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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES ENERGY ASSISTANCE

01/03 VOLUME IX, CHAPTER D, PAGE 7

9. CHANGES

No change to increase or decrease the maximum benefit of an approved case will be made unless the change is the result of an LDSS error.

The following changes will be handled as indicated:

a. If an ineligible household's situation changes prior to benefit determination and the household requests eligibility be redetermined, the application may be updated and reevaluated.

b. When a household becomes ineligible for further assistance, e.g. the household moves from the State, the household requests termination of the benefit, or the household no longer meets eligibility criteria, close the case in the system. A Client Notice of Action will be sent to the client notifying him of the LDSS action.

c. Household Composition

1) When an eligible household divides, the remaining benefits will stay with the household whose name the application was in regardless of where the household resides. The remaining members of the household may make a new application if the application period has not ended. Benefits from the original household will not affect the eligibility of the new household.

2) When an eligible household combines:

a) If an eligible household combines with a household who has not received fuel benefits, the original maximum benefit will be continued upon verification that eligibility based on income of the new household still exists.

b) If two or more eligible households combine, the households must determine whose case will remain open and whose case(s) will be closed. Follow the appropriate case closure procedures based on the case payment method. Benefit amount will not be recalculated.

3) When the case name dies and that individual was the only person in the household, the case will be closed.

4) When the case name dies and other eligible individuals remain in the household, the case name will be changed to that of an eligible adult household member. The social security number will also be changed to that of the new case name. The case number and benefit amount will not be changed.

TRANSMITTAL #03-1