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PY26 WHEAP Manual

25 Revised: August 2025 HE+ Program Services have additional eligibility criteria that also must be met. When HE+ Program Services are requested and the applicant resides at a different address from the one on the parent application, a new application shall be processed to determine eligibility for that building. See Chapter 3, Chapter 5, and Section 7.3.8, and the HE+ Program Services Manual.

2.3 WHEAP − Regular Benefits Payment Determination WHEAP heat benefits are primarily based on the relationship of household income to the state median income (SMI), size of the dwelling (number of rooms), dwelling type, and home energy costs. The primary factors affecting the regular electric (non-heating) benefit are the household income and the non-heating electric use. A table of the maximum income allowable for various family sizes is provided on the Division website. The table is also available in the WHEAP brochures sent to the agencies.

2.3.1 General Payment Information Regular WHEAP Benefits are provided to eligible households for almost any type of heating fuel used – natural gas, fuel oil, liquefied petroleum gas (propane), wood, wood pellets, corn pellets, and some other fuel types. The HE+ System calculates the Regular WHEAP Benefit amounts based on the information submitted in the application. The primary factors affecting the benefit level are household income, number of household members, fuel type, fuel use, and number of rooms in the dwelling.

The information entered in the Energy Usage section of the HE+ Application must be the reported cost of the household’s primary heating fuel usage and electric costs. In cases where electric is used for primary heat, total electric costs only need to be entered once.

The HE+ System calculates the benefit for heating and non-heating electric assistance when the application is submitted. The HE+ System generates benefit payments to vendors or customers, and notification letters to customers. The notification letters indicate: 1) the type of benefit(s); 2) the benefit amount(s); 3) the recipient of the benefit; 4) if the benefit has been withdrawn, cancelled, or denied along with the denial reason and/or repayment amount (when applicable); and 5) appeal rights. No payments will be issued for benefits that are calculated at less than $30.

1. Income The HE+ System calculates the household income level. If a household’s income level is less than or equal to 60% of the state median income (SMI) level, the household is income eligible. If the household’s income level is more than 60% of the SMI level, the household is denied WHEAP benefits as over-income, unless the household has been deemed categorically eligible. When a categorically eligible household is over 60% SMI, the benefits are paid as if the applicant’s income is 60% SMI. 2. Energy Costs To receive a benefit based on actual costs, the bill for home energy costs must be a direct pay account and cannot include charges for a business or from a shared meter (see Chapter 4 for additional limitations on using actual fuel costs). The HE+ System uses the home energy information entered in Energy Usage section of the application to determine heating and non-heating electric costs. If annual fuel usage is not provided during the