1 Program Components

THE PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT OF 1995 (Pub. L. 104-13)Use of this model plan is optional. However, the information requested is required in order to receive a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) grant.Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and reviewing the collection of information. An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control number. Section 1 Program Components Program Components, 2605(a), 2605(b)(1) - Assurance 1, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.1 Check which components you will operate under the LIHEAP program. (Note: You must provide information for each component designated here as requested elsewhere in this plan.) Dates of Operation Start Date End Date Heating assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Cooling assistance Summer crisis assistance Winter crisis assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Year-round crisis assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Weatherization assistance 10/01/2025 09/30/2026 Provide further explanation for the dates of operation, if necessary Applications for heating assistance are processed year-round by the Vermont Department for Children and Families (DCF), Economic Services Division (ESD). Applications for winter crisis assistance are processed by Vermont's five Community Action Agencies under grant agreements with ESD, beginning the last Monday in November up to and including the last business day in April, or until crisis funds are exhausted, whichever occurs first. Vermont also operates a year-round, limited-funded, crisis fuel tank replacement program for fuel tanks that have been "red- tagged," or are at imminent risk of failure. The crisis tank replacement program is operated under an interagency agreement with the Department of Environmental Conservation and a second agreement is in place with the DCF Office of Economic Opportunity. In addition, DCF Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) also operates under our Crisis program a year round furnace repair and replacement program. Weatherization assistance operates year round and is overseen by the DCF Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO), Weatherization Program. Estimated Funding Allocation, 2604(C), 2605(k)(1), 2605(b)(9), 2605(b)(16) - Assurances 9 and 16 1.2 Estimate what amount of available LIHEAP funds will be used for each component that you will operate: The total of all percentages must add up to 100%. Percentage ( % ) Prior year totals Heating assistance 64.00% 63.00% Cooling assistance 0.00% 0.00% Summer crisis assistance 0.00% 0.00% Winter crisis assistance 6.00% 8.00% Year-round crisis assistance 3.00% 0.00% Weatherization assistance 15.00% 15.00% Carryover to the following federal fiscal year 2.00% 4.00% Administrative and planning costs 10.00% 10.00% Services to reduce home energy needs including needs assessment (Assurance 16) 0.00% 0.00% Used to develop and implement leveraging activities 0.00% 0.00% TOTAL 100.00% 100.00% Tribal grant recipients: direct-grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments of $20,000 or less may use for planning and administration up to 20% of the funds payable. Grant recipients that are direct grant tribes, tribal organizations, or territories with allotments over $20,000 may use for planning and administration purposes up to 20% of the first $20,000 (or $4,000) plus 10% of the funds payable that exceeds $20,000. Any administrative costs in excess of these limits must be paid from non-federal sources. Alternate Use of Crisis Assistance Funds, 2605(c)(1)(C) 1.3 The funds reserved for winter crisis assistance that have not been expended by March 15 will be reprogrammed to: Heating assistance Cooling assistance Weatherization assistance Other (specify:) Crisis assistance lasts until the last day in April. Funding for Furnace repair and Replacement in addition to oil tank repair and replacement is available year round. After April, any remaining funds originally allocated to the Community Action Agencies are reprogrammed for carryover. Categorical Eligibility, 2605(b)(2)(A) - Assurance 2, 2605(c)(1)(A), 2605(b)(8A) - Assurance 8 1.4 Do you consider households categorically eligible if at least one household member receives at least one of the following categories of benefits in the left column below? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.4, you must complete the table below and answer questions 1.5 and 1.6. Heating Cooling Crisis Weatherization TANF Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SSI Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No SNAP Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Means-tested Veterans Programs Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No 1.4a. Provide your definition of categorical eligibility. Please explain how households are categorically eligible (i.e, do all household members need to receive the benefits or just one member, is there a data exchange in place?) and how categorical eligibility streamlines the LIHEAP application process. See below. 