistance has not been determined, the LDSS must attempt to obtain verifications of income within the allowable processing period (see Section 5). In addition to the methods of verifications listed in Chapter C, verifications may include telephone or collateral contacts or self-declaration for income. If self-declaration is used, the applicant must be requested to provide complete verification to confirm eligibility. The LDSS may recover improper payments from the client, as indicated in Chapter E, if verification proves that the applicant is ineligible. c. The household must contain at least one vulnerable person (a person who is age 60 or older, under age 6 or disabled). d. Other resources, as verified by the LDSS, cannot meet the need. If other resources are available and can be used within the allowable processing time period, they must be used either in conjunction with or prior to providing Cooling Assistance. Other resources do not mean the availability of the client's liquid resources. If cooling is provided in conjunction with other services or client payment, the name of the resource provider and the amount of the resource must be documented in the case record and entered into the system. If no other resources are available or can be used within the allowable processing period, Cooling Assistance can be provided if the applicant meets all other criteria. e. Applicants must reside in the locality in which they apply for Cooling Assistance. f. A household that applied for Fuel or Crisis Assistance may or may not be eligible for Cooling Assistance depending on their living arrangement and the type of Cooling Assistance for which they are applying.

1) Households that do not have a regular cooling expense (living arrangement codes B and F) are only eligible for cooling equipment purchase or repair; or

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