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PY26 WHEAP Manual

23 Revised: August 2025 • Type of fuel • The number of rooms in the dwelling unit • The fuel costs of the household • The type of dwelling unit

Regular electric (non-heating) benefits are only available to households served by a utility that participates in the State Public Benefits program. Some of the factors affecting the amount of the electric benefit include: • Total funding available for Regular WHEAP Benefits in the state • The income level of the household • The electric (non-heating) fuel costs of the household

Electric costs shall be entered on the application even if the household is not served by a PB participating vendor.

Vendors that do not participate in the PB program administer their own assistance program which is referred to as the Commitment to Community Program. Applicants with vendors that do not participate in the PB program must contact their vendor if they wish to apply for assistance from the Commitment to Community Program.

2.1.2 WHEAP − Crisis Assistance Benefits Crisis Assistance, whether LIHEAP or PB, is intended to allow the local WHEAP agency to respond to special situations by dealing with emergency situations or acting proactively to avoid serious problems. Crisis Assistance is a discretionary benefit to households; even if a household is eligible, they may not receive assistance.

Crisis Assistance is categorized by two payment types: emergency and Prevention Assistance. The eligibility requirements for each are slightly different. Emergency payments are only available during the heating season (October 1 to May 15). Prevention Assistance payments are available any time during the program year (October 1 to September 30). Prevention Assistance payments can be made on applications where the applicant meets the financial and non-financial eligibility, but the application denied because the application is dated after the heating season.

Crisis Assistance benefits are only paid to providers of goods or services. Applicants never directly receive the benefits.

Crisis Assistance benefits are paid from a central account managed by DEHCR.

2.1.2.1 WHEAP − Crisis Assistance Services Crisis Assistance Services funds are provided to local WHEAP agencies to provide a mechanism for purchase of services (such as education – energy or financial) and goods (such as weatherization kits) for recipients. These funds may also be used to cover local agency costs of taking and processing applications for Crisis Assistance.