1.5 Do you automatically enroll households without a direct annual application? Yes No If Yes, explain: Households that submit an application for SNAP and Heating Assistance will be considered categoricallyeligible for LIHEAP. Households that receive categorical eligibility for LIHEAP will have a certification period set based on the SNAP certification period, which will be 12 months, 24 months, or 36 months. SNAP certification periods are set based on the composition of the household. When multiple SNAP households exist within one LIHEAP household, the certification period will be set at the shortest SNAP certification period within that household. If not all individuals in the heating assistance household are in receipt of SNAP, the household will not be categorically eligible for LIHEAP. All other LIHEAP program requirements must be met in order to receive a heating assistance benefit. 1.6 How do you ensure there is no difference in the treatment of categorically eligible households from those not receiving other public assistance when determining eligibility and benefit amounts? The use of categorical eligibility does not change LIHEAP program criteria, only certification periods. All benefit amounts and program requirements are consistent between categorically eligible households and non-categorically eligible households. The only difference is the certification period. SNAP Nominal Payments 1.7a Do you allocate LIHEAP funds toward a nominal payment for SNAP households? Yes No If you answered "Yes" to question 1.7a, you must provide a response to questions 1.7b, 1.7c, and 1.7d. 1.7b Amount of Nominal Assistance: $0.00 1.7c Frequency of Assistance Once Per Year Once every five years Other - Describe: 1.7d How do you confirm that the household receiving a nominal payment has an energy cost or need? Determination of Eligibility - Countable Income 1.8. In determining a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP, do you use gross income or net income? Gross Income Net Income Other - Describe 1.9. Select all the applicable forms of countable income used to determine a household's income eligibility for LIHEAP Wages Self - Employment Income Contract Income Payments from mortgage or Sales Contracts Unemployment insurance Strike Pay Social Security Administration (SSA ) benefits Including MediCare deduction Excluding MediCare deduction Supplemental Security Income (SSI ) Retirement / pension benefits General Assistance benefits Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) benefits Loans that need to be repaid Cash gifts Savings account balance One-time lump-sum payments, such as rebates/credits, winnings from lotteries, refund deposits, etc. Jury duty compensation Rental income Income from employment through Workforce Investment Act (WIA) Income from work study programs Alimony Child support Interest, dividends, or royalties Commissions Legal settlements Insurance payments made directly to the insured Insurance payments made specifically for the repayment of a bill, debt, or estimate Veterans Administration (VA) benefits Earned income of a child under the age of 18 Balance of retirement, pension, or annuity accounts where funds cannot be withdrawn without a penalty. Income tax refunds Stipends from senior companion programs, such as VISTA Funds received by household for the care of a foster child Ameri-Corp Program payments for living allowances, earnings, and in-kind aid Reimbursements (for mileage, gas, lodging, meals, etc.) Other Some Ameri-Corp Program payments are for living allowances, earnings, and in-kind aid are counted as income and some are not. If any of the above questions require further explanation or clarification that could not be made in the fields provided, attach a document with said explanation here. 1.10 Do you have an online application process Yes No 1.10a If yes, describe the type of online application (Select all boxes that apply) A PDF version of the application is available online and can be downloaded, filled out and mailed in for processing. A state-wide online application that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. One or more locally available online applications that allows a customer to complete data entry and submit an application electronically for processing. Online application that is also mobile friendly Other, please describe Please include a link(s) to a statewide application, if available: ESD-Form-201SF.pdf (vermont.gov) 1.10b Can all program components be applied for online? Yes No If no, explain which components can and cannot be applied for online. Fuel assistance applications do not require an actual interview, however if an eligibility worker finds something questionable, they often will make a phone call or send written verification request seeking clarification. Our document uploader allows the applicant to provide supporting documentation as well (paystubs, Utility bill, etc). It can be uploaded instanctly and available for staff to process. 1.11 Do you have a process for conducting and completing applications by phone Yes No 1.12 Do you or any of your subrecipients require in person appointments in order to apply Yes No If yes, please provide more information regarding why in-person appointments are required and in what circumstances they are required. 1.13 How can applicants submit documentation for verification? Select all that apply: In-person Mail Email Portal application Other, please describe In Vermont our Document Management system is called Onbase. In short they establish an account at MyBenefits Portal | Department for Children and Families and then once established they can upload documents right from their phones. Hidden for Section 1