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Vermont Department for Children and Families Crisis Fuel Assistance Rules Economic Services Division 3102 Crisis Fuel Eligibility

3102 Crisis Fuel Eligibility (06/22/2024, 23-20)

a. These rules are intended to provide a framework for staff to grant assistance to households that are facing a heating crisis.

b. The crisis fuel assistance program is not an entitlement program, and the Department retains discretion over whether to issue benefits to a household and the amount of any such benefits.

c. A household may be eligible for crisis fuel assistance if they meet all the following criteria:

1. All the members of a household must be Vermont residents at the time of application for crisis fuel assistance;

i. A person remains a resident until the person moves outside the State of Vermont with the intent to permanently reside elsewhere;

2. A household member must be a citizen or national of the United States or a qualified immigrant under Seasonal Fuel Assistance Rule 2907;

3. The total gross income of all fuel household members must not exceed 200% of the federal poverty guidelines based on household size;

i. Fuel household membership shall be determined using Seasonal Fuel Assistance Rules 2903–2904;

ii. A household’s total gross income shall be calculated using Seasonal Fuel Assistance Rules 2910–2912, except:

A. Income must be calculated based only on income actually received by the household in the 30 days before the application is submitted, regardless of the source of income; and

B. Income tax forms shall not be used to calculate income; and

iii. The allowable income maximum for each household size shall be updated in the Fuel Procedures Manual in accordance with the federal poverty guidelines published by the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services.

4. The household must:

i. Receive seasonal fuel assistance;