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PY26 WHEAP Manual
Revised: August 2025 Chapter 1 | Definitions and Acronyms A/C Acronym for air control.
administrative expenses The general costs associated with administrating WHEAP, including direct and indirect costs for: 1. Planning, 2. Determining eligibility, and 3. Issuing benefits.
Adult Family Home (AFH) A licensed, private residential home where 1-4 adults not related to the operator reside and receive care, treatment, or services (that are above the level of room and board). Adult Family Homes, as defined by the Department of Health Services, are eligible dwellings and all household members and their income are to be counted in the application. Caregivers generally receive separate per diems for room and board and care. Any per diem for room and board is ignored, while a per diem for care shall be counted as wages for the caregiver of the household. For additional guidance, please contact the HE+ Help Desk.
agency The term agency, as used in this program, normally refers to the county department, tribal entity, or non-profit organization that administers WHEAP.
annualized income Income calculated to reflect an average monthly amount. Refer to Section 3.3.7 and Appendix B for specific guidance on which income types should be annualized.
applicant The person whose name is entered in Field 2 on the application form (DOA-9549). Applicant and case head are the same and are used interchangeably for purposes of this manual. An eligible case head must have a validated SSN and be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. A case head must be 18 years or older, or be a minor head-of-household (see definition), or be a child who meets one of the following exceptions: • All adults in the household are ineligible non-citizens, and: o The dependent child is either a citizen or an eligible non-citizen, and o The child has an SSN, or • An emancipated minor over 15 may be a case head if the minor is living independently, and: o Is married, or o Was married, or o Is principal support of a child, or o Has visible independent means of support and cannot be claimed as a dependent on income tax of someone not in the household