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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ENERGY ASSISTANCE

01/03 VOLUME IX, CHAPTER D, PAGE 1

1. ASSISTANCE PROVIDED

Assistance from Fuel Assistance is to assist eligible households in meeting their immediate home energy needs attributable to the primary heating source and primary fuel currently used by the household.

The benefit is not intended to meet the household's total costs for the heating season, but to help offset the rising costs of home energy that are excessive in relation to income. Fuel Assistance benefit amounts are not entitlements. Benefit monies not used will revert to the State for program usage.

The following definitions apply in determining whether to provide assistance:

a. Primary Heat System

The primary heating system is the system that is currently used to heat the majority of the house.

b. Primary Fuel Type

The primary fuel type is the main fuel used to operate the primary heating system. The household must designate a primary fuel type for the EAP.

c. Heating Expense

A heating expense is one which is incurred directly or indirectly by the household for obtaining the primary fuel to heat the housing unit. Directly incurred expenses are those that are billed to a household. Indirectly incurred expenses are those such as: an undesignated portion of the rent or the cost of operating a chainsaw in areas where wood is used for home heating.

2. PENDING

All Fuel Applications must be entered in the system by Friday of the week the application is received. The application must be placed in pending status unless ready for eligibility determination (ED) or locally entered denial. If an application is not entered into the system, it will not be reflected in any management reports.

At LDSS option, the system will generate a turnaround document reflecting the action taken by the LDSS. Client notices will be generated only for negative actions prior to benefit determination.

Agencies will be notified of system availability dates to enter pending cases.

TRANSMITTAL #03-1