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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ENERGY ASSISTANCE

11/13 VOLUME IX, CHAPTER D, PAGE 3

4. ELIGIBILITY SCREENING

The system will screen each case entered without a denial disposition code. The following elements will be evaluated at this stage of processing:

Living Arrangement Energy Expense Citizenship Monthly Income Household Size

The system will calculate the dollar value of the medical deduction for elderly and/or disabled individuals in the household unit and deduct this amount to determine the countable income for screening purposes.

The system will also deduct from the gross income of SNAP households who received an automated application form, any income that is exempt in Fuel but was counted in determining SNAP eligibility to determine gross countable income.

Cases that do not pass one element of the screening will be denied by the system. Cases that pass screening will be approved by the system. System generated turnaround documents will be printed in the LDSS. A Client Notice of Action will not be issued until benefits have been determined on approved cases. Denied cases receive notice at time of disposition.

5. BENEFIT DETERMINATIONS

Benefits amounts will be automatically determined by the system based on the following factors:

a) Number of people in household

b) Gross countable monthly income

c) Living Arrangements

d) Primary heat type

e) Climate Zone (Appendix A)

f) Vulnerability factors, such as: 1) Person 60 years of age or older 2) Disabled individual 3) Child under 6 in home

g) Energy burden (average cost per fuel type divided by household income)

TRANSMITTAL #13-1